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Hyundai launches Accent with new-generation diesel engine

Hyundai Motor India, the country's second biggest car-maker, launched Accent CRDi, the mid-sized sedan with a new-generation diesel engine that minimises vibration, noise and pollution.

The diesel engine called CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection) combines the performance and handling of a petrol engine with the fuel efficiency of a diesel, Hyundai India managing director J I Kim told reporters at the national launch.

The CRDi diesel engine was developed in South Korea in association with Detroit Diesel of USA. The car has already been launched in Europe and South Korea earlier this year.

This is the first CRDi driven car that has been introduced in the Indian market. ''We believe this engine will create a new technology benchmark for diesels,'' Kim said.

The car is priced (ex-show room )in Chennai at Rs 7,23,261, Rs 7,23,821 (Bangalore) Rs 7,24,065 (Delhi) Rs 7,58,195 (Mumbai) and Rs 7,34,769 (Kolkata).

Hyundai India President B V R Subbu said the company planned to produce about 400 Accent CRDi a month in its Chennai plant. Stating that the car with the imported engine will have about 70 per cent local content, he said the company planned to sell about 102,000 cars in all segments during this fiscal with a sales turn over of Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion).

The company planned to invest about $350 million till 2006. It has already invested $700 million in its Chennai operations.

Under ideal test conditions the Accent CRDi would give 28 km a litre, he told a questioner, adding that the fuel efficiency could vary depending on various driving conditions.

Kim said Accent is the leader in the mid-sized cars segment with a 21 per cent market share (Jan to Aug 2002). Hyundai sold 16,267 Accents in India during 2001 and 13,263 units in the first eight months of 2002.

Last year the company exported 8000 cars, 80 per cent of them being Santro, Kim told a questioner.

UNI

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