Hyundai Tucson launch to get delayed; Elantra to consolidate

  New Delhi: There really is little need for another SUV in the market, for Hyundai, in its portfolio, just as the Creta has been doing well already, with over 8000 to 10,000 bookings each month. Similarly, the Elantra, slated for launch next month, in August 2016, needs proper positioning in the market. So, chances are that the launch of the Hyundai Tucson SUV may be put off from the Hyundai’s earlier plans of a September 2016 launch.   The focus would be on the launch of the sedan, the next-gen Elantra. The Korean would try to position and consolidate the sales of the sedan in the Indian market, given the fact that Indian buyers prefer SUVs over Sedans. It can turn out to be tough for Hyundai to push sales of the sedan, as the market is currently ripe only for SUVs, crossovers and hatchbacks and not for sedans.   As the launch of the Tucson could be deferred, to the festive seasons and even beyond to early 2017, the Hyundai Elantra is expected to utilize the time available to consolidate its position in the market. The Indian market may feel sensitive towards buying a Rs. 15-20 lakh premium sedan, than they can buy a premium SUV at that price. So, the Elantra needs all the push the Hyundai can back it up with.   The Hyundai Tucson may be priced anywhere around Rs. 18 lakh, for the base variant, to Rs. 25 lakh, for the top-spec variant, if launched. Besides the difficulty in choosing between a sedan and an SUV, the launch of the Tucson would also leave buyers confused in having to choose between two SUVs, with the Creta already in the picture.   The Hyundai Elantra is built on the Fluidic design platform of the Hyundai with the infusion of fresh design cues from the Genesis. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, diesel engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, delivering an impressive 178 PS. The 2.0-litre mill may also make it a less favored SUV in Delhi-NCR and so might sport an engine of a slightly lower displacement, upon launch, in India. Source: vicky.in