Hyundai could soon begin selling the new Hyundai Avante (Elantra) to India. The Avante will sit between the new Verna RB and the Sonata YF, just like it does in South Korea, where its premiere was conducted a few weeks ago and shortly go on sale.
The Avante is loaded with advanced technology and futuristic styling. Take for example its engine – the 1.6-liter direct injection petrol engine produces 136hp and 166Nm of torque.
The 1.6 litre petrol engine is married to an all new six-speed automatic transmission which also appears on the Santa Fe, another Hyundai that’s traveling to India.
The Avante will have features like HID headlights with LED tail lights. Heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a full-colour TFT LCD display in the instrument cluster are on the feature list.
There is no talk of a diesel variant on the Avante which the competition in India is hurriedly preparing. The segment leader Chevrolet Cruze is available only in diesel and the Corolla Altis will get one this month. The Skoda Laura enjoys its company already and only the Honda Civic has missed out.
Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL) has confirmed that the Santa Fe SUV would be launched in October 2010 and the new Elantra is being developed and could soon be launched.
Y K Koo, Senior Director, HMIL -
Santa Fe may be launched in the month of October and its price can be in the range of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 22 lakh which will be very competitive. The market for premium segment in which Elantra fits in is just 3 per cent of total market size of cars in the country. But this market is growing.
Hyundai has chosen to bring the Santa Fe SUV at a very crucial time as the premium SUV market is growing rapidly and the only a few strong contenders to compete with are the Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva wth their diesel engines while Toyota has temporarily stopped bookings for the Fortuner and Honda CR-V’s exorbitant price is shooing customers away.
Hyundai’s new SUV could bring in a lot of new buyers as the Santa Fe has got the right looks and presence and moreover the Hyundai Santa Fe would be a refreshing new option for buyers in this segment.
Hyundai plans to relaunch the Elantra in India with the latest generation 2011 version. The new 2011 Hyundai Elantra sports Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design language and comes with a 1.6 liter direct injection gasoline engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces 138 bhp and 167 Nm of torque.
The Elantra for India could also come with a diesel option to take on the Toyota Corolla Altis Diesel to be launched later next month. The Hyundai Elantra when it comes could be the most futuristic looking car in the segment. We expect Hyundai to bring the new Hyundai Elantra by mid-2011, probably after the new Hyundai Sonata’s launch.
A company official from Hyundai got in touch with us a while back and made it clear that the Hyundai Avante is shelved and the Hyundai has no plans of introducing it in the Indian market as of now.
Hyundai also tells us the Sante Fe, which like the Avante was displayed at the Auto Expo in 2008, is not arriving in India any time soon.
Sources close to Hyundai tell us the company’s busy in preparation for its next big launch after the i20 CRDi, the Avante. The Avante will replace the Elantra (production of this car stopped last year we are told).
Interestingly, the company is also thinking about a diesel option for the Avante. Our source adds a 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engine finds occupation in Hyundai’s newest offering in India. The 1.4-liter petrol engine used on the i20 could also be fitted to the new car.
Hyundai is looking at providing diesel engines for all cars in its line-up. It stated with the Sonata, then the i20 and now the Avante.
Note – The Hyundai i10, the Santro and the small car GB will also get diesel options in the future.
Hyundai is very obsessed with Blue (the new name for ‘Green’) cars these days. Keeping with the same theme, the Korean automaker showcased Avante/Elantra LPI Hybrid – The World’s first Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered hybrid car, in Korea.
Hyundai could soon begin selling the new Hyundai Avante (Elantra) to India. The Avante will sit between the new Verna RB and the Sonata YF, just like it does in South Korea, where its premiere was conducted a few weeks ago and shortly go on sale.
