Hyundai launches compact sedan Xcent; diesel, petrol variants in market by March

Flush with the success of its latest small car Grand i10, Korean auto major Hyundai Motor India on Tuesday unveiled a sub-four-metre compact sedan Xcent based on the same platform.

The uncanny similarity in nomenclature with its first and now extinct Accent sedan notwithstanding, the Xcent will hit the roads in March end and compete with the likes of Honda Amaze and Maruti DZire. The compact sedan segment, which benefits from lower excise duties applicable on cars shorter than four metres in length, was one of the only two segments to witness growth in India in 2013.

The Xcent is the third compact sedan to be showcased in the market in the span of two days after Tata took the wraps off the Zest sedan and Ford unveiled the Figo Concept sedan on Monday. Xcent would, however, be the first to hit the market.

"The Xcent is a world class product developed for the Indian market," said BS Seo, managing director and CEO, Hyundai Motor India. "With its excellent value proposition and unique first in class segment features, it will serve a wide range of customers in India raising the benchmark in the segment."

The car will be powered by 1.2 litre petrol engine borrowed from the Grand i10 hatchback but may have a bigger 1.4 litre diesel engine seen in other Hyundai cars such as i20 hatchback and Verna sedan. Like the Grand i10, it will also have rear AC vents not seen in other cars in the segment currently. It will also be offered with automatic transmission.

Hyundai said volumes in the mid-size sedan segment had doubled since 2009 and its contribution in the passenger vehicle segment had grown by 5%. Within this segment, entry level sedans account for 73% of the sales while sub-four-metre sedans account for 81% sales of the entry level sedan pie.

Brilliance finds a new expression as #Hyundai India globally unveils its stylish and hi-tech family sedan – Xcent. pic.twitter.com/UFGGY8gd1R

— HyundaiIndia (@HyundaiIndia) February 4, 2014

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