Hyundai Motor brought their all-new sub-four-metre compact crosover concept, the HND-14 Carlino, to the Auto Expo, as well as a pair of new engines and automatic transmissions.
The HND-14 Carlino is Hyundai’s latest concept, slated for a future introduction in one of the most burgeoning segments of today – that of the compact crossover – which will mark their presence in every price bracket: from the i20 Active, the new Carlino, the Creta, the Tucson and the Santa Fe. Expect the Carlino to be nothing short of extraordinary, because, over time, Hyundai have shown a continual development curve, adding new, more relevant features to every car line and setting the benchmark for interior quality and fit-and-finish.
The introduction of the new Tucson, with its Fluidic design language complements their market position well and will further strengthen their presence across the SUV segment. We can safely assume that the HND-14 Carlino will sport petrol and diesel engines, but we doubt it will be any from the present line-up. Expect a price tag between the i20 Active and Creta, that is, between Rs 9 to 11 lakh.
Hyundai also showed off two new engines: the 1.0-litre three-cylinder T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) that delivers either 100 PS or 120 PS depending on the requirements of the specific vehicle, with a peak 171.6 Nm available from 1,500 RPM; more punch with better efficiency. This engine has made its début in the new i20 overseas. The second engine is the 1.4-litre T-GDi, a four-cylinder engine that delivers 140 PS and 242 Nm of torque – more than their present 1.6- and 1.8-litre engines.
The next big reveal was their new transmissions. Hyundai showed off not one, but two new automatic transmission systems – a seven-speed dual-clutch unit and an eight-speed automatic units as well, the former believed to be for low-torque application, with the latter better suited to larger, more torque-rich cars. The new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission unit is expected to début on the new Tucson, being already available in the i30 and i40 as well.
Hyundai also showcased their N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo supercar, highlighting the N Performance division’s focus on outright extreme performance and handling dynamics.
Story: Jim Gorde
