Hyundai launched the Grand i10 Nios recently for the Indian market, and also revealed it at the Frankfurt Motor Show for the world. However, the brand also showcased a i10 N Line which is a more sporty iteration of the hatchback. Now, reports are doing the rounds that Hyundai is interested in bringing to India a sporty hatchback, and that could be based on the Grand i10 Nios.
Expected to debut in 2020, the sporty Grand i10 Nios will make use of the engine from the Hyundai Venue. The 1.0L, turbocharged petrol motor which has a 3-cylinder layout will be detuned to produce 100 HP in the Grand i10 Nios. This power output is higher compared to the 1.2L motor with 83 HP currently on sale for the i10 Nios. Hyundai will only introduce the 100 HP Grand i10 Nios with a manual gearbox, no automatic option as this would be a driver oriented fun little hot hatch.
On the cosmetics department, we expect Hyundai to update this powerful Grand i10 Nios with new alloy wheels, new sporty bumper skits, new badging, new colours, new interior upholstery, all-black interiors, etc. For India, it will not be a full blown N Line version, but just a sporty version with a powerful engine.
When launched, the only other cars coming close to the sporty Grand i10 Nios would be the Ford Figo which belts out 96 HP and the Tata Tiago JTP which will have a superior 114 HP power output. Expect this more powerful Grand i10 Nios to be nearly INR 50,000 – 80,000 more expensive than the petrol variants.
Now would this sell? Time will tell. The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is already a very rich product in terms of quality and features. It is reasonably spacious too as per segment standards. So with a more powerful petrol motor on offer, the brand can attract enthusiasts who had been shy from buying just another hatchback to run around in the city.