Hyundai will unveil the Grand i10 based compact sedan on the 4th of February, 2014. The vehicle will make its global debut in India as the Korean automaker feels this sub 4-metre sedan is crucial to boost volumes in India. Hyundai doesn’t have an entry-level sedan which is one of the biggest segments in India. Maruti Suzuki and Honda are enjoying good volumes in the compact sedan segment with the Swift DZire and Amaze respectively. The Grand i10 compact sedan will give tough competition to the Japanese big-wigs which are dominating the compact sedan market.
The Hyundai Grand i10 is one of the best hatchbacks in the country today and looking at the way this vehicle has been engineered, we have high hopes from the Grand i10 based compact sedan. The vehicle will fill in the shoes of the Accent, one of Hyundai’s very successful models in India which was axed just recently. The company could use the Accent nameplate for the Grand i10 sedan, which will be priced between Rs. 6-8 lakhs, sitting right between the Grand i10 hatchback and the Verna, alongside the i20 hatchback.
We can expect even better interior room in the Grand i10 sedan as the wheelbase will be longer than the hatchback. Features will be shared between both the cars and thus Hyundai’s new sub 4-metre saloon will boast of class-leading equipment. Powering the Grand i10 compact sedan would be the same set of engines which do duty on the Grand i10 hatchback. The 1.1-litre, 3-cylinder U2 diesel engine produces 71 PS and 158 Nm while the 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder Kappa mill outputs 83 PS and 114 Nm. The 1.4-litre diesel engine could also be used.
The Hyundai Grand i10 has received rave reviews for being a revolution of a product. The vehicle recently swept the ICOTY (India Car Of The Year) award, beating equally awesome products from Honda and Ford (Amaze and EcoSport). Hyundai had to hike production to meet the demand for the Grand i10 and we expect the sedan version to be even a bigger success. 35,000 units of the Grand i10 are already on Indian roads in a matter of just 3 months. Sales of the Grand i10 compact sedan are expected to commence in April next year.
