New Hyundai Grand i10 debuts with locally-produced 1.1-litre diesel

New Delhi, September 3, 2013: Hyundai Motor India, the country’s second largest carmaker, had the global launch of its Grand i10 compact hatchback, a specially ‘made-for-India’ car that will be positioned between the existing i10 and i20 hatchbacks.

Based on a completely new platform, the new car comes with a longer wheelbase at 2425mm than the existing models, making it more spacious. It also sports the signature fluidic architecture that marks the i20, Elantra and Eon models.

To be available in petrol and diesel options, the Grand i10 will come in 4 trim levels -- Era, Magna, Sportz and Asta and eight colours -- and will be p riced between Rs 4.29 lakh for the Era petrol option and Rs 5.47 lakh for the Asta petrol variant. The diesel range starts at Rs 5.23 lakh for the Era trim with the Asta diesel costing Rs 6.41 lakh (all introductory prices, ex-showroom Delhi).

All Grand i10s will have a five-speed manual transmission with a four-speed automatic transmission to follow soon.

All-new 1.1-litre diesel engine debuts

The petrol Grand i10 is powered by the same 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT engine as in the i20 and has an ARAI-certified mileage of 18kpl. The big news is that the Grand i10 gets a 1.1-litre locally produced diesel engine – a second-generation U2CRDi motor that delivers an ARAI-certified mileage of 24kpl.

The diesel engine has been produced at Hyundai’s new flexi- diesel engine plant at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, which manufactures both the Kappa petrol as well as the 1.1 diesel engines and has a production capacity of 300,000 units per annum.

Speaking at the launch in New Delhi today, B S Seo, MD and CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said that the longer wheelbase in the new Grand i10 will lead to lower noise, vibration and harshness and create a new benchmark as a family car bringing enhanced value to the customer.

Some of the new car’s highlights are a segment-first rear AC vents which enable faster cooling, two-tone beige-and-black interiors and a wider rear window glass to provide an airy look and feel. The Grand i10 comes with push-button start and has a boot space of 256 litres that will accommodate three suitcases.

Safety features such as twin airbags and ABS are optional.

According to Nalin Kapoor, senior GM and Group Head (marketing), said the Grand i10 will be positioned in the high compact segment which has witnessed increased traction over the last few years. This segment is further sub-divided into high premium and high entry categories and the Grand i10 will target the high entry segment where Hyundai has not been present till now. The carmaker is optimistic of upping its market share from the existing 20.4 percent as well as its compact car share with the Grand i10.

Last year Hyundai posted sales of 643,000 units and is targeting sales of 650,000 units this calendar year. Of this, around 260,000 units will be contributed by exports; last year, Hyundai exported 240,000 units.

While the company’s is initially targeting the domestic market for Grand i10 sales, exports to Europe Asia, Australia and Africa will follow.

Seo said Hyundai plans to increase its export volumes from India next year in view of the ongoing slowdown and is currently negotiating for exports of the Grand i10 to various countries.

SHOBHA MATHUR