We’re not surprised by Autocar India’s report on the new Verna’s Indian journey next year. Ask our regular readers and they’ll tell you how we have been behind this car since October last year, writing about every spyshot that appears online and sharing our views on this model continuously.
Autocar has written the new Verna could be priced between 12-13 lakh, and that isn’t the best thing we’ve heard this year. As we move from one generation of cars to another, especially in India, we simultaneously move to higher segments.
With the launch of the new Verna, Hyundai will be selling three generations of the car (Accent, Verna, new Verna) under one roof. Rumor has it that the Verna Transform (facelifted Verna) will be launched in India by the end of this year, so it definitely is going to stay on for the next few years. The Accent likewise (unconfirmed) will be sold in India, with a petrol engine till 2014.
The Verna at its birth place (Chennai) costs 6.50-9.00 lakh rupees. Selling the replacement model at almost twice the cost (with possibly 1.6-liter twins) isn’t a wise idea, and I don’t have to explain why. Competing with the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Laura and the Honda Civic with a Verna that’s a Sonata wannabe is playing with fire – make no mistake, you will get burnt.
Let us for a moment consider this as the actual price. If the new Verna at 13 lakh is brought in to fight the Civic, what segment will the next generation Hyundai Elantra (Code : MD, in the case of it reaching India) compete in? Is that the Accord/Superb slayer? Then what about the Hyundai Sonata YF? Is that going for the BMW 3 Series?
Isn’t someone telling Hyundai that it’s about to show everyone what “digging my own grave” means?
Source – Autocar India
it looks beautiful,but 13 lakhs is just too high
Still, 33k is GROSLY overpriced for an accent. In order for this car to sell even in moderate numbers it has to be priced below 10 laks or 25k. which is what most cars in the b segment go for in India. If Hyundai prices this car north of 10 laks, it will fail much like the Honda Jazz (aka Honda Fit). Hyundai desperately needs a b segment winner in order to cope with it’s ever tumbling market share. As of now, Hyundai still has a “cheap, econobox” image in india since it never cracked the sedan market. Heck, more Benz E-classes where sold in India than Hyundai Sonata’s. Currently. If Hyundai manufactures the accent locally and sells this car at 6-7 lacks, it will be a RUNAWAY HIT and will increase the overall brand image. The intoxicated officials at hyundai will set the woefully facelift Verna Transform (Awfully modified 2nd generation Accent) against a modern masterpiece like the VW Vento. HYUNDAI seriously needs to wake up. Renault, Nissan, Ford and VW all have LOCALLY PRODUCED cars planed for the B segment in India while hyundai is only ready to offer a mediocre 2nd generation Accent. Hyundai needs to sell this car cheaper or their market share is falling as fast as their car’s resale value and their brand image will be as low as the Sonata’s sales figures!
Yeah you have a point on that pricing. I hear Indians pay a ton of Car tax.
This is a much improved Verna. In the US this is going to marketed as The Genesis of Small cars. The Grille, Gauge Cluster, Headlamps, and Side Mirrors will be different for the US market. The Grille will look like New Avante, the Side Mirrors will look like new Avante, and the US Spec Headlights have more features and look like New Avante too.
US Engines will feature the same 1.6 Gamma, but with GDI for even more power and fuel economy, like 140 HP at least. The US Powertrain is pretty much the same 1.6 GDI with 6 Speed Tranny that deubted in Avante.
That Engine for the US Market isnt going to cut it in Elantra/Avante, but it will make the Accent the Leader of Small cars in America.
US Avante gets the 2.0 NU Engine with GDI that will give it near 170 HP and maybe 5.8L /100km (40 MPG). The engine will be manufactured in China, and sent to America for production at the Alabama plant.
Hyundai isnt trying to sell the Indian Market short, its just that GDI technology itself could add 0.47 Lakhs extra to the price.
Still, 13 lacks is equivalent to $32,000 USD is Obscene for a car in its class. The same car cost $13,000 USD (5.2 lacks) in America. So basically yall are trying to sell an Accent for the price of a Genesis!
Ill Explain to you a little about the segment. Verna is more as what we call in America a B/C. Its a Subcompact/Compsact. Its a Subcompact but its classified as a Compact, and it has many compact car features. It wont compete with Civic really. Its main goal is the be the benchmark of B-Segment=A0 cars.
Thanks for the info. Ill be sure to highlight your site.