Reference Auto

For Hyundai, which hasn’t been in the limelight for quite a while so far as new car launches go, the rollout of the i10 Grand around mid-September this year could come as a respite as many small car buffs are looking for upgrades in their compact cars.

The Hyundai i10 Grand is not going to replace the current model but instead would be positioned in between the i10 and the 120. So, we can expect it to be priced around the Rs 4.5 lakh-Rs 6.5 lakh mark (with the diesel variants being on the higher side).

The new Grand i10 is wider, lengthier, more proportionate and more hardy than the current version.

The new Grand i10 will come with a petrol and diesel engine and may be offered with four trim variants. 

The petrol engine would be a 1.2-litre Kappa dual VTVT unit and be paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and an automatic transmission.

The Grand i10 would come with one of the smallest diesel engines in its class, the second generation 1.1-litre U2 CRDi engine. The engine would be offered with only the five-speed manual gearbox.

Fuel efficiency under ideal conditions of the petrol model would be close to 18 km to a litre, and for the diesel variant, it would be around 22 km.

The rear aircon vents will be standard fitment and the Grand version is also likely to have adequate safety features. While dashboard layout is standard, the quality of plastic and dual tone colour theme would almost be similar to the present day i10.

The new Grand i10’s design would be somewhat European. Unlike the current i10’s flat door, the new model’s door would be well curved to give a larger leg space. But the USP of the new Grand i10 is the rear air-conditioner vent, placed between the front seats, a unique feature among compact cars.

There are peeled back rear lamps, a large curved rear glass, a hatch door handle with the Hyundai logo and a chunky rear spoiler also.

A 2-DIN MP3 audio player with one GB internal memory, self-closing door mirrors, a smart key and push-button start are some of the additional features that come with the new Grand i10.

Hyundai desperately needed a car to be positioned in the mid-compact segment in order to take on the likes of Swift, Figo, Polo and the newly launched Verito Vibe.

And, with the i10 Grand being a part of the category, it could well take on the others in the volumes game, especially with the roll out of a diesel version along with upgrades, which could offer some relief to Hyundai.