advertorial HYUNDAI VERNA. HE D STANDARD.

advertorial

HYUNDAIVERNA.

the goldstandard.

what is it about this car that sets the Verna apart?You could call it the gold standard for executive sedans in India. or you could call it the Hyundai Verna. But what is it about this car that sets the Verna apart? In the previous issue of the magazine, we had investigated the styling and comfort features of the Hyundai Verna. This time, we dig deeper to find out if there’s substance under this style.

THE AMAZING FOUR.To do so, we must look at the heart of the Verna, the engine. or rather, engines, since Hyundai gives you a choice of four engines in the Verna. There are two petrols and two diesels powering the Verna in 1.4- and 1.6-litre cubic capacities. What holds true for all engines is that they are frugal without sacrificing performance.

Hyundai engines are designed to maximise fuel economy. The more fuel efficient a car is, the less toxic emissions it releases in the air. That means we leave our children a cleaner and healthier planet. Yes, we do save on our fuel bills too.

Hyundai uses three methods to enhance

the fuel economy of its cars. First is the maximisation of fuel efficiency in the

powertrain. Second, minimisation of the loss of energy. and third, use of recycled energy sources. Eco-

friendliness is a key element that is taking on bigger and bigger

importance at Hyundai. Therefore, developing innovative technologies that allow great driving performance through exceptional engines, as well as eco-friendliness, has become the most important task at Hyundai. The Gamma

engines powering the Verna are a step closer towards Hyundai’s

mission of a cleaner, greener world.

let’s take a look at the engine specifications and see what they tell us. The 1.6-litre diesel generates 128PS at 4000rpm while the smaller diesel sibling produces 90PS. The petrol-fueled 1.6-litre motor, on the other hand, churns out 123PS at 6300rpm, while the 1.4-litre petrol manages 107PS. on paper, these figures look impressive. But what does it all translate to on the road? There’s only one way to find that out. It’s time to drive.

THE DRIVER’S DIARY.You can see what to expect just by looking at the purposeful stance of the car and its edgy Fluidic design. The Verna’s Smart Key can stay in your pocket, as the Verna automatically detects the key’s presence and allows you to unlock the car

by pressing a discreet button on the door handle. Press the starter button, no keys to turn on the ignition, and the engine warbles to life.

Slot the Verna into gear and mash down on the pedal. as the car surges forward, it’s difficult to tell it’s a diesel. It’s one of the smoothest and quietest in its class. The power delivery is linear and there’s enough power available across the band. You can barely feel the turbo kick in. There’s a gentle surge at around 1900rpm, followed by a strong thrust all the way to the top. The tractable engine means that you don’t have to constantly work the smooth-shifting gearbox. The other thing that you’ll love is the Verna’s electrically powered steering. It is light and just what the doctor ordered for effortless scything through crowded urban streets and

squeezing into tight parking spots. Given India’s roads, ride quality can, literally, make or break a car. The good news is that the Verna delivers on this front. You feel that you are riding on a magic carpet with the softly set-up suspension ably absorbing all but the largest potholes. The 2014 Hyundai Verna’s suspension has been tweaked further to make your drive more engaging than ever before.

Hop out of the diesel and check out the petrol-powered motor. like the diesel, the new Gamma petrol engine scores high on refinement too with a near-silent idle. There is no doubt that this is a powerful motor with a meaty performance. Stay on the throttle and 100kph comes up alarmingly fast. and here’s the best bit. The mid-range is strong, but the

top end beyond 4000rpm is even stronger. So as the revs rise, the Verna pulls harder. This is a surprisingly fun car to drive. like a twist in the white-collar sobriety.

Your choice doesn’t end with the engine. The Verna gives you a choice between automatic and manual transmissions. The 5-speed petrol and 6-speed diesel manual gearboxes provide smooth, noiseless shifting of gears, thanks to the key-and-ball-type synchromesh, optimised gear-tooth shape and precision machining. on the other hand, the four-speed H-Matic auto transmission offers highly responsive, sporty acceleration, like that of a manual transmission. So whether you want the convenience of an auto ’box or the control of a manual, there is a Verna for you.

SAFETY FIRST.With great power comes great responsibility. That is why the Hyundai Verna is packed with an armoury of active and passive safety systems to make your drive safer on our dangerous roads. Anti-lock braking system Emergency braking manoeuvres can cause a vehicle’s wheels to lock up and skid, resulting in a loss of steering control exactly when you need it most. aBS helps prevent the possibility of wheel lockup under hard braking, and rapidly pulses the brakes to help you retain steering control as you come to a stop.Electronic brake-force distribution EBd balances braking forces at each wheel when the car is dynamically loaded. This helps the driver maintain confident control in difficult braking situations.Six airbags all round Six airbags provide all-round protection. one for the driver, one for the front-seat passenger, two curtain airbags running the length of the cabin, plus two side airbags make it the safest car on road in this segment.

Seatbelt pre-tensioners In the event of a collision, a sensor detects the impact and automatically tensions the seatbelts around the pelvis, for additional protection.Electro-chromic mirror (ECM) The mirror automatically senses and reduces light intrusion from vehicles following you, dramatically reducing glare.Rear proximity warning system Sensors in the rear bumper detect objects which you can’t see while reversing and sound a warning if you get too close.Front and rear disc brakes all four disc brakes ensure optimum braking efficiency and longer brake life.Impact-sensing auto door unlock In case of collision, the doors get unlocked automatically to allow a safe and quick exit for all the passengers.

DRIVING ASSISTANCE.Talking about safety, what is the most important safety feature in a car?

It is the driver. That is why the Hyundai Verna is designed with the driver’s needs in

mind. So how does Hyundai do it? Here are some examples.Supervision Cluster with blue illumination This is a case of no-nonsense functionality meeting sporting elegance. With its circular rev counter and speedometer illuminated with white and blue lighting for optimum clarity and readability, the cluster provides the driver with vital vehicle information through both sight and sound.Driver information system The new Verna comes equipped with an onboard computer that gives you useful driving information such as journey time and ‘distance to empty’. This panel also has a first-in-segment Eco drive indicator in the automatic variant that helps you drive in a more fuel-efficient way.Steering-wheel remote control From the driver seat of the Verna, you can operate a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone without having to take your hands off from the steering wheel. You can also control the stereo system and adjust the volume of phone calls with the remote control on the steering wheel. Rear-parking assist system Parking is now a breeze with the visually guided parking system in the electro-chromic rear-view mirror where a camera helps you align the car in relation to other vehicles and the kerb.

THE GOLD STANDARD.While the Hyundai Verna is the gold standard in executive sedans today, Hyundai realises that the journey has just started. Hyundai’s responsibility doesn’t end with you driving out of the showroom; in fact, it’s just the beginning. That’s why Hyundai has invested in an exhaustive nationwide dealer and workshop network to ensure that it is there wherever and whenever, with whatever you need. Has this really translated to customer satisfaction on the ground? What do the Verna owners really feel about it? What does Hyundai do to increase customer satisfaction? In the next issue, we will talk to some people to answer these questions.

Rear proximity warning system

Seatbelt pre-tensioners

Steering-wheel remote control

Supervision Cluster with blue illumination

Full auto air conditioner

Front and rear disc brakesSix airbags all round