The entry level saloon segment, led by the Maruti Dzire and Tata Indigo, has been growing faster than the current 20 per cent growth of the auto Industry in general. Nearly 3,60,000 cars were sold in this segment last year. It’s now about to be churned up as two popular older saloons the Hyundai Accent and Ford Fiesta have been re-priced to compete with the less expensive saloon models in this segment. We can also see that the production of their top models the Verna and Fiesta are all set to try and snatch business from the segment leaders Honda City and VW Vento.
Hyundai, who has done brilliantly with their sleek i10 and i20 hatchbacks, will bring forward many styling cues into this new model Verna to make it far more attractive than the outgoing 6th generation model. This new model has been launched after a successful launch in China and Russia. Not only does the new Verna have the Hyundai ‘fluidity’ lines — of curves and angles — but it has a sleek side profile rising up from a low creased bonnet to a high boot with a high waist line. The slinky ‘wrap around’ composite lights with hockey stick parking lights continue this fluid theme. Though it is only 7mm longer than the old model it’s wider and more spacious with quite a big boot. As this segment is important to Hyundai they have lavished a lot of attention on the interiors and electronic gizmos to make them appealing to an increasingly fussy generation of young buyers.
Customers will be delighted that the new saloon will be powered by an interesting choice of engines from 1400 cc diesel and petrol and engines of 90 and 106 HP to a set of powerful 1600 cc diesel and petrol plants generating 122 to 126 HP respectively. The top petrol and diesel models will also offer a six speed automatic gearbox that will be a great boon for drivers in India’s hectic stop and go city driving. Thus Hyundai offers a range of 10 super looking saloons to meet most consumer desires in a wide price band between `7.80 and 11.48 lakhs plus an automatic model at `12.27 lakhs. With such wide choices for every taste it’s not surprising that Hyundai have had nearly 30,000 bookings since its launch two months ago.
The writer is an automotive expert and the former editor of a national
magazine.