Report - Hyundai India to launch Verna facelift in Q1 2015

The Verna facelift gets a new front end, but a similar rear. 

The refreshed Hyundai Verna will launch in India in the first quarter of next year, sources told the Economic Times newspaper. The Verna facelift is already on sale in China and Russia (where it goes by the name Solaris), and sees cosmetic as well as mechanical changes.

The front fascia gets redesigned headlights with projector lights, a dual-slat chrome grille and an all-new bumper with LED daytime running lights (the current model gets LED DRLs integrated in the headlight cluster).

Changes at the rear are far less reserved. LED units for the brake lights, new reflectors integrated into the bumper and a black underlip are seen on the updated sedan. Designers have not made any changes to the interior of the car.

Mechanically, the updated Verna in Russia continues with its 1.4- and 1.6-liter petrol engines. The automatic transmission, which was a 4-speed unit on the pre-facelift model, was updated to a 6-speed box. The 6-speed automatic transmission is already seen on the Elantra in India and hence there is a good chance for the Verna to receive it, especially given that its competitors have upgraded to modern CVTs or dual-clutch gearboxes.

Also read: 2015 Hyundai i20 announced with 1L turbo-petrol engine in Europe

The Verna facelift would be the first launch for Hyundai India in 2015, but not its most significant as the ix25 compact SUV is also lined up later that year.

Competitors: Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Ford Fiesta, VW Vento, Skoda Rapid, Fiat Linea
Expected Price: INR 7.5-11 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: Q1 2015

[Source - Economic Times]