Despite the slowdown, Korean auto giant – Hyundai shown its commitment to its Indian market by unveiling its mega plans for next year. Hyundai which started shipping out i20 -the punto competetior will launch atleast three models in the small car segment in India over 2009. Here are details on Hyundai’s new small cars for 2009.
i20 is the getz replacement in european markets but in India Hyundai is yet to make headway in the premium small car segment. reason, Getz is totally eclipsed by swift. But soon this might be the thing of past, following the success of i10, i20 is solely made in India and will be exported to countries across the world. i20 is designed at the company’s European design centre at Russelsheim, Germany, and is designed and engineered to meet the European tastes and needs.Hyundai makes i20 in three variants — 1.2 litre, 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre — in both petrol and diesel versions. European styling, powerful engine, impressive cabin space and quality interiors of the new i20 makes us to believe Hyundai has already a winner in its hands. Hyundai will launch the i20 in January 2009.
While i10 has been a success story for Hyundai, a diesel would make the car to reach heights. The i10 diesel would come with a 1.1L CRDi engine developing 75PS of peak power at 6000rpm and 155Nm of max torque at 2000rpm. When i10 diesel comes to India, it would take the credit of carrying smallest diesel engine under its hood. i10 diesel is expected to be a fun to drive machine at the same time offering greater mileage. Going by the success of swift diesel, we expect cutomers to make a beeline in Hyundai’s showrooms. i10 diesel would hit the showrooms in 2009.
Hyundai’s new facelifted santro:
Though the santro is put to graveyard in the international market after the launch of i10, it continues to enjoy good response from Indian customers. To make it contemporary and to further boost its volumes Hyundai will launch a facelifted santro sometime in 2009. Expect the changes to be cosmetic as Hyundai is aggressively pushing the i10.
Hyundai’s ultra low cost car:
Ever since the Nano came out, Hyundai has set an eye on this segment. Though Hyundai earlier denied the fact that its low cost car won’t compete with Tata’s Nano. Now it accepts the low cost car would appeal the two-wheeler users aspiring for a car. “We are developing a small car in the entry level range and it should hit the market by 2011,” HMIL Managing Director H S Lheem said. “We have adequate capacity to manufacture (the new car) in the plant. It’s capacity is about 6.5 lakh cars per annum and we are sure that it will accommodate,” Lheem added.