Hyundai Grand i10 petrol automatic launched

Hyundai India has launched the petrol engined automatic variant of the Grand i10 hatchback, the South Korean car maker's latest success in the Indian car market. The Grand i10 automatic continues to be offered with the 1.2 liter Kappa petrol engine with a 82 Bhp-115 Nm power and torque output. The change lies in the gearbox department, where the 5 speed manual transmission is replaced by a 4 speed automatic transmission.

The 2013 Hyundai Grand i10 petrol automatic is available in two variants: Sportz and Asta. The Sportz variant is priced at 5.64 lakh rupees while the Asta variant is priced at 5.91 lakh rupees, both prices reflecting ex-showroom Delhi figures. Both the Sportz and Asta variants of the automatic gearbox equipped Grand i10 feature similar equipment levels as that of the manual gearbox equipped Grand i10 variants.

However, since the automatic variants of the Grand i10 aren't available in Sportz (option) and Asta (option) trims, safety features such as ABS and twin airbags are missing from the equation. The Grand i10, in automatic guise, will compete with the Ritz Automatic. Bookings of the automatic variants of the Grand i10 are now open with deliveries likely to begin in the next couple of weeks. With the Grand i10 proving to be a big success, Hyundai India is facing a order book getting larger by the day. 

The high demand has led to growing waiting periods. Many variants of the Hyundai Grand i10 command waiting periods of about 45-60 days. To reduce waiting periods, Hyundai India is considering a capacity expansion at its Sriperumbudur factory through a re-engineering process. After the factory's capacity is increased and the initial booking frenzy subsides, expect the Grand i10 to be available off the shelf. 

While there have been rumours about Hyundai India developing a diesel automatic version of the Grand i10 for the Indian car market, the South Korean automaker is being tight lipped about the development. Even so, the word on the street is that the Grand i10's diesel automatic variant will be launched in the next couple of months, as the range topping model in the hatchback's line up. If launched in the next few months, the diesel automatic hatchback version of the Grand i10 will be a segment first.