Hyundai is making a continuous effort in upgrading its portfolio whether it is in terms of getting its cars to the BS6 compliant norms or updating models with facelifts or coming up with new variants. This time in an attempt to introduce an enthusiast-friendly variant for its hatchback, the Grand i10 Nios. The peppier turbocharged petrol engine will be only available as an added variant in the Sportz trim and features sporty touches on the outside as well as the inside.
Under the hood, the Grand i10 Nios gets a 1-litre turbo-petrol engine, the same as that of the Venue and recently launched Aura, but in a different state of tune. The 990cc motor churns out more power than the standard 1.2-litre petrol engine, delivering 99bhp of power and 172Nm of max torque as opposed to 81bhp and 114Nm. It will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission and there’s no word on an automatic option yet. It gets the same set of features on the inside as the standard Sportz variant and adds an all-black leather interior stitched in red, a digital speedometer, a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity and AC vents for the rear passengers. Coming to the exteriors, it has turbo badging on the front grille (which is blacked out) and the boot.
At the launch event, Mr. Tarun Garg, Director Sales, Marketing & Service, Hyundai Motor India said, "The GRAND i10 Nios is developed for young urban progressive buyers. We have launched the GRAND i10 Nios in petrol, diesel & CNG Bi-fuel types, offering an array of choices to our valued customers. The GRAND i10 Nios Sportz variant with the 1.0-litre Turbo GDi engine has been introduced for auto enthusiasts that aspire for a power-packed performance.”
Hyundai is definitely trying to target a younger customer base with the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine owing to a ‘Thrill of Driving’ factor. The Grand i10 Nios 1-litre will only be available in the Sportz variant and is priced at Rs 7.68 lakh, with an additional Rs 5,000 for the dual-tone colour option. The Grand i10 Nios goes up against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift, Tata Tiago JTP and Ford Figo.