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.

LPG variant of Maruti 800

THE country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Friday launched a new 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, named M800 Duo will have dual fuel option of petrol and LPG, the company said in a statement.

“Dual fuel vehicles have always formed a prominent part of our overall product strategy. Besides, the car is economical to drive and being factory fitted, it is completely safe,” Maruti Suzuki India executive officer, marketing and sales, Mayank Pareek said.

The new M800 will be available in two options— M800 Standard with LPG, priced at Rs 2.05 lakh ex- showroom Delhi, and M800 AC LPG tagged at Rs 2.26 lakh. The company also offers Omni and WagonR in dual fuel options.

Hyundai too raising car prices as input costs mount

HYUNDAI Motor India Ltd ( HMIL), the Indian arm of the Korean automobile maker, on Wednesday said it would raise the prices of its products by up to two per cent from the first week of June.



“There has been an increase in the input costs and we have been absorbing it for a while. The situation now is such that we have to pass some parts of it to the consumers,” Hyundai Motor India Ltd senior vice president marketing and sales Arvind Saxena said. He said the company will hike the prices of its various models by up to two per cent. “The price increase will come into effect from the first week of June,” he added.

Hyundai currently sells hatchback models Santro, i10, Getz along with sedans Accent, Verna, Sonata Embera in the country. The companys move to hike prices follows rival Maruti Suzuki India Ltd ( MSIL), which last week hiked prices across various models by between Rs 1,000 and Rs 18,000.

Maruti had hiked the prices of all its petrol variants — the hatchback Swift, sedan SX4 and the Gypsy — by Rs 9,000, while the price of the diesel version of Swift was raised by Rs 15,000. It had also increased the price of all variants of Zen Estilo and WagonR LPG by Rs 1,000 and of Alto and M800 by Rs 1,500.

Prices of all variants of Omni and WagonR Petrol were hiked by Rs 2,000 and that of multi- utility vehicle (MUV) Versa by Rs 8,000. Earlier, in January, Hyundai Motor India had raised the prices of all its models by between two to three per cent.