Hyundai i20 Automatic Transmission (AT) 1.4 L GAMMA launched

Good news, everyone. Hyundai has launched its popular premium hatchback car the i20 in automatic transmission guise. The Hyundai i20 1.4 L AT will be priced at Rs 7.3 to Rs. 7.7 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi.

Why do we say the automatic transmission is good news? For one, automatic transmissions have come of age in today’s cars, and secondly, our metros and big cities have such horrible stop and start traffic that an automatic transmission can ease the burden substantially on the driver.

Photo: Hyundai i20

Personally, this writer drives an automatic car in New Delhi – and friends who have never driven an automatic before were astonished after a trip in heavy traffic. Fatigue levels are seriously low even after hours in bad traffic.

The new Hyundai i20 automatic offers a new 4 cylinder DOHC GAMMA petrol engine that produces a 100 bhp from a 1.4 liter engine – now effectively making the i20 the leader in horsepower stakes compared to the Honda Jazz, Fiat Grande Punto, Skoda Fabia or the Suzuki Swift. maximum torque offered is 13.9 kgm at 4200 RPM.

The top end Hyundai i20 automatic with all options which include a sunroof and six airbags will cost Rs 7.72 lakhs. Add registration and insurance costs, and you are talking of around Rs 8 lakhs on the road for the i20 AT in New Delhi. Not a bad deal, considering that it is a premium hatch, and a world-class one too. The largest of the premium hatchbacks in India is the Honda Jazz, but it offers only a 90 bhp engine.

When the Hyundai was launched in India, a single engine option – the 1.2 liter petrol – was available in India. While the car sold better than expected, the puny 80 bhp engine was considered underpowered. Now, with a 100 bhp option, that takes care of the horsepower weakness.

Everything else remains the same. The front Suspension  is Mc Pherson strut with gas shock absorber, and the rear has couple torsion beam axle with gas shock absorber. There are disc brakes front and rear in all versions.

Hyundai also launched a 1.4 liter CRDI i20 version. This is available in the Magna trim at Rs 6.19 lakh. The mid-range Asta i20 is available at Rs 6.83 lakh, and the 1.4 Asta with all options will cost 7.20 lakh. There is no AT (automatic transmission) available in the diesel variant.

Currently, the Hyundai i20 cars are being produced in their Chennai plant, Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Hyundai is considering moving some of the production to Europe, as it is quite popular there, and there would be savings on shipping.