Hyundai is all set for the global launch of the Hyundai Elite i20 on August 11th in New Delhi. Autocar was the first to reveal the all-new hatchback and since then spy pictures have flooded the internet. However, the price of the Hyundai Elite i20 has been kept a closely guarded secret but it’s likely that the company will price it at a premium. The ‘Elite’ pre-fix given to the new i20 may suggest that the new car is to be sold alongside the older one, just like in the case of the i10 and Grand i10. However, Hyundai sources have confirmed that the current i20 will be discontinued altogether after the Elite goes on sale next week.
The rationale for giving the rather unimaginative ‘Elite’ moniker to the new i20 is to position it as a more upmarket hatch than before. With a longer wheelbase, a bigger boot, lots of features and more spacious interiors, the Elite i20 is expected to be a class better for which Hyundai is confident it can charge customers a premium, with prices for the fully loaded versions crossing Rs. 8 lakh
It’s clear that Hyundai plans to put the Elite i20 head on against new launches like the refreshed Polo and the new Punto Evo, as well as the segment king, the Maruti Swift. However, the main competition for the Hyundai Elite i20 is expected next March in the shape of the new Honda Jazz.