Reference Auto

Hyundai Motors India Ltd or HMIL, which is turning out to be a global auto force, had recently revamped the Verna in terms of looks, and now has embarked on a journey to give its top-end car, the Sonata, a refurbished look, which could make a big difference in the premium sedan segment.

The 2.4 litre GDI engine propelled Sonata, which had first been unveiled during the Delhi Auto Expo held in January, will be rolled out in India this month itself.

The new Sonata engine’s GDi technology helps in better performance and fuel efficiency as the high pressure fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber.

The 2.4 litre GDI engine provides 201PS@6,300 rpm of maximum power and 25.5Kgm@4,250 rpm of peak torque.

The new Sonata will be priced from Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and the Merc look of the new Sonata will surely win over many hearts.

Like the last century belonged to the Japanese techies, who produced one of the best cars (Honda and Toyota) as well as the most sought-after electronics goods (Sony), this century clearly belongs to the Koreans (such as Hyundai and Samsung).

Hyundai has emerged as a big force and is also a name to reckon with in the premium US and European markets.

The new Sonata is again an example of Hyundai's signature ‘fluidic’ design. It has front and rear seat ventilation, high intensity Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumber support and a four-way power adjustable front co-driver seat. The new Sonata has a 6-speed manual and automatic transmission.

Safety features in the new Sonata have been enhanced and include six airbags, anti-lock braking system or ABS with electronic brake force distribution or EBD, electronic stability program or ESP along with rear view camera with push button start.

The suspensions are one of the engineering marvels of the new Sonata as it has hi-tech Amplitude Selective Damper or ASD resulting in improved driving comfort.

The new Sonata also comes with some features that will make it the cynosure of all eyes like Vacuum Fluorescent Display or VFD cluster and an X-shaped centre fascia, among others.

The leader in the Rs 20 lakh category is Skoda Superb and other competitors of the new Sonata include the Volkswagen Passat and the Honda Accord.

With an eye on ramping up sales volumes, Hyundai is planning a completely new line-up for the domestic market in the next three years.

Hyundai’s Sonata currently has a low sales volume, that is, around 6,000 a year, but its new looks along with the enhanced safety and other features could make it a competitor to the Skoda Rapid, which is the leader in the premium sedan category.

Hyundai had introduced such a marvelous car, the Eon, at an economical price and a fresh move by the Korean auto maker (to raise prices by a measly Rs 7,000 and introduce a slew of new features) could be acceptable to small car buyers and is unlikely to dent the car’s market.

The three new variants of the Eon rolled out by Hyundai are D-Lite+, Era+ and Magna+.

Moreover, these new variants will also be available in LPG variants that will be steeper by Rs 27,000.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd managing director and CEO HW Park said in a statement, “The idea behind launching the new variants is to offer extra value to car buyers.”

For instance, the D-Lite+ is equipped with air-conditioning and power steering and comes for even less than Rs 3 lakh (at Rs 2.98 lakh). The D-lite variant, which was already there, is priced at Rs 2.91 lakh.

For less than Rs 3 lakh, the D-Lite+ is clearly the only compact car that offers power steering and AC although the price is ex-showroom Delhi. And also with a very contemporary look!

The new Era+ will come with all the features of the D-Lite+. Additionally, it will have front power windows and central locking and carries a price tag of Rs 3.12 lakh in comparison to Rs 3.11 lakh for the existing version.

The Magna+, which is the top-end variant among the new models, additionally has a two-din audio system with USB among other features. It will be priced at Rs 3.42 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The existing Magna version is priced at Rs 3.37 lakh.

The LPG variants are part of Hyundai’s eco-friendly Blue Drive range and are available with factory-fitted separate petrol and LPG tanks, comprising 32 litres and 34 litres capacity that offer enhanced safety to customers along with a two-year warranty.

The new Hyundai Eon hatchback can cover over 1,200 kms on a full tank of either LPG or petrol.

The petrol-powered 814 cc compact hatchback was rolled out last year in October and is priced between Rs.2.69 lakh and Rs.3.71 lakh.

The Eon has been selling around 8,000 cars a month and Hyundai plans to scale it up to 10,000 per month.

The Eon has virtually come out to be a bug-free car right from its inception.

With a superb design and more features (including a power steering one) for an economical pricing, the Korean car maker could in fact see sales of the new Eon models cross the targeted 10,000-mark.

Hyundai has seen a great deal of success with its small cars Santro and i10 with the latter becoming the highest selling car for the Korean major, and now, the auto giant is looking to rev up in the above Rs 5 lakh-segment with the launch of a modified variant of its midsized sedan christened the Accent Executive 2011.

The Hyundai Accent Executive 2011 has been priced at Rs 5.01 lakh in Delhi. The exteriors of the new Accent Executive have a chrome finish front grille and the body-coloured sideline molding come with chrome inserts.

Besides, the car also has a new chrome garnish over the licence plate, according to a statement by Hyundai Motor India.

“The Accent 2011 edition has brought in elegant styling which makes it not only sophisticated but a sought-after car. It is our relentless effort to understand the changing customer preferences and keep rolling out cars with new features, keeping in mind customer requirements. We are confident that with the new styling, the Accent 2011 edition will find many takers in India,” said Arvind Saxena, Hyundai Motor India director (sales and marketing).

The Accent was first launched in 1999 and also comes in alternative fuel options such as CNG and LPG variants. The Korean car has seen healthy sales of the Accent in the overseas market, with the numbers touching a whopping three lakh.

Hyundai Accent’s peers like the Ford Ikon, Maruti’s Esteem and the Opel Corsa have all been discontinued in India but the Accent continues to move along, with sales figures enough to keep the car and the Korean automaker ticking.

As of now, Hyundai India exports its cars to more than 115 countries. The Korean auto giant has its factory in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu where it manufactures seven of its models — the Santro, i10 and i20, Accent, Verna Transform, Sonata Transform and the popular SUV Santa Fe.

Till quite some time back, Hyundai was slow on invention in the Rs 5-lakh bracket compared to its peers such as Tata Motors. The auto giant has been rolling out new models now and then but Hyundai had stuck to the Accent.

But the rolling out of the i20 has been a game-changer in the segment for Hyundai and the car has been logging impressive sales since its roll out. 

For about Rs 1.5 lakh more, the Korean auto major offers the Verna, which is priced around Rs 6.5 lakh. But the car has not been doing well with average sales standing at 1,000 units.

The Hyundai Accent may not be in the popularity charts but it is a value-for-money car. The car is available in two variants — the Hyundai Accent Executive and Hyundai Accent LPG. Both versions are propelled by the same engine (1.5 litre, 1495 cc, four cylinder, SOHC engine).

The engine produces 95 Ps at 5,500 rpm and generates a top torque of 12.7 kgf-m at 3,500 rpm. The Hyundai Accent sedan comes with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Hyundai Accent is economically priced also so far as safety features go and has features such as central door locking, child-proof rear door locks, day and night inside rear view mirror, keyless entry, headlamp levelling device, high mount stop lamp and immobiliser, among others.

But with companies like Toyota rolling out the Etios, Maruti offering the Swift and Hyundai the i20 and Verna in the same range, the Accent Executive 2011 could face stiff competition and sales may not be as impressive as the company desires.

Hyundai is set to create a dhamaka ahead of the festive season (read Diwali) with arguably one of the biggest rollouts this year – the Eon, which is slated to vie with the likes of Maruti small car Alto with a starting price of Rs 2.5 lakh, and if a first look is anything to go by, it could be concluded that the Eon would leave the Alto miles behind.

At this price, the South Korean giant is offering much more than what the Alto offers. The high-end Eon would probably come for Rs 3.2 lakh (ex showroom).

For instance, the Eon’s design is mind blowing and the look can surely give cars like the Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Ritz and the Ford Figo as well as Hyundai’s own cars the Santro and the i10 a run for their money.

The Eon is believed to be propelled by an 814 cc three-cylinder engine from the Santro stable with a fuel economy promise of over 20 km per litre.

This is a good mileage but with Tata Motors setting a benchmark of 25 km to a litre on its diesel hatchback the Indica as well as the Indigo sedan, this could seem somewhat inadequate.

The Eon has a five-speed manual and the engine produces 56 bhp@5,500 rpm and 7.65 kgm of peak torque, arriving at 4,000 rpm.

Based on the Santro platform, the Eon could have myriad components from both the Santro as well as the i10.

On the space front, there is adequate room for four, though a fifth passenger could manage to cram in.

In this season of bleak car sales, Hyundai has timed it just right for the launch, with the Korean major keeping Diwali as the date for the Eon rollout.

“There is no car that can compare with the Eon. Yes, it is an entry-level car but with no compromises and offers much more than what its peers do. It is a very spacious car with a large boot space, which can only be seen in bigger cars. And most certainly, it doesn’t compromise on style,” averred a confident Arvind Saxena, Hyundai India sales and marketing director.

Maruti Suzuki has ceased to produce its iconic Maruti 800 model, despite the car doing substantial numbers. This move seems really baffling. Hyundai seems to have sniffed a huge opportunity in this segment and hence brought in the Eon.

Apart from Hyundai, some other car majors are also planning new launches for a bite into the compact segment - the hottest in India so far.

Tata Motors is believed to be working on a vehicle between its iconic small car, the Nano, and the Indica. Moreover, Volkswagen compact wonder Up is also expected roll out in India, probably early next year.

Ford is also coming up with a car that will be on par with the Figo. But this move by the American giant is likely to see its new car cannibalise into the Figo’s market.

The Reserve Bank’s move to raise interest rates has tightened the demand for car loans as well as cars, but the small car market will always remain hot. And sooner car majors realise this, the better.

So, the Eon is likely to come with a litany of features despite falling in the small cars category. And considering the looks and prudent pricing, it could leave the Alto miles behind to become the highest selling car in India in the medium to long term.

Hyundai, till recently, had no sedan version of a hatchback (like Honda’s Amaze and Brio) but has now come up with the Xcent, a sedan based on the Grand i10 platform, at a starting price of Rs 4.66 lakh, which is pretty judicious considering that other car makers like Ford are offering their basic sedan for almost a steal, heating up this segment of the car market.

The Santro has been in India for over a decade now and has fallen to cannibalisation by Hyundai’s new cars like the i10 along with the newly rolled out cheap car Eon, and in order to revive the sagging sales of its once-popular Santro, the Korean car major has rolled out the Celebration Edition of the hatchback to celebrate 15 years of the car’s existence while the new Fiat Punto Sport is unlikely to shake up the market.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd’s (HMIL) move to roll out an LPG version of the i10 has been well timed, especially in the wake of the slew of petrol price hikes that have been taking place lately. Not only that, the LPG variant has also been moderately priced.

The i10 LPG version is propelled by a 1.1 litre iRDE2 engine and will come in the Era and Magna variants for Rs 4.16 lakh and Rs 4.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively, according to the company.

These are nearly Rs 27,000 more than the petrol variant but the LPG version will scale down costs substantially.

Commenting on the roll out, HMIL managing director and CEO HW Park averred, “The LPG variant of our Next Gen i10 is a viable alternative for customers who want the running cost to remain low.”

With the launch, HMIL is widening the ambit of its eco-friendly initiative, he added.

The new LPG version of the i10 has been named i10 ‘blue drive’ and comes with a factory-fitted LPG kit and has features that meet global standards so far as performance and safety are concerned, HMIL said.

The new i10 has separate petrol (capacity of 35 litres) and LPG (with capacity of 34 litres) tanks and customers can switch from LPG to petrol mode and vice-versa at ease.

According to the company, the factory-fitted LPG system in the i10 will enjoy a two-year manufacturers’ warranty.

The LPG tank in the new i10 blue drive comes with a special Toroidal tank, which allows intelligent use of space and paves the way for larger boot space than conventional LPG-fitted vehicles.

There is the alternator management system or the AMS, which is another innovative technology from Hyundai that controls delivery of power to the battery.

While decelerating, the power supply to the battery is normal, and during acceleration, it limits the power. This has dual benefit: It gives the battery a longer life and the mileage improves considerably.

The manual shift indicator, which is a splendid feature available in the i10, helps it achieve maximum fuel efficiency by optimum gear usage.

The i10 has been Hyundai’s highest selling car, overtaking even its basic model the Santro, and the LPG variant of the i10, with its moderate pricing, is going to spur sales further.

This move by Hyundai to rev up the i10’s sales is in the wake of growing competition from rivals like Chevrolet (Beat and UVa), Ford Motors (Figo) and the likes of Maruti (competition from A-Star and Ritz).

Competition in this compact market is so intense that almost players all have been forced to slash prices or are offering mega discounts (especially in the wake of the year-end festivities).

So, with fuel prices on the rise (especially petrol), Hyundai has rightly timed the launch of the LPG i10, which can reduce running costs by at least 60 per cent on the city’s roads or under normal driving conditions even though a petrol variant (of any car) is always the best option to keep your engine in the pink of health.

South Korean car maker Hyundai Motor’s trump card for the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new i30, has finally been unveiled, gettting a refurbished look compared to its predecessor the Elantra, which failed to make it big in the US market.

The Korean carmaker, which has designed this version of the i30 based on the company’s new Fluidic Sculpture technology, is tightlipped on the engine that would propel the new i30 or even the price.

It is expected that the company will unveil further details on the i30 in the US later this year.

Besides the Fluidic Sculpture design approach, the materials of the interiors in the i30 are also of high-end category.

In a statement, Hyundai hoped the new generation i30 will build on the success of the previous models and also give a fillip to sales of its i-series cars.

According to Hyundai, the original i30 was designed and engineered in Europe and rolled out of its factory in the Czech Republic in 2007.

The previous version of the i30 has been doing quite well in Europe with Hyundai last year selling 115,000 i30s in the continent, making it Hyundai’s highest-selling car.

Unlike the US and even in Europe, Hyundai has seen roaring success in countries such as India, where two of its models, the i10 and i20 are among the highest-selling cars in the country and where it has even dislodged Maruti Suzuki, the country’s highest car seller, in exports.

So far as Europe goes, Hyundai will have to differentiate its product (read the i30) to take on the likes of Volkswagen, Ford, Skoda, Toyota and Mazda and rev up sales to the 200,000-mark.

More unique features will be needed if Hyundai has to put the i30 among the top contenders in Europe.

For instance, the i30 comes with something known as Flex Steer, which is a control that varies the electric power steering assist to three modes, namely Comfort, Normal and Sport. This is a plus and more such plusses will be needed.

In Europe, six engine types are available, three gasoline and three diesel models. Power in these models varies from 89 to 133 horsepower.

While Huyndai has readied the i30 for the US and Europe markets, it will be prudent if the Korean company can bring the i30 to India at the earliest.

Hyundai’s big cars like the Verna haven’t really done too well despite a design overhaul. But the i-series cars have seen phenomenal sales, and now, Indian car buyers are waiting with baited breath for the i30.

If Hyundai can manufacture the i30 domestically (the car is being manufactured in Europe now), say within the next six months, it will bring down costs and Hyundai will be able to offer the car at a very competitive price, and this way, it could garner substantial numbers and earnings from emerging markets like India.

With Toyota Etios stealing the show in the Rs 6 lakh-Rs 8 lakh car segment in India and with Mahindra also recently renaming the Logan as Verito after the company parted ways with partner Renault on the Logan project, Hyundai has decided to rev up in the C segment, rolling out its all new Verna with a completely refurbished look in a bid to shed the tag of a small-car maker.

Prices of the all new Verna begin from Rs 6.99 lakh for the base petrol version and touch Rs 10.74 lakh for the 1.6 litre diesel automatic.

The all new Verna has a litany of striking features. It comes with an engine start/stop button, rear parking camera as well as sensors, auto dim rear view mirrors and dual chrome-tipped exhausts.

It is also high on safety: it has six airbags and comes with impact-sensing auto door unlock technology.

The Korean company is offering customers a gamut of four models: two diesel and two petrol versions.

The base model petrol engine is a 1.4-litre Gamma unit producing 108 PS and 135 Nm torque at 5,000 rpm and the 1.6-litre engine will offer 123 PS and 154 Nm torque at 4,200 rpm.

The diesel variants will have capacities similar to the petrol ones with the 1.4-litre unit producing 90 PS and 220 Nm torque between 1,750-2,750 rpm. The 1.6-litre car will come with 128 PS and 259 Nm of torque between 1,900-2,750 rpm.

The new Verna’s wheelbase is broader than the older one by 70 mm at 2,570 mm and is 18 mm longer than the Volkswagen Vento, the current leader in the C segment. The new Verna is also more spacious than the previous model.

Hyundai is not only giving customers a choice between two fuel types but also a chance to pick the fuel efficiencies they would like.

For the 1.4-litre petrol model, fuel efficiency is 17.43 km a litre while the 1.6-litre petrol version has a fuel efficiency of 17.01 km a litre. The diesel models are highly fuel efficient: The 1.4-litre model offers 23.5 km a litre and the 1.6-litre diesel variant gives 22.32 km a litre.

The previous version of the Verna had not actually spurred Hyundai’s earnings and the company has made a smart move to give the Verna a new lease of life. The new Verna has been designed keeping in mind Hyundai’s design theme known as Fluidic Sculpture.

The new Verna, with Hyundai’s new Fluidic Sculpture design, is one of the most impressive designs in recent years. The Verna comes with a coupe-like side profile with a hexagonal grille, eagle-eye headlamps and L-shaped fog lamps in front.

With the pricing (of the new Verna), Hyundai hopes to give Volkswagen’s Vento and Maruti Suzuki’s SX4 a run for their money. In fact, the Korean giant hopes to sell 45,000 units of the new Verna in the first year itself.

Speaking during the launch, SS Yang, Hyundai Motor’s global president and CEO, said Hyundai hopes to launch its entire range in the country in a bid to become a major contender in the big-cars market.

Hyundai is surely waiting with baited breath to see how the launch of the new Verna pans out, and if successful, it could pave the way for the Korean major to shed the tag of a small car manufacturer and look beyond.

Hyundai Motor India has rolled out a special edition of its i10 dubbed iTech, priced between Rs 4.24 lakh and Rs 4.57 lakh (ex-showroom rates), to celebrate the 12 lakh sales milestone, which the hatchback achieved recently, and this special edition could give a further fillip to sales, but the new WagonR, which could also enhance Maruti’s sales, comes with a price advantage.

The special i10 edition or ‘iTech’ will come in 1.1 litre and 1.2 litre engine options. The special Edition i10 will be available in the Era (1.1 litre) and Magna (1.2 litre) models.

Commenting on the special edition i10, Hyundai vice-president (sales and marketing) Rakesh Srivastava said, “It is our continuous endeavour to take note of changing customer preferences and introduce enhanced features in our cars so that car buffs get better value offering.”

The special i10 edition will come with a slew of features like rear-view parking camera, electrochromic function on cabin rear view mirror and steering-mounted Bluetooth device.

On the exterior, the styling is complemented by sporty ‘iTech ’body graphics. Inside the cabin, it has sporty interiors with dual tone red and beige upholstery seats with red dashboard and door armrest inserts.

Maruti Suzuki, which is India’s largest car maker (in terms of sales volume), is also taking steps to stay updated, considering the customer’s discerning choice, and has upgraded its popular selling car, the WagonR, recently in both the exterior as well as the interior with a marginal hike in prices.

The LX variant of the new WagonR comes for Rs 3.58 lakh while the top-end model (VXi) is priced at Rs 4.42 lakh.

The new WagonR is propelled by the usual K10 1 litre 3-cylinder engine, which produces 68 bhp and 90 Nm of torque.

The front wears a refurbished look with the car sporting a fresh grille which is sleeker and has a single horizontal strip compared to the three that existed in the previous model, which has been phased out.

The mid-range and high-end LXi and VXi versions have extra chrome on them. The bumpers of the new WagonR have been restyled and contain larger vents.

A new fog lamp also gives a new look to the WagonR 2013. According to Maruti Suzuki, the external changes have led to reduced wind noise at higher speeds.

So, judicious pricing by the Japanese car major (keeping prices almost the same as old rates), may help new Maruti WagonR’s sales soar, and even the iTech version of the i10 may sell well despite a pretty steep price tag, although the former is clearly the winner in terms of price advantage.

At a time when car makers are opting for cheaper versions of their cars (like Honda, which has trimmed the price of its Jazz substantially), is Hyundai’s latest move to raise prices of its new i20 models by a whopping Rs 20,000 and rechristening them as iGen i20 a judicious one?

The all new iGen i20 is set to replace the i20. The petrol variants of the new models will carry a price tag from Rs 4.73 lakh to Rs 6.65 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the auto company informed.

The diesel version will come for Rs 5.96 lakh-Rs 7.44 lakh and the automatic variant will be priced at Rs 7.67 lakh, it added.

While the petrol variant is propelled by a 1.2-litre engine, the diesel option has a 1.4-litre engine. With 12 versions, there are a slew of choices for the customer.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd managing director and CEO BS Seo said the auto major has incorporated changes in the new iGen i20 to meet customers’ requirements of hi-tech features.

The Korean giant has claimed that on its new iGen i20 it has added new features such as rear parking camera with display in the cabin mirror and electro chromic mirror, which comes with anti-glare vision during night.

The i20’s 1.2 Kappa petrol engine now has dual-variable valve timing and offers 84 PS of power against the 80 PS of the earlier motor. The diesel variants are powered by a 90 PS 1.4 U2 CRDi engine and Hyundai has reverted to a 6-speed unit instead of the 5-speed one.

The 1.4 Gamma petrol automatic of the iGen i20 offers 100 PS of power and 136 Nm of torque. Changes in the exterior include a new hexagonal front grille and snazzy headlights, which is in sync with Hyundai’s fluidic design ethos.

Hyundai has also included automatic headlamps for the top variants along with rain sensing wipers and reverse camera in its new iGen i20.

On the interior, the new i20 has revised air-con louvres and comes with a new audio unit, a display panel for automatic climate control and a slightly altered instrument binnacle.

So, the slew of new features does sound interesting but whether the prospective customer will really get to be aware of all these changes is a big question that needs to be asked.

In India, cutting down prices or leaving them unchanged is similar to winning half the battle.

The Hyundai i20 has been a very popular car, selling over 2.5 lakh units since its launch in 2008. So, the high sales have probably prompted Hyundai to bet on the new model (iGen i20) by raising prices.

However, customers initially may shy away from the iGen i20 but by stressing on the features (especially in advertisements) and raising awareness could help spur sales of the new i20 despite the steep prices (although competitors are on a slashing spree).

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.

So, Hyundai Motor India finally rolled out the Grand i10 and marked its presence in the mid hatchback segment, giving car buffs a wider choice ahead of the festive season.

But by having a car in between the i10 and i20, Hyundai’s Grand would be in a segment, which is a very narrow one and could lead to cannibalisation among the three cars of the Korean major, which could take a toll on the company.

But one clear advantage is that customers have a wider choice and many may flock for a Hyundai car when they see that they have more cars to choose from in the category of hatchbacks.

Hyundai, in order to grab a big chunk of the market, has priced the Grand i10 very judiciously between Rs 4.29 lakh and Rs 6.41 lakh (Delhi prices). It is at least Rs 30,000 cheaper compared to Maruti’s Swift, the Volkswagen Polo and the Mahindra Verito Vibe (although the Grand is a tad smaller than these cars).

BS Seo, managing director and CEO of Hyundai, said, “The Grand i10 is a world class car made for the Indian market. With its excellent value proposition and its unique features, we expect the Grand to cater to a wide range of customers in the country.”

The Grand, which has been placed between the i10 and i20, is being projected as a car for young professionals, who are in their late 20s and early 30s.

Some of the cars which the Grand i10 will vie with include Ford Figo, Toyota Liva, Maruti Suzuki Swift and Nissan Micra.

The high-end hatchback segment has cars like Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Punto, as well as the Verito Vibe of the Mahindras.

The compact car segment constitutes over half the overall car market in the country and sales neared the 1.5 million car mark in the previous financial year, with Maruti leading the pack and Hyundai coming second (although by a wide margin).

Engine choices in the Grand are the 1.2 litre KAPPA petrol motor and a new 1.1 litre U2 CRDI diesel motor, which could excite car buffs. The 1.2 litre KAPPA petrol engine offers 83 PS power at 6,000 rpm and 99 Nm torque at 4,500 rpm. It offers a fuel economy of 19 km to a litre, which is commendable.

The petrol engine comes with both 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The U2 CRDI diesel has 71 PS power at 4,000 rpm and 160 Nm torque from 1,500-2,750 rpm.

It comes with a mileage of 24 km per litre, which is just great. The diesel engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard.

The interiors come with quality materials and have a litany of features like rear aircon vents, something which is unique in hatchbacks, smart key with push button start and stop, Bluetooth connectivity, Aux-in and USB connectivity, integrated 2-DIN MP3 audio with 1 GB memory, steering mounted audio controls and rear parking sensors, among others.

With Hyundai offering a wider choice and sedan-like features in the Grand i10 along with intelligent pricing, many car buffs, especially the youths, may flock for the new car, which could register commendable sales during and after the festive season.

Hyundai is revving up in the Rs 12 lakh car bracket ahead of the festive season by bringing in the fluidic 2012 Elantra at a starting price of Rs 12.51 lakh with Rs 15.8 lakh being the price tag for the top variant.

This move is to resurrect Hyundai’s presence in the executive sedan market.

Hyundai, which is surging ahead in the race to become one of the top car makers in not only India but also the world, has brought in a whopping seven variants of the Elantra – four diesel and three petrol – to the country.

The Elantra is propelled by 1,797 cc petrol and 1,582 cc diesel engines, both of which come with manual or automatic transmission options.

The Elantra’s four-cylinder petrol engine can churn out 149.5 PS@6,500 rpm and a 181 Nm of torque@4,700 rpm. The diesel unit has the CRDi engine, which powers the Verna that belts out 128 PS@4,000 rpm at 265 Nm torque with a range of 1,900-2,750 rpm.

According to the company, the new Elantra comes with a futuristic design, luxurious interiors, advanced features and unique advanced technology, front-ventilated seats and rear-parking camera.

It also has advanced safety features like vehicle stability management, silica tyres, solar glass, smart key with push button start, 10-way adjustable power driver seat along with lumbar support, dual zone FATC, auto cruise control, automatic headlight control as well as alloy wheels.

Hyundai is a force to reckon with. After being a dominant player in the compact car category (with its i10 brand becoming the trump card and turning out to be one of the highest selling cars in India), the Korean car giant is all set to make it big in the Rs 12 lakh sedan market.

Previously, Hyundai had only Sonata in this bracket but the car hasn’t been a viable option for customers since cost of maintenance was astronomical. But that has changed (for all car makers, though) and the over Rs 12 lakh cars are highly fuel efficient today.

With improved car models, Hyundai has grabbed a big chunk of the market, becoming the second largest car maker in the country. In exports, Hyundai is the number one in India.

Users of Hyundai cars have reported that the parts are highly durable, and if proper care is taken, a Hyundai can turn out to be a maintenance-free car for at least four years. But mileage has been a problem, on which Hyundai has been working.

Meanwhile, Hyundai has said the Elantra diesel will offer a fuel economy of over 22 km per litre while the petrol version will deliver a mileage of 16 km per litre.

The new car will vie with Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cruze, which are in the mid-sized saloon segment.

The Rs 12 lakh market sees sales of almost 3,000 cars a month on an average and Hyundai hopes the new Elantra will play a dominant role here.

The Elantra was brought to India 10 years ago, but failed to make a lasting impression. However, the new Elantra, with a slew of new features and a much-improved quality, is surely going to be a force to contend with, especially ahead of the forthcoming festive season.