Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country?s largest car exporter and second largest car manufacturer, unveiled the electric version of the immensely popular compact car – i10 at Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. Considered as a breakthrough in the alternate fuel vehicle segment, the i10 electric ushers in a new era of mobility ? a zero-emission urban commuter vehicle.
The i10 Electric made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, 2009. Slated for a limited series production run in 2010 in the home market of Hyundai – South Korea, the all new i10 Electric is an embodiment of Hyundai?s radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment in research and development.
On the occasion, Arvind Saxena, Director (Marketing & Sales), HMIL, said, ?A growing awareness amongst consumers for all things green inspired us to introduce the electric version of our immensely popular compact car ? i10. It is truly a real-world car with zero emissions, and the unveiling today, marks the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Hyundai and for the industry. We hope that the heightened interest in electric vehicles will present us with a huge opportunity to bring in EV technology to the Indian market in the near future.?
Powered by a highly efficient 49kWh electrical motor and a 16kWh battery, the i10 electric uses advanced LiPoly (Lithium-Ion-Polymer) technology with numerous advantages over other batteries. The low kerb weight and the evolved battery technology gives the i10 Electric a driving range of 160km on a single charge to satisfy real-world consumer requirements with a top speed of 130kmph.
The i10 Electric offers dual recharging cycles: Charging at home through a 220V outlet is estimated to take approximately five hours for a 100 per cent capacity. With a 413V outlet, an industrial strength current, the battery can be recharged up to 85 percent of its capacity within 15 minutes.
The i10 Electric incorporates advanced LiPoly batteries which compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) delivers the same power with 30 percent less weight, 40 percent less volume and 12 percent greater efficiency. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.
Hyundai Motor Pavilion at the Auto Expo 2010
Designed under the theme of ?Trust and Innovation?, Hyundai?s futuristic stand at the 10th Auto Expo will display the full line-up of passenger cars and Concept vehicles. Each of the cars highlights a different aspect of the Hyundai?s brand pillars – passionate driving, customer satisfaction, innovation and trust.
Mr. Saxena, further adds, ?All vehicles displayed here reflect Hyundai?s in-built principles of Trust & Innovation. These inherent qualities are unique to Hyundai and are fundamental to the popularity of our vehicles with customers in India and around the world. Hyundai welcomes its visitors at the Auto Expo as it provides glimpse in to the world of Hyundai as it is today and what it will be tomorrow.?
The pavilion creates two different zones for the visitors to experience two important aspects of Hyundai?s success. Trust which the company has enjoyed in India for the last 11 years and Innovation which has helped the company to meet the demands and the needs of its customers for so many years. The promise is to keep and grow both. As Hyundai grows it will add to its customer base and continuously innovate to be on the cutting edge of automotive technology.
?Trust? is represented by the ever reliable and trusted line-up of cars like Santro, i10, i20, Accent, Verna and Sonata Transform while the exciting new i10 Electric, Genesis Coupe, i-mode and H1 are the embodiment of ?Innovation? which will satisfy future customers.
Under the ?Trust? umbrella, Santro, the flagship brand from Hyundai has been one of the top-selling models both in India and the overseas market with sales of over 15 million units since its launch in September, 1998. In fact, to meet the phenomenal demand, Hyundai has introduced the all new stylish Santro in September, 2009 with many added features to considerably raise the bar for cars in this segment.
The practical Hyundai i10 and the stylish, fun-to-drive i20 are Hyundai?s new high-volume players which have set new benchmarks for their respective segments. Both these cars deliver the optimal blend of distinctive design, voluminous interiors, fuel economy and technology to its customers. Hyundai i10 made its world debut in India in October, 2007 and since then it has won the hearts of the customers and the industry by claiming all the Car of the Year 2008 awards from the critics as well as the hearts of the customers.
With its fresh and head-turning styling, quality interior, class-leading safety and engaging driver dynamics, the sparkling new Hyundai i20 took centre stage at the 2008 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile (Paris Motor Show). Known for quality and customer satisfaction Hyundai i20 has been awarded with the European NCAP five star rating which makes it first ?India made car? to attain the highest safety ratings. This has not only made i20 as one the safest car in its segment but also has globally raised the benchmark for compact cars (B segment) not only in terms of performance, build quality, ergonomics and aesthetics but also majorly in terms of occupant and pedestrian safety.
In the month of July 2009, HMIL launched the diesel version of the popular hatchback i20 to cater to the ever-expanding diesel market in India. With average sales of i20 crossing over 4,000 units per month in the domestic market and around 8,000 units in the overseas market, both i10 & i20 have been driving the growth story of Hyundai Motor in India.
Accent has always been a very strong product in its segment. Keeping in mind its commitment to launch environmentally friendly vehicles, Hyundai had introduced the CNG version of its popular selling sedan. Thereafter, the LPG version was launched that added to the appeal of Accent, and the customers found it to be a really attractive proposition as it was not only cheaper to run and maintain but also eco friendly.
In February 2009, Hyundai introduced the new Verna with refurbished interiors and also a new automatic diesel variant – the first of its kind in the segment. Uniquely developed for a demanding segment of Indian consumers, the automatic version provides economy of diesel and the convenience of an automatic transmission in the same package. Its high fuel efficiency and plush interiors combined with a perfect blend of performance, style and world class features has made it a highly popular and contemporary choice in C segment commuting.
Launched in January 2009, Sonata Transform offers high end luxury combined with top notch comfort and advanced safety features for its premium customers. For the first time in India Hyundai introduced the Theta powered engine in the Sonata that delivers more power and torque while improving on the fuel-economy.
Leading the showcase of new products and technologies under ?Innovation? theme is the ?i-mode? which is set to take the stage with its amazing blend of visionary styling, futuristic technologies and advanced eco-dynamics. The car was first showcased at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, 2008. This innovatively styled and eco-friendly vehicle with its impressive mono-volume architecture provides an invitation to travel, explore and relax within the concept of a moving cocoon. Powered by the Euro 6 ready all-new 2.2-liter R (Dual Turbo) diesel engine, the i-mode concept incorporates high-tech materials, swivel seats and state-of-the-art communication solutions into a completely new vehicle impression.
The Hyundai Genesis sedan which was first launched in the Korean and the North American market won many accolades for itself including the coveted title – ?North American Car of the Year 2009? and the prestigious ?Canadian Car of the Year 2009?. On display at the Hyundai pavilion this year will be the all new high performance Genesis Coupe ? the sports variant of the Genesis sedan with focus on performance and luxury. The new Genesis Coupe highlights upscale new design, responsive driving dynamics and class-leading technology. The Genesis Coupe which followed the Genesis sedan comes in two performance-focused engine variants – a 212-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a range-topping all-aluminum 306-horsepower, DOHC 3.8-liter V6 engine with the new rear wheel drive architecture.
Joining these technological marvels at the stand is H1 ? the comfortable and convenient, spacious and flexible, stylish and luxurious van from Hyundai. With a choice of nine or twelve seats, the H-1 Van is at home in a variety of business and leisure roles ? as a hotel shuttle, for tourists on sight-seeing trips or for taking sports club members (and all their gear) to the big event. And because it’s a Hyundai, reliability and economy are part of the DNA.