HYUNDAI CRETA THE SUV FIRST LOOK BEFORE ITS LAUNCH

Hyundai has finally showcased its new global SUV, the Creta. The Korean carmaker has now entered the competitive and fast growing segment for the first time. It’s not a sub 4m vehicle and is a lot larger than the other compact SUVs like the EcoSport. This Hyundai competes with the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano. The Creta is made in India and will be exported to various global markets. We’ve just seen the production version at the Hyundai plant in Chennai and got to drive it too.

Design and styling

The Creta features the new nature inspired Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design that has also been the design language seen on other modern Hyundais. In fact look at it head on and you will be reminded of the Santa Fe. This alone gets the SUV some extra brownie points – note the similarity with the front hexagonal grille and the sharp well defined headlamps of the more premium Santa Fe. The headlamps also feature projector and day light running lamps and will be offered only in the top variants. Vertical inserts in the bumper house the fog lamps adding to the aggressive character. The A-pillar is blacked out and merges with the roof quite sharply. The window line runs upward and the entire side is flatter and less curvy than other Hyundai cars. The shoulder line however adds a lot of character, is well defined and runs parallel to the window line all the way to the tail lamps.

The rear end is smart too and goes well with the overall design. The split rear lamps look striking. LED lamps aren’t offered but the LED-effect (seen in the i20) is present. The tailgate isn’t loud and left uncluttered since the number plate is housed in between the upper tailgate section and the bumper. The top variant though gets a chrome number plate garnish that stands out more than required. The boot features a lower loading lip compared to its rivals. The bumper also features reflectors and other mock inserts to go with the SUV character. We noticed a few inconsistent panel gaps especially where the side cladding meets the doors. Overall, the design isn’t loud like the Hyundais we are used to seeing but is actually modern and yet easy on the eye. It’s a good looking SUV and has the potential to appeal to a wide audience.

Space and interior

Step inside the Creta and you will be impressed with the design, quality of materials used, features and most importantly space. The design is appealing, very SUV and car like at the same time. The dashboard also uses an edgy approach. The centre section is finished in beige while the rest of the interior is all-black. The centre screen is prominent since it’s a large touchscreen unit. The air vents in the centre are vertically placed for better air flow. There are two 12V sockets provided (we expected to see three), one up front and one for the rear passengers. The door grab handles are like the ones seen in premium SUVs. We also noticed that a few parts have been lifted from the i20. This is a good thing since the hatchback scores high on quality. The steering wheel too uses the same controls seen in the Elite i20, however, the wheel design is similar to the older generation Hyundai i20 but still looks contemporary.

Engines

The Creta will be offered with three different engines (one petrol and two diesel variants) borrowed from the Verna. The 1.4-litre U2 CRDi produces 90PS while the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel that we briefly drove puts out 128PS. Both the engines produce as much power as the Verna. We are still not sure if the torque rating remains the same though. The petrol variant will only feature the 1.6-litre VTVT unit (also seen in the Verna).

Out on the road the 1.6-diesel is refined and is quick off the block, traction control is offered in the top variants and does intervene during hard acceleration and in between gear shifts when there is wheelspin. We however switched off traction control and found the SUV to be quite quick to hit the ton. Expect performance to be similar to the Verna – this will make it one of the quickest vehicles in the segment. The cabin is well insulated too and very little diesel clatter actually seeps in. Gear shifts are smooth and fall in place, like in the i20. The feel could have been better though – it’s a little too soft for an SUV.

There’s good news for automatic transmission lovers. The Creta is also offered with a torque converter mated to the 1.6-diesel (first in segment). We also drove this version which will only be available in the SX trim. The engine is capable and powerful but the gear shifts could have been quicker and smoother. There are no paddle shifters but one can still shift gears using the gear selection lever. The AT isn’t as quick as the MT but will be ideal both in the city and on the highway.

Ride and handling

For an SUV, the ride and handling is actually impressive and more car like. It isn’t a very heavy vehicle and doesn’t feel like one around corners. There isn’t much body roll and the Creta stays well planted ever at triple digit speeds. The steering isn’t vague-feeling like the i20 and is well weighed, neither too heavy nor too soft, with good feedback. Around the Hyundai test track, the Creta was quite involving and fun to drive. There’s no independent rear suspension on offer though, it uses a simpler torsion beam setup instead. While the automatic variant features a 16-inch wheel, the manual top variant runs on 17-inch units. Both feature 215-section Bridgestone rubber that offers good grip levels.

Features

It’s a Hyundai after all so as expected, there’s a lot of comfort and safety features on offer. Apart from the features we’ve already spoken about, the top SX variant also gets an optional 7-inch stereo with navigation, six speakers (5-inch touchscreen unit is standard), static bending lights, leather seats, shark fin antenna, keyless entry and push button ignition, electric folding mirrors, rear AC vents, up to six airbags, reverse parking camera, ESC, VSM and hill assist control (in the automatic variant mostly).

Expected price

The Creta goes on sale very soon and is expected to be priced on par with its rivals. Since there are a lot of variants on offer including the base petrol, we expect a starting price of Rs 8 lakh. The more important diesel variants may be priced between Rs 9 lakh and 12.5 lakh (all ex-showroom prices). The Hyundai Creta has impressed on many counts and definitely has all it takes to give the competition a very tough time.

2015 Hyundai i20 Active

Hyundai has jumped onto the ‘cross style’ of vehicles with the new i20 Active. The ‘cross style’ essentially are  hatchbacks with beefed up bodywork and an elevated stance that makes them appear like SUVs while retaining their hatchback dimensions. The Hyundai i20 Active now joins the herd of the Cross Polo, Etios Cross and Fiat Avventura. We have driven the car and here is how its feels on the road.

There are quite a few changes in the Hyundai i20 Active. Out goes the trapezoidal fog lamp design and in come rounded ones with cornering function. This is a steering wheel based function so when you turn right the right driving lamp lights up, similarly the left one lights up when you turn left (this is activated only when you switch on the headlamps). Hyundai have inverted the i20′s grille on the Active with a chunky lower bumper protruding into the grille. There are LED daytime running lamps along with the projectors. Hyundai has given the i20 Active new colour schemes (like the brown from the spy shots we posted earlier) to differentiate it from the Elite i20. The changes have been done up in a subtle manner and we feel that the i20 is one of the best ‘cross’ vehicles out there in the market. There are satin-finish roof rails, however we would have preferred them to be in body colour. The alloys have a new design too, but look largely similar to the ones on the Elite i20. The fuel lid is also done in a satin finish. Typical to its cross-styled rivals, the i20 Active too gets matte black cladding that underscores the bumpers and the side skirts. There are changes to the rear as well and these include the faux aluminium skid plate and round reflectors.

Engines and transmission

While there were rumours of the i20 Active getting uprated power and torque, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Hyundai, however, have tweaked the petrol and diesel engines for better torque delivery in the lower gears, six per cent for the former and as much as 11 per cent for the latter. This in turn has improved the low and mid-range performance of the car. The second generation U2 1.4 diesel engine makes 90PS and 220Nm while the 1.2 petrol makes 83PS and 114Nm, the former mated to a six-speed while the petrol comes mated to a five-speed manual. Claimed fuel efficiency for the petrol is 17.19kmpl and for the diesel is 21.19kmpl.

Hyundai will be launching the car in India on March 17. It is expected to have a lower variant ratio compared to the Elite i20, most likely four including the petrol and diesel. The Hyundai i20 Active is expected to be priced nearly a lakh more than the corresponding Elite i20 trim.

Most Scintillating Cars Unveiled at Detroit Motor Show 2015

The Detroit Motor Show is a haven for car enthusiasts, and its 2015 version was no different. From futuristic new cars to mind-bending concepts, there was a lot to see at this year’s show.

Here’s a list of the sexiest futuristic cars showcased at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

NEW FORD GT

The stunning Ford’s GT revival was one of the highlights of the show. The new Ford GT is just mesmerizing. The company unveiled a successor to the legendary Ford GT, a 600 bhp supercar equipped with a 3.5 litre V6 engine. The new GT sports a more futuristic design that its predecessor, which includes massive gaps in the rear fenders, which goes to show how precisely its engine unit is packaged. The car goes into production in 2016, and it’s safe to assume it’ll come with a hefty price tag.

ACURA NSX

Car enthusiasts have been waiting years to get a glimpse of the reimagined Acura NSX, and now the car is ready to roll. The 550bhp mid-engine car is an absolute stunner, with its signature Jewel Eye LED headlamps. Meanwhile, the all aluminum suspension and carbon fibre chassis sheds the overall weight of the car. The hybrid sports car 2016 Acura NSX goes on sale later this year.

BUICK AVENIR CONCEPT

Theoretically not a supercar, the Buick Avenir grabbed everyone’s attention at the Detroit Show. The car was designed by a team of Aussies in Melbourne and bagged the ‘Best Concept Design’ award at the Detroit Motor Show.

The concept car was unveiled by former Holden boss, and the current president of GM North America, Mark Reuss. For now, the Buick Avenir is just motor show concpet, but Holden insiders say the striking limousine will likely be made in China and sold globally. Hope it forays into the Indian border from China.

INFINITI Q60

The company has given us a good idea of what it has in store with a preview of the next-gen Q60 coupe at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show.

The Q60 is essentially the G Coupe which underwent a complete design overhaul back in 2008. The new Q60 sports a much more aggressive design to match the solid performance the car is known for. The car’s chunky character lines, which run from the grille all the way to the rear, personifies the car’s solid performance. It now has massive 21-inch alloy wheels with contrasting black and silver spokes, while its length is kept at 184.6 inches which is 2 inches longer than the BMW 4 series.

 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ CONCEPT

The pick-up truck from the Korean manufacturer is clearly headed for production and saw thousands of visitors galloping around to get a glimpse of the Crossover truck.

It’s based on the next generation ix35 SUV, and the Santa Cruz was designed at Hyundai’s centre in Los Angeles aimed at people who don’t need a full-sized truck.

‘How long is a bike’, or ‘how long is a kayak’ or ‘how long is a motorcycle’ wasn’t a priority over the styling, the image of this car, we wanted to make sure that the car looked compact enough’ said Hyundai designer Chris Chapman.

ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER

The production version of the 4C Spider was unveiled at Detroit, and the Italian carmaker claims the carbon fibre monocoque chassis gives the 4C Spider enough rigidity without adding too much muscle, weighing less than 900 kilograms. The car will be powered by a 1.7 litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine churning out 177kW and 350Nm. The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

PORSCHE 911 TARGA

Porsche unveiled new versions of the 911 Targe. The 911 Targa gets an all-wheel drive GTS version, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Targa. Power is further bolstered by 22kW over the Targa 4S to 316kW while its zips to 100kmph from standstill in a mere 3.4 seconds.

 LEXUS GS F

Toyota lifted the veil of its long-awaited high-performance mid-sized limousine, called the GS F. Its powered by a brawny 5 litre V8 engine and can churn out 348kW. The car is expected to arrive in showrooms this year and expect it to be priced beyond comprehension.

2015 BMW 6 SERIES

A new range of 6 Series ‘halo’ cars graced the Detroit Motor Show as the German behemoth marked its fourth straight year in a row with more than two million deliveries in 2014.

“These are clearly the sportiest and most luxurious 6-Series vehicle we have ever built. We are launching a lot of new products again”, says BMW Marketing Head Ian Roberston.