Hyundai teases new Verna before launch

Korean carmaker Hyundai is all set to launch its next-gen Verna. It recently teased images of the new car’s interior design, which gives us an idea of what the real car will look like on the inside. Like the current model, the new Verna will take on the likes of the Honda City and the Maruti Ciaz. Here’s what makes it stand out.

1. It’s roomier
Thanks to a 10mm increase in wheelbase and a 29mm bump in width, the new Verna has more interior space. The extra room is sure to make the Verna a comfier sedan, while the 16-litre bump in boot space also makes it more practical. The car is also longer overall by 15mm. However, despite the increase in size, the new model is only 10 kilos heavier than the older Verna.

2. The cabin is new
The new car’s interior design is neater, more sophisticated and more premium than before. It features soft materials on the dashboard, a new steering wheel, and special attention has been payed to make the interior more ergonomic. Top-end variants get a 7.0-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, up to six airbags, and ESP on automatic variants. ABS and dual airbags are likely to be standard across the range.

3. It could be more fun to drive
A heavily revised chassis has resulted in better torsional rigidity. Furthermore, the suspension has also been developed for improved ride-comfort as well as handling. As a result, it’s safe to assume that the new Verna will be better to drive than the current model.

4. New gearboxes coming
The four-speed automatic gearboxes offered on the current Verna are no match for the dual-clutch ’boxes found in competition like the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Rapid. The new car, however, will share its six-speed automatic with the costlier Elantra. While it’s not as slick or advanced as dual clutch automatics, performance and efficiency levels will be significantly better than the older model’s. Engines from the current car will be carried over unchanged.

5. Is that a shrunken Elantra?
Along with all the revisions under the skin and the interior comes a sleek, new exterior. The new sedan’s design is cleaner and is similar to the bigger Elantra, which is no bad thing. It features a hexagonal grille – now, a Hyundai trademark – flanked by swept-back headlamps. The silhouette isn’t too different from the current car’s, while around the back, there are new tail-lights which are akin to the ones on the updated Xcent.