According to the recent reports pouring in, Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) will introduce the all-new Hyundai Sonata or i45 sedan on the very first day of the 2012 Auto Expo that is 5th January 2012. The upcoming Sonata will likely be entering the Indian auto market as a replacement of the existing Sonata Embera.
The to-be-launched Sonata Fluidic will surely boost up the volume of options in the E-segment car market, even when the new sedan is expected to be available only in a petrol variant. This strategy for Sonata Fluidic resembles the one that has been applied in the markets abroad as there too, the sedan is available in a diesel variant only.
The 2.4-litre petrol motor is capable of generating a considerable power output of 198 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The engine makes use of Hyundai’s gasoline direct injection technology to enhance strength, mileage and agility, besides successfully curbing the tailpipe emissions.
The fact that the car will be manufactured at Hyundai India’s facility in Chennai would aid the company to set a reasonable price tag. With a possible price of Rs. 18 lacs, the Sonata will come with both manual and automatic six-speed gearbox variants. As the brand Sonata has not proved its mettle in India so far, the new Fluidic version can be seen as a booster by the company.
Hyundai has been the leader in luxury diesel car market from a long time and thus, the absence of this engine would prove to be a negative point for Hyundai, at least in the initial phases.
