Uncertainty of Hyundai i10's Diesel Version

The Hyundai i10 has been a big selling model for the South Korean brand in India, ever since its launch. A facelift imbibing the Fluidic design later, the i10 has motored on all along with a choice of two petrol engines. The car, while also featuring a LPG powered dual fuel model is yet to see diesel power coming aboard. This could change in the coming months, if the Indian market continues to show the huge tilt towards diesel engined cars. In that scenario, having only petrol engines for the i10 does not make sense as the car could be overtaken by competition, offering diesel power on its models.

2012 Hyundai i10 Hatchback used as an illustration

Therefore, Hyundai i10 is now open to the possibility of launching the i10 with a diesel heart in the future. The hatchback is already available with a 1.1 Liter, three cylinder CRDI diesel engine in the UK market. This highly fuel efficient turbo diesel engine is a tech packed unit, featuring a DOHC layout and a variable geometry turbocharger. The engine produces a peak power of 74 Bhp at 4,000 rpm while peak torque is a solid 155 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The biggest talking point about this engine is its fuel economy, which at 23 Kmpl makes it a very frugal unit indeed, especially for the amount of power and torque it puts out.

However, the launch of the Hyundai i10 Diesel in India will largely depend on the automaker’s decision on whether it will go ahead to set up the diesel engine plant in the country. This decision, will in turn depend on the Indian government, which seems to be in two minds about implementing a proposal to increase tax on diesel engined cars and SUVs. This proposal, if it goes through could lead to diesel cars becoming much more expensive than ever before, leading to car makers going slow on diesel engine expansion plans. However, the need of the day is some amount of clarity from the government, regarding this proposal.

If in case the government culls the proposal to hike additional tax on diesel engined cars, it is expected to result in car makers going ahead with more diesel engines for their offerings. Coming to Hyundai India’s case, this could hasten the decision to set up a diesel engine plant in India with an investment of INR 400 crores. Currently, Hyundai imports all its turbo diesel engines from South Korea. The setting up of a diesel engined plant in India is also expected to hasten the arrival of the i10 with a turbo diesel heart. For now though, uncertainty prevails.

Courtesy: LiveMint