Delhi Auto Expo 2012: Hyundai showcase plans

India’s second largest car maker Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) will be making its presence in the upcoming 2012 Delhi Auto Expo with the global premier of its concept compact MPV, the HND-7. The significance of Hyundai unveiling the HND-7 concept in the Delhi Auto Expo is all the more with Maruti Suzuki planning to showcase its production-ready seven-seater Ertiga MPV. 

Back in 2008 Hyundai had also showcased their Veloster concept car. At the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, Hyundai will showcase a three-door version of the Veloster which is a radical take on a utility coupe. Considering mainstream car makers like Ford and Maruti Suzuki are planning on launching compact Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs) in India backed by tremendous market potential, it won’t come as a surprise to see Hyundai launch a five-door version of the Veloster in the country. The Veloster comes with Hyundai's new BlueLink system with automatic crash notifications, vehicle diagnostics, etc. The Veloster comes with a 1.6-litre petrol engine with three varying power outputs. The base model develops 130 PS of power, the middle of the line with direct injection puts out 140PS while the top of the line gets a turbocharger to peg output at 211PS of power.

Hyundai may also showcase the fifth-generation, India-bound Elantra at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo. The new Hyundai Elantra bears the Korean car maker’s trademark fluidic design concept. The previous Hyundai Elantra did not fare too well in the Indian market, but that was a different time, market and car. If the fifth-generation Elantra is prepped up and made as appealing a package as the new Verna, it may just give Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla something to worry about. The current Elantra has three engine options - two 1.6 litre petrol engines, one being an MPI engine and the other a GDI mill. The third is a 1.8 litre petrol engine. It would be great if Hyundai brings their 1.6-litre GDI engine to India to spark off a technological change in the segment.