Hyundai unleashes the baboons

HYUNDAI UK has taken an unusual approach to demonstrating the toughness of its new i30 hatch – setting a pack of baboons on it.

In a publicity stunt conducted at the Knowsley Safari Park near Liverpool, Hyundai left an example of the second-generation small car in the baboon enclosure for ten hours.

Video footage shows 40 of the primates unleashing their own brand of punishment on the car, jumping on the roof, biting the seats and swinging from the doors.

Footage of the car emerging from the enclosure shows extensive scuffs and scratches, but with no substantial damage inside or out.

Hyundai attributed this to the car’s “extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy-wipe plastics, tough fittings and high quality steel”.

The baboons at the English park are notorious for trashing visitor’s cars, prompting the management to install signs warning drivers to take care when driving through.

Hyundai UK said in a statement: “The car has been specially designed for families and their ‘little monkeys’ in the back, with extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy-wipe plastics, tough fittings and high quality steel.”

Park manager David Ross said: “I’ve seen thousands of cars pass through this enclosure, get mobbed by monkeys, and none have lasted the distance as well as this Hyundai.

“These baboons are incredibly inquisitive. If you put them on any car they will scour it for the weak points and find any faults.”

The new i30 hatch will go on sale in Australia in early June.