Next-gen Hyundai Verna India production to start in March 2023

A major chunk of made-in-India Hyundai Verna (BN7i) will be earmarked for exports as well.

Published On Feb 08, 2023 08:00:00 AM

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Hyundai Verna rendering used for representation only

The next-gen Hyundai Verna (codename: BN7i) is slated for its global debut in the coming months. It has already been spied testing on our roads on several occasions, and Autocar India has learnt that it is set to go into series production in March 2023. However, a majority of the production will be earmarked for exports.

New-gen Verna will be sold as petrol-only
Will get ADAS tech, dual-screens on the inside
India will be a key export hub for the new Verna

New Hyundai Verna: production plans

Hyundai produced roughly 40,000 units of the outgoing Verna in a year, while average monthly sales were around 1,600 units in India. However, for the next-gen Verna, sources tell us that Hyundai’s target is to step up production to 70,000 units annually, the majority of which will be earmarked for exports.

This is because, in March 2022, Hyundai stopped production at its St Petersburg plant in Russia due to a shortage in components as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The outgoing Verna was produced at this plant for Russia and was also exported to a few other markets globally. However, for the next-gen Verna, Hyundai has plans to divert production for these markets to its India plant. India will, therefore, serve as a major export hub for the next-gen Verna for markets like the Middle East and Latin America among others.

New Hyundai Verna: expected styling, features

Previous spy pictures of the next-gen Verna show styling cues that indicate it may have a design heavily inspired by the new Elantra, based on Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language. It will have a fastback-like styling with a tapered roof, an Elantra-like wide grille that merges into the headlamps, Tucson-like chrome styling elements on the C-pillar and dual-tone alloy wheels. On the inside, the Verna will get an Ioniq 5-like twin screen infotainment setup as well as ADAS features.

New Hyundai Verna: expected powertrain options

As far as powertrain options are concerned, Hyundai is expected to continue with the current 115hp, 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine. It will also likely receive a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that’s an updated version of the 140hp, 1.4-litre unit that currently does duty on the Creta. The current Verna uses a much smaller 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit from the i20. This new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine will eventually replace the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit in all models it is offered in the Hyundai-Kia line-up. However, the 1.5-litre diesel engine will not be offered on the new Verna due to the upcoming RDE emission norms.

New Hyundai Verna: India launch timeline

As mentioned above, the new Verna will enter series production by March in India. That will be followed by a global debut and market launch by the second quarter of 2023.

Upon arrival, it will rival the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Volkswagen Virtus and the Skoda Slavia – all of which are already petrol-only – along with the Honda City. Do note, Honda will also discontinue the City's diesel engine due to the upcoming RDE emissions norms, which means this segment will go on to become petrol-only. The Honda City is also due its own mid-lifecycle facelift this March.

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