New Delhi: Maruti Udyog now has one more competitor for its Suzuki Swift one that qualifies for the small car tag (thanks to a 1.2-litre engine) and consequently the lower excise duty. Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has launched its new premium hatchback 'Getz Prime', with a starting price from Rs3.89 lakh onwards. The company is targeting to sell about 30,000 units of the vehicle in the Indian market and 40,000 units abroad in the remaining part of this calendar year.

The company also plans to join the price war by introducing another compact car in October. The new Getz Prime will be available with two engine sizes, one with the 1.1-litre capacity and the other with the 1.3-litre. The base model of Getz Prime is equipped with a 1.1-litre petrol engine and will be cheaper than the base model of Maruti Swift (Rs3.99 lakh) by a good Rs10,000.

Hyundai has introduced four variants of the Getz Prime. The base 1.1-litre Getz Prime will be available in two variants — GLE and GVS, and the 1.3 Getz Prime will also come in two variants, GLS and GLX. These come with an introductory price range of Rs3.89 lakh and Rs5.24 lakh.

Not surprisingly the company expects the 1.1-litre version to bring in 70 per cent of the total sales of the Getz Prime in the Indian market.

The company is also working on a 1.5-litre diesel variant of the Getz Prime that could be on Indian roads in the second half of this year.

Hyundai is also planning to launch another price warrior compact car code-named PA, expected to hit the market by October this year. The new car will be positioned to compete with the top loaded models of Zen Estilo and WagonR and will be rolled out from Hyundai's second plant in Chennai.

Hyundai Motors said it has made India its global hub for Getz exports and has started overseas shipments.

Hyundai is also considering launching the CNG and LPG Santro.

The Getz Prime: Getz with a facelift?
Reports in the media overseas say the Getz Prime is basically a Getz with a facelift. However, the car has new headlamps and tail lamps, a new front fog lamp, a new three-spoke steering wheel, a revamped centre console and changes in the plastic grain finish.

Other than this the model has some extra value-add-ons like driver's seat armrest, illuminated glove box, illuminated power window switches and adjustable backrests in the rear seats and comes in new body shades.

The Getz redesign is thus exterior focused, though some features inside too have been altered for improved functionality. The most attractive feature of the Getz - ample leg room is also there in the Prime Getz.

Looks wise, too, the Getz Prime is different from the Getz that has been on the roads so far. The design changes are subtle and give the car a decidedly more curvaceous look.

From the front the headlamp has been given a sleeker, more elongated design. The new clear-lens headlamp has pilot lamps and a main headlamp with a larger reflector. The indicator lamp has been shifted to the inside and together with the main lamp gives the headlamp a twin projector look.

Redesigned round fog lamps have been integrated into the bumper, which has been given a smaller air dam. The front grille has been redesigned and its curved edges melt with the bonnet crease line.

The bumper inserts have also been redesigned in the Getz Prime. The new bumpers have prominent full width detachable insert mouldings that impart more character to the car's front and rear.

To offer more comfort for rear passengers, the 60:40 split rear seat can now be reclined in three stages. The car continues to have safety features like the clutch lock (standard) and anti-lock brakes (ABS), as an optional add-on. Front fog lamps and the new three-nozzle wiper are the new additions.

The new Getz Prime will be available with two engine sizes. The larger engine comes with the existing 1.3-litre petrol engine, which generates 83bhp of peak power and 11.8KgM of maximum torque. The car is also being launched with the 1.1-litre eRLX engine that is available in the Santro Xing.

However the Getz's heavier structure needs more power and torque being a premium hatch. Hence, the company has tweaked the 1.1-litre eRLX engine to match the Getz's requirements. Thus the engine, used in the Santro Xing gives a 63bhp of peak power in the Getz, offers a higher 66.7bhp of maximum power at 5,500 rpm and the peak torque is also a 10.4KgM at 3,200 rpm.

As in the Santro Xing, the eRLX continues to feature technologies like the rotary heard intelligent valve actuator (RHiA), fuel quality immuniser, real-time intelligent ignition and ultra-low friction piston rings.

Consequently, with the changes incorporated in performance parameters, fuel efficiency in the Getz Prime is likely to be lower than in the Santro Xing.