Hyundai launched its much anticipated small car Eon in India. The Eon is built on a completely new platform made for the Indian market and is the result of a sync in R&D between the Korean and Indian engineers to make a car that appeals to the Indian customers. The company realizes how much pricing a product can make or break it and the Eon is priced at ` 2.69-3.71 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).

Hyundai’s Eon will be available with a 0.8 litre iRDE engine which delivers 55bhp. It also comes with a system which Hyundai calls ‘Alternator Management System’ (AMS) developed for Indian customers to deliver more eco-efficient driving. It controls the power supply to the battery to relieve the engine workload and reduces fuel consumption & emissions while decelerating and idling. Eon, hence delivers 21.1 km/l according to ARAI, which does make it a compact and a fuel efficient small car.

The Eon also gets an infotainment system which comes with a 2-DIN integrated type audio with features like Radio/CD/MP3/USB/Aux-in/i-Pod connectivity, which adds to the feature list of the car. It also gets a driver’s side airbag, which also speaks volumes about Hyundai’s strategy to climb up the ladder of the automotive industry in India.

Skoda India has started production of its next offering, the Rapid at the Volkswagen plant in Chakan, Pune. With units already rolling out of the factory, this Vento-based compact sedan will be unveiled on the 20th of November. With the Rapid, Skoda expects to stir things up in the fast growing compact-sedan and is expected to price it aggressively.

The Rapid looks like a grown-up Fabia and it will be interesting to see what features Skoda has to offer. The Rapid will get the same engine as the Vento, which is a 1.6-litre petrol and diesel mill and with Skoda wanting to
capitalize on this product, only time will tell how Rapidly things change.