Hyundai India has finally launched i20 diesel version, one of the most eagerly awaited premium hatchback of this year. The diesel version comes at a time when Maruti Suzuki has launched Ritz. Fiat has launched Grande Punto in petrol and diesel version. Hyundai i20 has been enjoying immense success.
The diesel run car will join the more successful Hyundai i20 equipped with 1.4L GAMMA DOHC 16 valve VTVT engine. While Hyundai i20 diesel had been expected for a long time, the company has also come up with a surprise package to upgrade the 1.4litre petrol automatic version of the car.
Hyundai i20 diesel version of powered by a 1.4litre CRDI powertrain that gave 90 bhp power and 220 Nm torque of output. This engine gives Hyundai an edge over its rivals like Skoda Fabia TDi and Maruti Suzuki Ritz diesel. When the diesel version for Hyundai i20 announced, many auto experts believed that the 1.5litre CRDI which is already installed in Getz , would be transplanted to the i20 diesel version. However, Hyundai surprised everybody with a newly developed diesel engine.
Diesel cars have always outperformed petrol run cars in India. This is particularly true of the small cars and the premium sedan segment, which has a huge consumer base in urban cities. The Hyundai i20 diesel version is likely to attract urban families now. The new car will be available with either manual or automatic transmission.
Hyundai offers the diesel i20 in three variants- Magna, Asta and Asta (Option) which comes with the sunroof. Magna will feature power windows, tilt/telescopic steering wheel and air conditioning/ heating system. The mid range Asta is the fully loaded version. The top end Asta Option will have additions like the alloy wheels and six airbags apart from the sunroof.
Hyundai i20 diesel comes pricing which is closer to the petrol version. The base Magna 1.4L CRDI will be offered from Rs 6.2 lakh onwards, while the prices for Asta start from Rs 6.83 lakh. The Asta (Option) with a sunroof comes with a price of Rs 7.2 lakh and above.
Hyundai has also introduced a performance oriented 1.4 L petrol engine option for the i20 available only with automatic transmission. This is likely to attract more urban car buyers.
Hyundai i20 has performed extremely well in the Indian car market since it was launched in November 2008. In fact, a survey in the last quarter of the 2008-09 had revealed that Hyundai i20 was among the four models which beat the slowdown blues. The Hyundai i20 petrol comes with Kappa engine technology which is currently selling in good numbers last year. The CRDI variant too is expected to perform better than its petrol variant.
The new Hyundai portfolio with a petrol and diesel version of the premium hatchback i20 is expected to give Honda Jazz a tough fight for its money.
