Hyundai plans to launch the new Grand i10 mid-September this year to try and capture the growing number of small car buyers who are looking for an upgrade. This time around, it is not a facelift. It is a whole new car and it will not replace the current i10. Instead it will be positioned alongside as a premium option and priced to fit between the current i10 and i20.
It has not been confirmed if Shah Rukh Khan will endorse this model too.
Known only by its code name – BA – till now, the new Grand i10 has been created simultaneously for the Indian market and as the ‘IA’ for global markets. The new model will replace the first-gen i10 in a few markets and will be sold alongside the current model in at least 20 countries including India, according to HMIL officials.
The Grand i10 was designed at Hyundai’s European design centre in Germany. With the i10 being such a key product for India, the company wanted to make sure that specific changes to suit local tastes and preferences were included.
Hyundai officials say that the Indian arm’s R&D centres in Chennai and Hyderabad worked closely with HMC’s Namyang R&D centre to develop the ‘BA’ with changes that would suit the needs of buyers here.
Design
The ‘IA’ derived i10 will be launched at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Dimensionally, the BA-derived i10 is longer overall by 100mm and also has a longer wheelbase than the IA derived i10. There are a few India-specific changes that have been made in the Grand i10 that the international version will not feature.
Externally, what will be different will be the wider rear door window glass. In the global variants. HMIL engineers felt that with so many Indian owners opting to engage the services of chauffeurs, the IA design might make Indian buyers feel claustrophobic and crowded at the rear seat. So, the Grand i10 for the Indian market features a shoulder line that has a delayed curve upwards and the wider glass means that the cabin feels more airy.
The new Grand i10 is wider and longer than the current i10. The exterior of the Grand i10 looks more squat and sturdy and more proportional.
At the front, the new model’s design has a European flavour. Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy can be seen in the peeled back headlamps and the hexagonal bonnet grille design. Unlike the current i10’s flat hatch door, the new model’s hatchdoor is nicely curved and accommodative of a larger boot.
Peeled back tail-lamps which contribute to a pronounced haunch, a large curved rear glass, the hatchdoor handle with the Hyundai logo on it and the chunky rear spoiler together contribute a premium feel to the rear. But, the most unique feature inside the India-spec Grand i10 will be the rear airconditioner vent that is positioned between the front seats.
A 2-DIN MP3 audio player with 1GB of internal memory, auto-closing door mirrors, and a smart key and push-button start combo are some of the other features.
The position of the gear shift lever continues to be on the dashboard and just at the base of the centre stack. Hyundai officials say that many of the changes were driven by feedback received from existing customers.
Engines
The new Grand i10 will be offered with one petrol engine and one diesel engine and possibly four trim variants with each mill. The petrol engine is the 1.2-litre Kappa dual VTVT unit. This petrol engine will be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an automatic transmission.
The Grand i10 will also feature one of the smallest diesel engines in its class. It is the second generation, 1.1-litre, U2 CRDi diesel engine. The engine is paired only with the 5-speed manual gearbox.
To be positioned between the current i10 and the i20, the Grand i10 will most likely be priced in the Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh range. Some of the safety features may be offered only as part of an options package, but the rear aircon vents will be standard fitment.