Hyundai i20 diesel launch in 2009

This was expected, but maybe not so quick. Hyundai i20 premium petrol hatchback has been well received in India in the barely couple of months since its launch in 2008 December. And now Hyundai has made it clear that it would launch a diesel Hyundai i20 in India.

Photo: Hyundai i20 petrol in India, diesel version coming soon

The Hyundai i20 has been winning accolades ever since its launch. Yesterday, when the Indian car of the Year 2009 awards were announced, we found that it lost the award by a whisker to the all new Honda City.

The Hyundai i20 is not much visible on the roads, though. Not too many buyers have taken delivery of the car so far, it sems, even though demand seems to be good.

Expected launch date of the Hyundai i20 diesel is end-2009. Hyundai has of course not confirmed it,so it ay change a bit here or there.

The petrol Hyundai i20 has a 1.2 liter Kappa engine. The diesel engine for the i20 is as yet undecided. The diesel engine in the Hyundai Getz is too anemic for the i20, so it has to be another one to take on the super-torquey diesel Suzuki Swift. (sorry, that was rubbish, probably written semi-doped – Publisher) Plus, there is the Skoda Fabia, and also the upcoming Honda Jazz to contend with. I have seen the Honda Jazz – and let me tell you, there is no way Hyundai can go head to head with the Jazz. Just like the all-new Honda City, the Honda Jazz too would be a game changer. Hyundai better launch the i20 diesel before the Jazz is launched in India to get what it can.

In the UK, a diesel Hyundai i20 is available with a 1.4 liter CRDi engine that offers 88 BHP at 4000 RPM, and 162 lb ft of torque at 2350 RPM. There is also a separate 1.6 liter version available in Europe – sorry, I don’t have the figures for it right now. But that 1.4 looks like a good fit for the Indian diesel Hyundai i20, considering its positioning as a premium hatchback.

What might change? Well, we all know what the market is like right now. Many predict that the current auto sector slowdown has bottomed out and things should pick up steam in another couple of months. If that happens, all’s well. If it does not, then the launch of the i20 may be delayed by Hyundai for a more welcoming time.