Hyundai's new all-rounder diesel i20

We have talked about the Hyundai i20 before. We know that Hyundai has been in India for just 10 years (though it feels much longer) and that there is a Hyundai car for every one. We know that from one car initially the company makes 33 variants of passenger cars across different segments. So why should Hyundai’s new i20 have me intrigued again? Because the car we drove earlier had the i10’s Kappa engine in it and now Hyundai has just introduced two new engines – a 1.4L petrol and a 1.4L common rail diesel. With these two new engines Hyundai has just moved up into a new segment and issued a challenge to the other players in the market.

Most things have not changed – Its still a five-door car, with the same dimensions as that of the Kappa-engined version (LxBxH = of 3940mm x 1710mm x 1505mm) and a wheelbase of 2525mm. Features have not changed much either – the AC/heating, the tilt & telescopic steering, split folding rear seats, front & rear power windows, and the multi information display are all there along with keyless entry, height-adjustable driver seat, electrically adjustable door mirrors and airbags.

The i20 definitely attracts attention. It attracted a lot of attention when it was launched at the Paris Motor Show and it still gets eyeballs to turn appreciatively on Indian streets. Under the skin you have MacPherson struts with gas-charged dampers at front and a torsion beam suspension. The rear dampers are also gas-charged shock. The i20 received a5-star rating at the Euro-NCAP crash because of all the active and passive safety equipment incorporated in it, including antilock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Ford sets early 2010 target to launch small car in India

Armed with a $500-mn investment outlay, Ford Motors has set early 2010 as the target to launch a small car in India, start its new engine-making unit and double the assembly line capacity, a top official said here.

The US-based giant will also unveil its refurbished Ikon by next month to expand its range of offerings in the country that includes Fusion, Endeavour and Fiesta, said Michael Boneham, managing director and president of Ford India.

"Ford now has a presence in only 30 percent of India's automobile market segments. We are entering other segments too. These are exciting times," Boneham told IANS at the company's factory at Maramalai Nagar on the outskirts of the Tamil Nadu capital.

"We are also commissioning a new engine manufacturing unit. It will serve both the domestic and global markets. It will have the flexibility to produce diesel and petrol engines. The idea is to go for higher localisation in the months to come."

Speaking about the small car project, the Ford official said it was being designed and developed specifically for India by a global team. "It will meet the needs of Indian conditions - like water wading, air-conditioning and emission standards."



While declining to divulge any further information on the project, Boneham said it will have a sub-1.2-litre engine with a length of no more than four metres to avoid higher taxes. "It will be very, very competitive in that segment."

Ford's first offering here was the "Josh machine" Ikon that rolled out in 1999 from this city, often called the Detroit of India for hosting auto companies like Hyundai, BMW, Mitsubishi, Ashok Leyland, Caterpillar, TVS, Tafe and Same.

Nissan and Daimler are among some global players that have definite plans to set up their units in this city.

Boneham said the company's integrated engine plant for 250,000 units per annum will be its first outside Europe and will make low-displacement engines for cars to be rolled out of its Indian plant for both domestic market and exports.

He said the existing $26-mn diesel engine assembly plant, with a capacity for 50,000 diesel and 10,000 petrol engines for Fiesta and Fusion, would be eventually integrated with the new plant.

The company has the capacity to assemble some 100,000 cars per year at its facility here, which will be doubled to 200,000.

Queried about the future of its tie up with the Indore-based Avtec that supplies 1.6 litre petrol engines, Boneham said: "We will continue to work with them. We will look at sourcing components from Avtec."

He also sought to dispel the perception that the cost of ownership of Ford cars was high compared with those offered by Japanese and South Korean companies, as several factors like fuel efficiency and servicing were also involved.

"As per our study, in some parts we are costlier and in some others we are cheaper. Overall, we are very competitive in this area. We are working to lower component costs further. Our diesel engine is more fuel efficient than many others," he said.

"High localisation is intended to achieve that. We are extremely quality conscious. Today, we can say we are far more satisfied and comfortable with our vendors."

Tata Motors may face penalty in Europe on JLR emissions

Tata Motors may face penalty for excess emissions from its newly acquired high-end Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) vehicles with a stringent environment law being enforced in Europe by 2012, reports Economic Times.

In an initiative aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from new passenger cars by 19 per cent, the European Commission had adopted a proposal for legislation in December 2007.

The manufacturers can, however, make cars with emissions above the permitted limits, but have to balance by vehicles which emit less than the set standards.

Thus Jaguar-Land Rover, acquired by Tata Motors in March this year, will have to reduce their emissions. The emission standards are crafted in a way such that heavier cars have to improve more than lighter cars.

Under the proposed legislation, a premium of 20 Euros per gm per km has been proposed in the first year (2012), rising to 95 Euros by 2015.

Shares of the company declined Rs 10.55, or 2.43%, to settle at Rs 422.8. The total volume of shares traded was 134,343 at the BSE (Wednesday).

Hyundai comes out with CNG variant of Accent

THE country’s second largest car- maker Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Monday introduced the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) variant of its mid- size sedan Accent, which will cost Rs 56,500 more than the existing version. The new Accent would be available in dual fuel mode - petrol and CNG, the company said in a statement.

The current petrol version is available for Rs 4.99 lakh (ex- showroom). The dual fuel Accent will use CNG as an alternative fuel. The Accent comes with a1.5 litre petrol engine which, without any modification is compatible with CNG, it added.

Hyundai Motor has tied up with the leading Korean CNG kit supplier CEV, who would provide all the components of the fitment. The kit is not only safe but its advanced Lambda control system ensures adherence to Euro III emission norms, it said.

Last year HMIL had introduced a CNG variant for its flagship model, Santro. It is currently planning to launch LPG variants across all categories, which would kick off with Santro in August. Initially, CNG Accent would be launched in Delhi and the NCR in collaboration with CEV India. “The Accent has been one of our best selling models ever since its launch. Offering it with a CNG kit will only add to its appeal as it will not only be cheaper to run but also eco-friendly,” HMIL managing director H. S. Lheem said.

Late last week, the country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd launched an LPG variant of its once flagship model M800, priced between Rs 2.05 lakh and Rs 2.26 lakh (ex- showroom Delhi). The new model, M800 Duo, will have dual fuel option of petrol and LPG, the company said.