When India's Tata Motors announced earlier this year plans to bring an ultra-cheap commuter car to the market for just $2500, the automotive industry was shaken to its core. Though that car won't be finding its way to the US market anytime soon, the Nano represents a wholesale shift in the way cars are built: basic transportation priced well below the prevailing market rate.
Indeed, with the Indian consumer market expected to grow exponentially over the next decade, Tata's announcement has forced major automakers around the globe to figure out ways to compete or lose out on serving a populace of 1.1 billion consumers who might be attracted to the Nano. For Korean automaker, Hyundai, the company already has a response available in the form of its i10 five-door hatchback, a car that could beat the Smart Fortwo in price and fuel economy if its rumored shipment to the US takes place as some are hoping that it will.
Better Fuel Economy Than The Smart Fortwo
Though the Hyundai i10 can't compete on price with the Tata Nano, it could be just the car American drivers embrace. Weighing in at 1892 lbs, the i10 matches the curb weight of the Smart Fortwo. However, in order to meet stringent US safety requirements, the car will likely add 400 lbs to its girth and get a slightly larger engine than the 1.1L I4 now powering the car. Still, with its light weight and its diminutive size the highway fuel projection for the i10 is 47 mpg, well above the current 40 mpg for the Smart Fortwo.
Besides its light weight, the i10 would offer antilock brakes, fog lights, keyless entry, and dual airbags. Priced at between $7800 and $11,200 in India, a basic model could still retail for just under $10,000 if it goes on sale in the US.
Winning The Battle Against $4 Fuel
Judging that the tiny Smart Fortwo is selling fairly well in the US, a slightly larger, heavier, yet more fuel efficient Hyundai i10 could become the de facto commuter car of choice here in the US, helping take the sting out of $4 per gallon fuel prices.
Perhaps the best news about the little Hyundai is that the automaker is already building and exporting the tiny car to seventy markets around the world. Its main factory? In Chennai, India - the very country where Hyundai hopes to sharply increase its market share.
(Source: Motor Trend)
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