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I have just been through a newspaper report that says that the Hyundai Getz sales have been disappointing. At around 1,500 units a month, I can only agree with the report. The Getz may be a premium hatchback but anything without a boot selling less than 3,000 units is bad news for the manufacturer. Heck, even the Esteem, with a nearly fifteen year old bodyshell (nuggets from the Getz launch) is doing 2,000 plus units every month.

So what is it that is holding back the Getz? Is it the styling – well, it does look cheap and bland, but it doesn’t look bad. Is it the engine – the piowerplant is unspirited and dull but not that bad either. Or is it just the fact that Hyundai India was charging too much for a car which was essentially a hatchback. The Getz, as premium as it may be, is a hatchback and for the Indian market, a hatch still is a notch lower than a notchback.

On a side note, the Getz TV promo is simply ludicrous. Loud and proud, the television commercial has all the sophistication of a Mallika Sherawat and a jingle that is reminiscent of Bappi Lahiri.

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I am just back from a media event organised by Hyundai. No, it was not the launch of a fancy car. It was, instead the launch of H S Lheem, the new Managing Director and CEO of Hyundai Motors India to the Indian media. It was a necessity as the post-Subbu Hyundai needs someone with whom the media can relate to. It becomes a neccessity also because Mr B V R Subbu, able manager and craftsman that he was, ensured that during his tenure he enjoyed a near dicatator like status in HMIL. There was a numero uno in B V R but there was never a number two. Subbu was also popular in the media, most of whom was easily manipulated by him for his personal and HMIL’s advantage.

Mr Lheem came across as an interesting person too. He came across as very affable and warm, in street lingo – a simple dude. However, he seems to be under-trained for the job of the head of HMIL. Its difficult to explain the feeling when the head of a carmaker seems to be too eager to disclose forward model programs to the media. Sample this. New diesel Sonata Embera? End of the year. Diesel Getz? Sure! we are putting a 1. 2 -litre diesel in the Getz. By the end of the year again. Getz left-hand-drive for the export market? Nopes. Not on this platform. Maybe on the next one. New Santro? Yes, under testing. People mover? Nopes, nothing in the global portfolio. One-tonne truck? Yes, the Porter is coming. we are struggling with the pricing. Half-tonne truck? No. Sigh! Tough to take on the Tata Ace on pricing. New Accent? How many times do I need to tell you that the new Accent is on its way. Look at the Verna, that’s the one. Did we leave anything? If you remember to ask any more forward plans just call on my mobile.

I could imagine the Hyundai India sales team pulling their hair in a corner.

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It looks like the Spanish speaking parts of the United States have come to recognize one thing: that Hyundai Motor America would be the best recipient for the Manufacturer of the Year Award.

It was Sobre Ruedas which awarded Hyundai the award “Manufacturer Sobre Ruedas 2006″. This was done during the magazine’s third Annual Awards Ceremony which was held during the 36th South Florida International Auto Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center. For those who are not Spanish speaking and to those who are not familiar with Sobre Ruedas, it is actually one of the leaders when it comes to automotive magazines in the US which offers information and articles in the Spanish language.

Many have gone to believe that such an award is actually a way of saying that Hyundai is really one of the very best when it comes to vehicles and cars as well as when it comes to Hyundai auto body parts and the works. The award is also very much a validation that Hyundai is really committed in making products for the auto market that are of quality and has safety features. Of course, the company would not be able to achieve such without having to listen to what the customers and the experts are saying.

One of the very things that took the attention of Sobre Ruedas was the fact that the brand was able to send out and launch seven totally new vehicles in just a span of twenty four months. However, despite such, all of these vehicles still sport around that aura and that sphere of quality, standard features, and safety. In fact, the brand is making much income out of their vehicles for it is now considered and is now placed as the fourth in the line of imported brands in the US.

“During the 24/7 plan, we have launched an entire new lineup of outstanding Hyundai products with industry leading standard safety technologies, intelligent ergonomic engineering and outstanding quality. This award recognizes our continuous efforts to position our products at the top of their segments and achieve maximum customer satisfaction and safety,” says John Krafcik. Krafcik is currently the vice president for Hyundai Motor America’s department on product development and strategic planning.

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Its not long time Hyundai Verna been introduced in India. The car has seen immense success soon after its launch. The Hyundai Verna launched in September 2006 has been a successful car model in the mid-sized sedan segment. The car has proved its dominance in the Indian market luring car buyers with its winning attributes that offer a commendable symphony of elegant styling, comfortable interiors, outstanding performance, impressive fuel efficiency, time-tested quality, and high degree of reliability. The distinctive character of the car is the automatic transmission in the top-end diesel variant that makes it the first diesel automatic car in the segment. With striking adornments and introduction of automatic transmission in the diesel variant, the new Verna is set to create a new benchmark in the car industry. It is expected to compete with leading sedans like the Ford Fiesta, Honda City, and the Skoda Octavia.

After rejoicing the success of Verna for a couple of years, Hyundai Motors has launched the new variants of the car with design improvements and few modifications. However, it retains the winning and powerful engine technologies and other mechanicals. The 2009 Hyundai Verna commits to deliver unmatched power and outstanding performance with its refined and powerful engine technologies. Equipped with a choice of both petrol and diesel engine, it is available in two petrol variants and three diesel variants.

The three diesel variants VGT, VGT SX, and VGT SX A/T are equipped with a real performer 1. 5-litre diesel engine that is mated to Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT). The VGT is an energy-efficient technology that is designed to deliver high power output and enhanced performance. Although, the engine lacks on the initial power but once it takes off at higher rpm with 109 bhp, there is nothing that can stop the engine. The car delivers quieter and smoother ride quality with good fuel-efficiency. The two petrol variants VTVT and SX VTVT are driven by a powerful 1. 6-litre engine associated with variable timing valve train technology (VTVT). This high-performance engine churns out 110 bhp and helps save fuel at low rpm and becomes highly responsive at high rpm.

The VTVT technology is designed to improve fuel efficiency of the car and provide optimized performance over a variety of driving conditions. Both the petrol and diesel variants are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and refined suspension system that makes the car perfect for Indian roads. However, the top-end diesel variant is available with an option of 4-speed automatic transmission. The McPherson strut suspension paired with coil springs and anti roll bars help improve performance, drivability, and handling. The rear suspension bears a couple torsion beam axle that offers greater stability and improved traction. In addition, the power assisted rack and pinion steering adds more joy and thrill to the driving experience.

Hyundai cars are created with stylish designs and hold a strong aesthetic integrity that often catches admiring glances and envious stares. The same story is repeated with the 2009 Verna. With simple yet elegant design cues and adornments, the new car marks a strong presence on India roads. The car comes with some fabulous features to be proud of . It is hoped that the car would soon make its way to success in Indian market. Although it faces stiff competition with other players in the market.

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Hyundai Accent comes across as the perfect blend of style, luxury, power, and performance. A product of Hyundai Motors India, the mid-sized sedan looks very grand and provides features that one can hope to see only in luxurious cars. The vehicle promises to offer smooth-sailing driving experience to the driver. Powered by an advanced and refined engine, adorned with state-of-the-art design and embedded with excellent features, Hyundai Accent clearly races ahead its competitors in the sedan category.

The Accent gets technologically advanced engines, rack and pinion power steering and McPherson Strut suspension with coil springs in the front and dual link with coil springs in the rear. The 1. 5L engine provides adequate low-end pull and a wide band of power to ease into highway traffic. Acceleration is decent on the manual transmission, which shifts smoothly. Ingenuity of design is seen in the interiors of Hyundai accent, while its exteriors are arresting. The accented front grille looks very trendy. Clear lens head and tail lamps are huge and sparkling. The side-protection molding and body colored door-handles upscale the appearance of the sedan. The size of passenger cabin is increased in both length and height. The wheelbase has also been expanded in the sedan.

Hyundai Accent provides a comfortable ride for five adults. With a dual-tone beige color scheme, interiors of Hyundai Accent are luxurious and spacious as well. Seats provide good level of support to the passengers, with front-seats being very comfortable. The high roofline helps have a proper seating posture. While the instrument cluster looks elegant, a cup holder in central console provides ease. The powerful air-conditioning system of the car, with the support of omni-directional airflow, keeps the temperature cool. The Insta Response Climate Control System in Hyundai Accent maintains the most precise cabin temperature. Hotting up competition in the fast-growing midsize segment are the successful Honda City, Tata Indigo, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Aveo.

Hyundai launched an all-new Accent in September 2006; the new car has larger dimensions than its predecessor. The Accent comes with a 1. 5-litre Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) petrol engine that outputs 94 bhp of power and 12. 5 kgm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission gives fuel economy of 8/13 km/l (city/highway). The same 1. 5- litre engine powers the CNG variant but comes with an added CNG kit is also available with this model. The Accent cabin has a new upscale beige colour scheme. A contoured instrument pod in front of the steering wheel incorporates the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel and coolant temperature gauges. All seats are contoured and finished in good quality upholstery; rear-seat legroom and headroom is adequate. Rear seat splits 60/40 for storage of additional luggage.

Standard equipment on the Accent includes power steering, a tilt steering wheel, passenger vanity mirror, adjustable front headrests, front seat armrest, door map pockets, and front seatback pockets. The Hyundai Accent comes with standard safety features that include a collapsible steering column, child-safety rear door locks, front/rear seatbelts, adjustable headrests, rear defogger, and central door locking. Like Maruti Cars which are well-known for their economical cost aspect, Hyundai Cars are equally competitive which is the rationale for their stability in the Indian market at this very moment. Hyundai Cars range from 3 Lakhs to around 8 Lakhs and for their premium lineaments, they certainly are too economical.

Hyundai Motors have a Manufacturing Plant near Chennai which entirely possesses the most advanced production, quality and testing capabilities in the Country. The Company is planning to invest further more on the development of this Plant in order to perform better in the automobile industry. The Hyundai Motors Company has sold over 5 Lakhs Cars in just a matter of 5 years since the commencement of its commercial production in the year late 1998.

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