After being unvielled at the Frankfurt International Motor show in 2011 and undergoing many a upgrades since, the Hyundai i30 looks set to be launched to be launched in India by the Korean manufacture. It is speculated that the car could be launched here tentatively around October 2014. Senior VP for Hyundai, Mr, Rakesh Srivastava divulged this to the Financial Express in a recent interview.
Globally the i30 is offered in four engine variants; 1.6 litre MPi, 1.6 litre GDi, 1.8 litre Mpi and 1.6 litre VGT. All the engines provide the front wheel with power through a six-speed Automatic or a six-speed Manual gearbox. In India though, its speculated the Hyundai might be more focused on efficiency than power leading to having smaller capacity engines. The Hyundai i30 will be priced under Rs. 10 Lakh according to Mr. Rakesh Srivastava.
The Hyundai i30 is developed at the company’s technical centre in Germany. The i30 is available in many forms such as a three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback or an estate. But India will see only the five-door hatchback with a length of 4300 mm and a wheelbase of 2650 mm. Speaking to Financial Express, Mr Srivastava said, “The i20 is among the finest hatchbacks in the country, but we also believe that above the i20, there is room for a very premium hatchback. Therefore, we are planning to come up with a new car that will be slotted above the i20. By this year-end we may come up with a new, very premium hatchback.”
Mr. Srivastava further adds that the i30 will attract a following in India because of the car’s easy maneuverability in a congested city environment along with the luxury and space of a mid-size sedan it offers. He also revealed that by next year, Hyundai will enter the country’s compact SUV segment with a new product.
In other markets, the Hyundai i30 goes up against the likes of Ford Focus, Honda Fit (Jazz) and the Toyota Corolla Hatchback. In Indian market – where hatchbacks form 68% of the total market share – the i30 will occupy a niche segment and will face competition only from the likes of the Volkswagen Cross Polo, Toyota Etios Cross. the upcoming Fiat Punto Avventura and the upcoming Honda Jazz. Owing to the speculated price it will be running against the lower models of the Ecosport and Duster as well and it would then be interesting to see whether the Hyundai i30 in India is the much awaited nemesis to the Compact SUV’s which have been having an excellent run these last 20 months.
Photo Gallery : 2013 Hyundai i30 5-Door Hatchback
Video : 2013 Hyundai i30
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Source: Financial Express
