2011 Hyundai Verna - Scheduled for a mid-2011 local debut?

Hyundai surprised everyone with the unveiling of the all new Verna at the Beijing Motor Show a short while back. The car is built on a brand new platform and looks like a mini Sonata YF. It has sweptback headlamps, a large grille, a sloping roofline that gives it a coupe like silhouette and rather sharp looking tail lamps.

On the inside too, the car gets a fresh look, with the steering wheel borrowed from the i20 and a beige dashboard. The car displayed at the show was not very well equipped as it was a China specific model but markets like India would get more goodies.

Engine options include a 1.4 litre gamma petrol that punches out 106BHP of power, a 1.6-litre gamma petrol that pumps a 121 horses & also the same 1.5 litre 110BHP diesel that we currently have on the Indian Verna. The car is expected to have good driving dynamics & comfortable interiors too. The car has a wheelbase of 2570mm.

Earlier Hyundai India was expected to bring the Verna ‘Transform,' and going by instincts, the company should launch the facelifted model during the festive season this year.

The new Verna goes on sale in China in July & is expected to hit the Indian market sometime in the middle of 2011, the same time we expect the Hyundai small car also to roll out. With the new Vento from VW & the next-gen Aveo from GM also expected to come next year the fight in the midsize sedans segment is sure to get intense!