Hyundai To Launch Five New Cars In India By 2019

It's fair to say that Hyundai has been largely successful in the Indian market. Not just in terms of volume but also in terms of technology, Hyundai has been consistently raising its game. For the next two years, it will introduce some world-renowned as well as brand new, India-specific cars in the country. What's better is that these cars will be spread across the brand's entire portfolio. Hence, there will be something for everyone. Two new cars have been lined up for both 2017 and 2018, including a new entry-level hatch and possibly a new brand flagship. Also, there is an all-new SUV for 2019.

2017

Hyundai Xcent Facelift

This year, Hyundai has already introduced the Grand i10 facelift and they have two more cars to offer. The Grand i10 facelift got minor updates on the outside and major equipment/mechanical tweaks. Now, it's the Xcent's turn to undergo the same treatment. The Hyundai Xcent facelift will feature similar changes as witnessed on the Grand i10, which includes a new front grille, front and rear bumpers, a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control and most significantly, an updated, bigger diesel engine. 

P.S - Check out the Hyundai Grand i10 facelift review

Next-generation Hyundai Verna

Later this year, in August, Hyundai will bring out the all-new Verna. A highly anticipated model, the all-new Verna is looking like an apt competitor for the new Honda City, which has made the current Verna redundant. The next-gen Verna looks a lot edgier than the current generation and even gets better equipment. It gets a new hexagonal grille with vertical slats which is in line with Hyundai's new design language. The sedan has already been launched in China and will be entering India next.

2018

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

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Next year, Hyundai will start big with the Auto Expo, which will be held from February 9 to 14, 2018, at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida. The Korean automaker will bring its Ioniq family to the show and will most likely launch the hybrid, as the plug-in hybrid is yet to make its international market debut. This is not even the best part. The Ioniq hybrid will not be a CBU, but a CKD! This means that the car will be priced close to Rs 30 lakh. Hyundai is aiming to bring it close to Rs 25 lakh, but it looks like a bit of a stretch. Nonetheless, with this price tag, the Ioniq Hybrid will be a serious rival (for people looking for a hybrid) to the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. Also, it will be considerably (about Rs 10 lakh) cheaper than the Toyota Prius, which is a serious threat to Toyota's dominance in the hybrid space. 

New Family Hatchback (Santro Replacement)

Later in 2018, the prayers of all those who wanted the Santro to make a comeback will be answered - well... almost. Hyundai will be launching a brand new family hatchback which will sit above the Eon and slightly below the i10. This means a starting price close to Rs 4 lakh and a much needed direct rival to the Maruti WagonR.

2019

Hyundai Sub-4m SUV

The sub-four metre SUVs have garnered quite a lot of attention in the market. In fact, their popularity has reached such levels that the Vitara Brezza, more often than not, features in the top 10 bestsellers list of the month. Hyundai's contender in this space will be based on the Carlino concept, which we saw at the 2016 Auto Expo. The concept clearly was quite far away from the actual design, but at least, gave us a look into what Hyundai has planned in terms of overall styling. The equipment levels will most likely be on par with the i20 and will rival the Mahindra TUV100, NuvoSport, Ford Ecosport and the Maruti Vitara Brezza. Expect a price of about Rs 8-10 lakh. 

But, the timeline of the launch seems to be a bit dicey. Sub-4 metre SUVs have been here for a long time and with Hyundai planning to launch its representative two years from now, it seems to be a little too late. To really make an impact, Hyundai will have to be radical in their approach with the SUV to make it a game changer. 

The Carlino concept was inspired from the Intrado concept, which will soon be launched as the Hyundai Kona. It is a compact-SUV for the American market and Hyundai has recently teased it through a picture. It is pegged to be launched by mid this year and though the Kona won't be coming to India, Carlino's production version might be inspired from it. 

This is the sneak peak into the future plans of Hyundai for India. With such cars lined up to be for India, Hyundai will be making a lot of headlines. We can't wait to check out these cars and see what other carmakers have in store to rival them.