Hyundai to introduce next-gen i10 with diesel engine

Hyundai Motors India will offer the next generation i10 with a diesel engine. Autocar Professional reports that the new car codenamed, the BA, is currently under tests and is expected to be launched with a 3 –cylinder 1.1-litre CRDi diesel engine and a 1 litre petrol kappa engine, in late 2013. 

The 1.1-litre diesel engine, which is expected to be the smallest diesel mill offered by the company ever, will be produced alongside the petrol engine at the Korean carmaker’s Sriperumbudur plant. The company currently produces diesel engines in the 1.4 and 1.6-litre variants that are used in the i20 and the Verna respectively. The 1.6-litre diesel will also power the Elantra, which will be launched on August 13.

The 1 litre petrol engine, which is expected to have a higher output and more torque than the current engine is likely to phase out the old Epsilon engine powering the Santro Xing and the base i10.  This engine is specifically being developed for the Indian market. 

According to reports, the engines, which are currently in development stage, will be tested in Korea by the end of the year. This is will be followed by further testing in India during the first quarter of 2013.

We are not surprised by reports that Hyundai is developing a diesel engine for the entry-level hatchback. The recent trends clearly show that customers are willing to move one segment up for an efficient diesel engine and the market share of small cars is steadily dropping. The i10 is not the only diesel hatchback under works – the Honda Brio will get a diesel engine by the end of this year, upcoming Chevy Sail hatchback also has diesel guise and even the Tata Nano diesel has been caught testing few times. 

Source: Autocar