Hyundai Motor plans to introduce the new generation Sonata in the country during the
second half of 2011, according to people familiar with the plan. The premium sedan in its sixth generation has been titled ‘i45’, and is set to give a boost to the second largest carmaker’s brand image.
The company already sells two hatchback models under the ‘i’ series — i10 and i20.
When contacted, Arvind Saxena, Hyundai Motor India’s director (marketing and sales), neither confirmed nor denied the launch. “We keep testing new products for the Indian market but usually don’t launch them immediately,” he added.
The new i45 sedan boasts off Hyundai’s latest fluidic sculpture of design, with more aerodynamic features than the previous Sonata model. The car will be fitted with a 2.4 litre petrol engine churning out 198 horsepower. Internally titled ‘Magic-Box’, the model is part of Hyundai’s launch strategy for the Indian market, and is expected to be a completely built unit (CBU) with a price tag of about Rs 19-20 lakh.
The car will burn the roads against Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi, Honda’s Accord, Volkswagen’s Passat, Nissan Teana and the segment leader Skoda Superb. The premium sedan segment expanded 36 per cent to 16,172 units in 2010-11, according to Siam (Society of Indian automobile manufacturers). In the year ago period, 11,898 cars were sold in the segment.
Hyundai’s current generation offering, Sonata Transform, stands at the bottom of the sales chart in the segment for the past two years. The carmaker sold 265 units of the model during 2010-11, a 40 per cent decline from 440 units sold in 2009-10. Skoda’s Superb alone sold 390 units in March, according to Siam.
The new Sonata will help the second largest carmaker tackle increasing competition in the premium segment. It will also help it increase its presence in the top-end of its portfolio, along with the recently launched sports utility vehicle, Santa Fe.
second half of 2011, according to people familiar with the plan. The premium sedan in its sixth generation has been titled ‘i45’, and is set to give a boost to the second largest carmaker’s brand image.
The company already sells two hatchback models under the ‘i’ series — i10 and i20.
When contacted, Arvind Saxena, Hyundai Motor India’s director (marketing and sales), neither confirmed nor denied the launch. “We keep testing new products for the Indian market but usually don’t launch them immediately,” he added.
The new i45 sedan boasts off Hyundai’s latest fluidic sculpture of design, with more aerodynamic features than the previous Sonata model. The car will be fitted with a 2.4 litre petrol engine churning out 198 horsepower. Internally titled ‘Magic-Box’, the model is part of Hyundai’s launch strategy for the Indian market, and is expected to be a completely built unit (CBU) with a price tag of about Rs 19-20 lakh.
The car will burn the roads against Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi, Honda’s Accord, Volkswagen’s Passat, Nissan Teana and the segment leader Skoda Superb. The premium sedan segment expanded 36 per cent to 16,172 units in 2010-11, according to Siam (Society of Indian automobile manufacturers). In the year ago period, 11,898 cars were sold in the segment.
Hyundai’s current generation offering, Sonata Transform, stands at the bottom of the sales chart in the segment for the past two years. The carmaker sold 265 units of the model during 2010-11, a 40 per cent decline from 440 units sold in 2009-10. Skoda’s Superb alone sold 390 units in March, according to Siam.
The new Sonata will help the second largest carmaker tackle increasing competition in the premium segment. It will also help it increase its presence in the top-end of its portfolio, along with the recently launched sports utility vehicle, Santa Fe.
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