Hyundai launches Grand i10, priced starting Rs 4.29 lakh

Hyundai Motor has launched its premium entry-level hatchback Grand i10, priced starting Rs 4.29 lakh (ex showroom Delhi). The Grand i10 comes in two engine variants - 1.1 litre diesel and 1.2 litre petrol.

With the launch of the new car, Hyundai has discontinued a variant of the existing i10 which is powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine to avoid cannibalisation.

"The Grand is particularly designed keeping in mind the needs of the Indian customers. The new vehicle comes with some of the most advanced features in this segment," Nalin Kapoor, senior general manager and group head marketing, Hyundai Motor India, told IANS.


"The Grand compliments our existing product portfolio and is smartly placed between i10 and i20, a segment where we had no presence till now," he said.

According to Kapoor, the Grand i10, which is built upon a new platform with a development cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore, features India specific dimensions and is 100 mm longer than its European version.

The diesel variant is powered by a 1.1 liter second generation U2 CRDi diesel engine which delivers 71 PS at the rate of 4,000 rpm (rotations per minute) and a mileage of 24 kms per liter.

The diesel engine is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. The vehicle is priced between Rs.5.23 lakh-to-Rs.6.41 lakh (ex-Showroom Delhi).

The petrol variant is powered by a 1.2 litre Kappa VTVT engine with an output of 83 PS at the rate of 6,000 rpm and mileage of 18.9 km per liter. The petrol engine offers the choice of five-speed manual transmission and is priced between Rs.4.29 lakh-to-Rs.5.47 lakh (ex-Showroom Delhi).

The vehicle may soon have automatic transmission, Kapoor added.


Hyundai, which is the largest car exporter from the country, is also looking to cash in on the rupee depreciation and has set a target of over 8 per cent growth in exports this year. It will also launch 1-2 new models every year in the domestic market in the next 3-4 years.

"The Indian automobile market is going through a slowdown right now, but it is a temporary phase. India has got potential in the long run...we will continue to being new products and technology and we hope that the Grand i10 will bring excitement to the market," Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Managing Director & CEO B S Seo said.

With the new 'Grand i10', the company is stepping up competition to market leader Maruti Suzuki India. The new Hyundai car would compete with the likes of Maruti Swift and Ford Figo, among others.

"The 'Grand' is a world class product developed for the Indian market...We expect 'Grand' with its excellent value proposition and its unique features, will serve wide range of customers in India," Seo added.


Grand i10 will be positioned between i20 and i10. The hatchback features rear AC vents, wider rear window, smart key for push button start, keyless entry, automatic folding outside mirrors, one GB internal memory in the integrated two-DIN music system and tilt steering.

Commenting on the sales forecast for 2013, HMIL Senior Vice President and Division head (Marketing & Sales) Rakesh Srivastava said the company is looking improve on last year's numbers.

"Industry has been on a decline for the last nine months and we would like to hold on to our volumes. This year we are targeting a total of about 6.5 lakh units as compared to 6.35 lakh units last year," he added.

Hyundai Motor had reported a marginal increase in domestic sales at 28,311 units in August this year from 28,257 units in August 2012.

On the export front, Srivastava said: "The rupee depreciation has been a sort of beneficial for us. This year we are looking a total export of 2.6 lakh units compared to 2.4 lakh units last year."