Hyundai i20 diesel launched in India

India's largest passenger car exporter and second largest passenger car manufacturer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) on Tuesday launched its second salvo Hyundai i20 diesel in Indian market. Hyundai i20 is a premium hatchback model and its new diesel variant is available with the new CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection), DOHC, 16-Valve, VTVT (Variable Timing Valve Train) technology that offers good acceleration, driving comfort, low emissions with good fuel efficiency of 20kmpl. The new Hyundai i20 is also launched with the Automatic Transmission option that comes with the new 1.4L, GAMMA petrol engine.

Hyundai i20 is launched with three diesel variants and all three variants are priced in the range of Rs 6.19 lacs to Rs 7.20 lacs while its petrol variant which is launched with the automatic transmission option and with more powerful Gamma engine that produces 100PS power are priced in the range of Rs 7.31 lacs to Rs 7.72 lacs. With the launch of these new variants, now Hyundai i20 is available in eight variants. Hyundai has so far sold more than 72,000 units of Hyundai i20 in the Indian market since its launch in December 2008.

The Hyundai i20 comes with newer generation security features like 6 airbags (including dual front and side curtain airbags), rear disc brakes with ABS (Antilock Brake System) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). Hyundai plans also for the launch of its newer SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), Hyundai Santa Fe in September 2009 and a new small car in near future. The company official said that Hyundai targeted to manufacture 5.8 lacs unit in year 2009 that is much more than 4.9 lacs units in 2008 out of total installed capacity of six lacs units. Hyundai had planned to start producing diesel engines at its Chennai plant by 2010.