Cars: Auto, Hyundai Motors India, Hyundai i20, India

i20 launch by end-December

Despite a dull market, Hyundai Motors India is planning to launch its five-door hatchback i20 by the year-end. The car had made its debut at the Paris Motor Show 2008 in October and will be priced in the Rs 5-5.5-lakh range.

Hyundai i20 will take on Suzuki Swift Zxi and Skoda Fabia, priced at Rs 5.08 lakh and Rs 5.24 lakh, respectively. It will sport a 1.4-litre petrol Kappa engine and will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Chennai plant.

In fact, Hyundai had started exporting i20 to Europe in November 2008. While this model will replace Getz in Europe over the medium term, the company is non-committal about its phase out schedule for India.

“A lot will depend on the market conditions. In another five years, a number of our models may or may not be phased out,” said Hyundai Motor India senior V-P Arvind Saxena. He also clarified that the company had no plans to launch a diesel variant of i20 as of now.

Dec19, 2008
Source: Economic Times
URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Auto/i20_launch_by_end-December/articleshow/3861987.cms