14/10/99

You got your first look at the Indian 'Accent' on cybersteering.com, now we have the pleasure to break some great news for car buyers....

Hyundai has set off yet another price war, this time in the mid-size luxury car market. As they did with the Santro last year, this time with the Accent. To be sold in 3 variations, all petrol, the prices are ex-showroom, in Indian Rupees:-

All models with air-conditioners, the GLE/ps has power steering while the GLS has - everything. Bookings and sales open on the 21st of October '99. Cars on display and available for test ride nationally.

Reactions were awaited from other manufacturers, who refused to comment, but at least one said that "the price is shockingly low", before adding a hurried "no-comment we are working on it".

While we shall put out a full analysis in a few days, Mr. A.P. Gandhi, Chairman of Hyundai Motors India Ltd. said that they were looking at a total sale of about 75-80,000 cars per annum, a mix of both the Santro and the Accent, running two shifts, over the next year. Higher if they notch it up to three shifts. First year sales estimates for the Accent are anything between 12,000 and 18,000, and the rest would be the smaller Santro.

Now we wait for the other manufacturers to chop their prices, especially Maruti. Ford and General Motors must be, meanwhile, working out numbers for their Ikon and Corsa all over again. Market sentiment, till last night, had placed a minimum 600,000 rupee value on the base model Accent, ex-showroom Delhi. The 5.35 lakh tab has thus brought in a new paradigm here.

Will the segment grow? Wait and see.

YOUR FIRST LOOK AT THE INDIAN 'ACCENT' (23/09/99)

Who are we to say that such-and-such car is good/bad/ugly? Nobody designs a lousy automobile, so how can we take on the role of soothsayers or experts? Especially if at this stage all everybody got was a look-see at one of the prototypes along with a short drive on the company test-tracks?

A photograph is worth a thousand words, so here is a small novel's worth, the first look anywhere at the Indian Hyundai Accent, a wee bit different from the one intended for the rest of the world which we showed elsewhere.

Outside, the front grille takes on a slightly wide-grinned look called "big-smiley", and the rest of the car, we think, looks like most other cars in this size and segment. Inside, the prototype we were driving was still in a fairly basic stage, as specs on interior trim and options have not been totally frozen so far.

The Hyundai Accent goes up for sale on the 11th of October with first deliveries to take place on the 14th of October. Price is said to be benchmarked against the Honda City 1.3 which shall make it very competitive indeed. The car seems to be sprung for performance and has a nippy engine, silent at the lower revs and growling like a single-engined fighter plane from one of those First World War movies when you kick the tachometer towards 5 or 6000 revs. The pick up is as good as you can change gears but, once again, this is a prototype so we reserve opinion.

It has other stuff like a folding rear seat in a 60/40 bias, fog lamps, power windows,cup holders, lockable glove box, digital controlled tacho system (so far available only in the Mitsubishi Lancer in India), independent suspension, a very short and precise throw in one of the smoothest gearboxes going, and, best of all, for the rallyist and enthusiast, built-in stabilisers.

Powered by a 12-valve, 1495cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine thrusting 94bhp at 5500 rpm, shod in 175/70-r13 tyres, ventilated disc brakes forward and drum aft, 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic, this car goes. Hyundai are looking at anything between 12,000 and 20,000 to go in the first year.

cybersteering.com feels that the Hyundai Accent will repeat last years performance by the Hyundai Santro. The car has an overall package that should appeal to those looking for current technology; it all depends, now, on the price.

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