"HYUNDAI SANTRO CRDi"

Coming SooN...

India’s second largest car manufacturer, Hyundai Motors, is gearing up to launch the Santro CRDi by May 2008 if the rumor mongers are to be believed. It is expected to be priced around Rs. 4.25-4.50 lakhs, ex-showroom. Car enthusiasts, both online (in the blogosphere) and offline (the real “diesel” heads) are all gearing up for this and are busy weighing in the pros and cons. If inside information is to be believed, the car will extremely fuel efficient with a mileage hovering around 20/kmpl in city driving. But one is also hearing rumors that the engine might be that of Hyundai Verna, minus one cylinder!

In the recently concluded Delhi Auto Expo 2008, Hyundai had unveiled a Santro LPG which is seen by many as an answer to Maruti Suzuki India’s LPG initiative. Now with the Santro CRDi becoming a reality, it’s bad news for the likes of Indica Diesel, Swift Diesel and also the recently launched Palio 1.3JTD.

Engine specifications are expected as follows:

• 1.1L engine• Bore x Stroke – 75.00 mm × 84.50 mm
 • Cylinders – 3
 • Displacement – 1120cc
 • Maximum Output – 75bhp @ 4000RPM
 • Maximum Torque – 153NM @ 1900-2750RPM
 • DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder, 12 Valves in total
 • Top Speed – Around 160kmph

CRDi — abbreviation for Common Rail Direct Injection — engine was developed by Hyundai with US-based Detroit Diesel using the system developed by European carmaker Fiat in 1997. The CRDi technology makes the diesel engine run amost as smooth as a petrol powered one. According to the company, “It’s fast, quiet and economical, while maintaining the diesel engine characteristics of higher pulling power”.