Hyundai launches compact car i10

Hyundai’s Santro will have to take a back seat with the launch of the company’s new compact car i10, with a 1.1 litre petrol engine.

The i10 will be manufactured in India for both the domestic and international markets. i10 is expected to become Hyundai’s flagship product. Hyundai had announced that India would be the global hub for the manufacture of its small cars.

By next year, Hyundai also intends to launch the diesel variant of i10 with a 1.1 litre engine in India, but for some time, the diesel engine would be imported.

The i10 is positioned between Hyundai’s Santro and the ‘Getz’ premium hatchback. It carries a starting price of Rs 3.39 lakh and has variants priced up to Rs 4.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), with the top-end loaded with features like ABS, air bags, sun roof and seat belts with pre-tensioners.

Hyundai expects to sell a minimum of 1.5 lakh units of the i10 next year in the domestic market while exports of the vehicle are expected to be around 1 lakh units. The i10 will compete with Maruti Suzuki’s Swift and WagonR, and GM’s Spark and U-VA.