Hyundai

Established in 1996, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. is a sub division of the giant South Korean multi national, the Hyundai Motor Company. Hyundai started as a construction company and was founded by Chung Ju-yung in 1947. As it stands today, Hyundai Motor Company is South Korea's largest and world's sixth largest automaker.

Head-quartered in Seoul, Hyundai started it's operations as an automaker in India in 1998 with the Santro which went on to become one of the largest selling cars in the country. The Santro has been designed and built in India at the integrated auto-manufacturing unit at Irrungattukatoi near Chennai. This plant is capable of producing 1,20,000 cars, 1,30,000 engine and transmission systems annually.

Hyundai continued on the success of Santro by launching the stylish Sonata and the Accent but the Terracan and the Elantra failed to capture the buyer's imagination. Hyundai is still going strong with the current line-up which includes the Getz Prime, and the successful Verna.

Hyundai motors has received the benchmark ISO 14001 certification for its sustainable environment management practices. To cater with the differing and growing needs of the market, company hopes to increase its presence in the Indian market with coming up new models.

The i20 is the latest addition to the Hyundai i-series in India. This premium hatchback is all set to rule in the small car segment with its sporty design, innovative technology, and modern safety features. The car is powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The suspension system comprises front MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar and rear torsion beam for a smooth ride. The aerodynamic exterior comes with body coloured bumpers, elegant side door handles, and a well-designed radiator grille. The roomy beige coloured interior houses stylish dual tone full fabric seats, sporty instrumentation, and luxurious leather wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio controls. The glove box comes with cooling feature and a centre console tray is provided for convenience. Safety features include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), front dual airbags, front seat belt pretensioners, central locking, and engine immobilizer. This stunning performer is definitely a big challenge to its closest rival Skoda Fabia.

The Santro Xing gains the confidence of Indian families with its appealing look, superior handling, and well-appointed interiors. It is built with an eRLX 'active intelligence' technology engine that delivers impressive power and performance. This car also comes with a new CNG kit option for some cities in India. It comes in seven variants: XK Non AC, XK Non AC CNG, GL, GL CNG, GLS, GLS CNG and GLS AT. The CNG kit is available with all variants. A 1.1-litre 4-cylinder in-line petrol engine delivers sufficient power of 62 bhp. The mileage is bettered further with CNG where the running cost is as low as about Re.1 per kilometer. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the model. The GLS also comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission option. The front is highlighted by a new horizontal chrome grille, a large bumper, and stylish new headlamps, while the revamped interiors feature a 3-spoke steering, new instrument clusters, power windows, and premium upholstery.