Update: New spy shots of a test mule snapped in a parking lot have popped up online, courtesy Bobaedream. The new images give a clearer view of the future model's grille design. Image gallery at the end of the story updated with the new spy shots.
21 January 2019 -
The 2019 Hyundai Grand i10, which will reportedly launch in October 2019, is being tested extensively in India and abroad. A Bobaedream forum member has posted a new spy shot showing two of its test mules parked with a mysterious Hyundai Tucson prototype in South Korea. Last month, CarDekho had posted the future car's interior spy shots.
The interior of the next generation Hyundai Grand i10 features the usual black & beige colour theme, turbine-like side aircon vents, and likely a new steering wheel. The test mule (above) is probably a mid-tier grade like Magna, which carries halogen headlights and traffic indicators on the fenders instead of the ORVMs. Furthermore, the car misses out on the blacked-out pillars and rides on steel rims with plastic wheel covers instead of the machined alloy rims seen on the top-spec version.
A peek at the cabin reveals the black-beige dual-tone colour scheme, along with what seems to be a new steering wheel. The side aircon vents flaunt a turbine-like design similar to what you find on the new Hyundai Santro. The equipment on offer will include a floating-type touchscreen infotainment unit, multifunction steering wheel, rear AC vents and a cooled glovebox.
Underpinning the 2019 Hyundai Grand i10 will be a robustized version of the BA architecture. Powering the new car will be BSVI-compliant version of the 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine. An oil burner option could be skipped owing to the fast dropping demand for diesel-powered hatchbacks, along with the high investment required to attain BSVI-adherence. An optional Smart Auto AMT is a given.
The 2019 Hyundai Grand i10 will be the third all-new model, after the Styx (QXI) and the Kona EV from the country's second most popular carmaker (Market share - 16.6%*) in the next calender year. It will offer competition to the seemingly invincible Maruti Swift (monthly sales avg. between June-Nov 2018 - 19,819 units). Prices could start at INR 5 lakh (ex-showroom).
*as of November 2018
[Image Source 1: cardekho.com]
[Image Source 2: bobaedream.co.kr]
