If you are a regular reader of IndianAutosBlog you’d know everything about the new Verna (Codename – RB). Our first post on the new Verna came in late 2009 with spyshots of the car from South Korea. Since then we’ve kept a close watch on the Indian wing’ progress on the car.
IAB aficionado Sameer Bachhav was quick to pop out his camera and capture these images of the RB undergoing final tests on the outskirts of Chennai.
Hyundai has commenced bookings for the car that’s expected to be launched by the end of May. The Verna’ segment is about to be set ablaze with Ford arriving with the new Fiesta and Nissan busy readying the Sunny (wearing the Almera nameplate) for this festive season.
Hyundai has also opened up a teaser site for the new Verna. It wants to go all out and why shouldn’t it? The Santro, i10 and i20 have been titanic hits and the next immediate segment it needs to focus on is the saloon segment. That’s why Hyundai might offer up to four engine options strapped to manual and automatic transmission options right from the start.
Our reader Bairesh Raj caught the new Verna testing inside Chennai city. Regular readers will know that the new Verna has been constantly featured on Indian Autos Blog. We’ve brought you a barrage of images since we first reported on the car back on the 1st of October 2009. Kim Seong-hwan, senior vice president of Hyundai’s domestic marketing group at the Korean launch – We believe that we will rewrite [ Read More ]
Today morning we speculated on Hyundai branding the RB as Verna. Hardly few hours later we have solid proof – Autocar India has posted images of the RB caught undisguised by one of its readers at the Chennai factory. We don’t know if Hyundai is infuriated or shocked or both, but the images prove that the Verna branding will pass on to the RB. The new Verna, Autocar India says, [ Read More ]
Indian Autos Blog speculates Hyundai’s RB sedan will simply be called Verna. What this means is – 1) The existing Verna could get the boot and retire for good 2) The existing Verna could be produced in limited volumes Hyundai could use terms like “next generation,” “new” and “all new” in the Verna’s marketing campaign for India though these terms will not be used on the car. Sources tell Indian [ Read More ]
Very few foreign automotive companies have left as strong of mark on the Indian market as Hyundai. In fact, they are the second largest auto company in India after Maruti Suzuki. Despite entering a whole new market (all on their own and without any assistance) the Koreans have done the job over here. To further deepen its commitment in India, Hyundai announced they will launch 6 new models by the [ Read More ]
Our regular reader Hari who lives in Chennai spotted this Verna RB (RB is the codename of this vehicle) test mule standing across the street. The Verna RB is months away from reaching showroom floors, but it is making waves already. It has been unveiled in China as the new Verna. In Korea, Hyundai sells this car as the new Accent and Russia has seen this car as the Solaris [ Read More ]
A member of the popular auto enthusiast forum The Automotive India managed to snap the Hyundai Verna RB test mule in Chennai city. The pictures are not clear due to poor light.
The most valuable learning is the test car had an automatic transmission.
The Verna RB is expected in India by the end of 2011 with the same petrol and diesel engines tweaked to perform better. The future of the current Verna is hanging in the balance because the RB sedan will be positioned in the same price band. Since the Verna’s facelift last year, its numbers have been better so the saving grace might just be that. Hyundai can continue selling the current Verna in fewer trims.
The Verna RB will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Chennai facility this year. We think it will be here before Diwali. After the RB, Hyundai will bring the HA small car, Elantra MD and the Sonata YF.
A video of the 2011 Hyundai Verna caught testing in Chennai, has appeared on Youtube. The vehicle (codename – Hyundai RB) is being on the highway that leads to Hyundai factory.
Even though the car has been unveiled overseas (in China as the Verna, in Korea as Accent and RB Concept form in Russia), Hyundai is taking no chances in India. It continues to test it with camouflage. Apart from not giving anything away to its competitors, it also helps in maintaining anticipation levels. None of us have seen the car in flesh, and when that’s the case, it’s better to keep the camouflage on.
Hyundai can use its existing petrol engines (1.4 from i20 AT and 1.6 from the Verna) and the Verna’s 1.5-liter diesel engine is a scorcher. We expect the new Verna in India by the middle of 2011. There is no clarity on the prices but there aren’t many people who will pay beyond 11 lakh for a Verna.
click through for the video
