Hyundai launches CNG Santro

July 4, 2007

Hyundai Motor India today a CNG version of its popular small car Hyundai Santro. The CNG Santro is pitted against the LPG version of Maruti's Wagon R LPG. While the Maruti Wagon R LPG comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs 3.49 lakh in Delhi, the CNG Santro is priced at Rs 3,25,361, ex-showroom Delhi.

Hyundai said that CNG has established itself as a reliable and eco-friendly fuel. The CNG kit will be sourced from Minda Auto Gas and the fitting will be done at the dealer end. All Santro CNG cars will run on petrol too. The CNG Santro comes with a switch, which the driver can use to shift between the CNG and gasoline fuel.

Apart from an AT (automatic transmission model), version the CNG Santro also comes in XK (non A/c), XL, and XO variants. All cars carry a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty. On the CNG kit and related fitment, there is an additional warranty of one more year.

A Hyundai Motor statement said that the car will have a CNG cylinder which carry 12 kg of CNG. The estimated running cost per kilometer on the CNG Santro is pegged at Re 1 a kilometer.

Hyundai said that the Santro's CNG kit is not only safe but has an advanced Lambda control system, which meets the Euro III emission norms. Hyundai has also tied up with Korean CNG specialist company NGVI for an exclusive CNG fitment arrangement.

Said Arvind Saxena VP – Marketing and Sales Hyundai Motor India: "CNG has established itself as an eco-friendly and economical fuel and HMI will now offer this choice of fuel to its Santro customers. We feel that this will increase the attractiveness of the Santro as it will considerably bring down the running cost. Also the fuel is eco-friendly which adds to its attractiveness"

Initially, the CNG car will be available only in Delhi. Later, the company plans to roll out the CNG Santro in other cities too.