Hyundai i30 spotted in Pune fitted with emission test equipment

Since March, there has been a stream of Hyundai i30 spy shots emerging online. We speculated HMIL might be using it as a mule for component or engine testing. The latest set of spy pictures shared on the Autocar Indian forum, confirm, capturing the i30 undergoing emissions testing in Pune, near ARAI's facilities.

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A 1.6 L diesel engine powers the Euro-spec 2018 Hyundai i30 seen here. As cars sold in Europe comply with Euro-VI emission norms already, Hyundai might be using the i30 as a mule to prepare its 1.6 L CRDI for the BS VI norms coming into effect April 1, 2020.

Currently, the Hyundai Verna, Hyundai Creta and the Hyundai Elantra are the models employing the 1.6 L diesel engine. The UK-spec Hyundai i30 with the 1.6 L diesel engine is offered in four states of tune - 95 PS/280 Nm, 110 PS/280 Nm, 136 PS/280 Nm, and 136 PS/300 Nm.

Following the showcase of the previous generation Hyundai i30 at the 2016 Auto Expo, a source in the know of Hyundai's product plans said that the hatchback would not be manufactured or sold locally. If Hyundai were to launch it in India with high localization, it would still come in at INR 12-13 lakhs (ex-showroom), an astronomical price for a hatchback. In the UK, the Hyundai i30 starts from GBP 17,000 (INR 15,32,295).

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Over the next year, Hyundai will launch at least two all-new products in the Indian market. First up is the Hyundai AH2 aka new Hyundai Santro in August 2018. The hatchback, based on the previous generation i10, will be positioned below the Grand i10 and mark the debut of Hyundai's AMT technology. In early 2019, the Hyundai Carlino concept based compact SUV will arrive in dealer showrooms. The sub-4 m offering will compete with the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon, and the upcoming SsangYong Tivoli derived Mahindra S201.

[source - Autocar India forum]