Next-Generation 2016 Hyundai Verna Sedan Spotted Testing

The next-generation Hyundai Verna has just surfaced on the testing circuit in South Korea, the brand’s home market. The new car will hop onto the Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy, an evolution of the current design. Expect the expansive flourishes to make way for more restrained curves in the new design philosophy. Internationally, the car is sold under the Accent and Solaris brands. Back in 2011, the Verna Fluidic was the first Hyundai car in India to get the firm’s new design. The design alone was a major crowd puller, translating into good sales for the car.

It also helped that Hyundai loaded the car with powerful engines, creature comforts and safety features, topped up with a slew of variants to suit a wide range of budgets. Introduced internationally in 2010, the C-Segment sedan is 5 years old, and the all-new model is likely to step up to challenge next year. A six year life cycle is a regular affair among C-Segment cars. Apart from revised styling, the next-generation Verna is likely to get larger in terms of its dimensions. As far as India is concerned, a late 2016 launch is likely, considering the fact that a facelift is due next month. 

The car’s chief competitors in the Indian market – the Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz – have now introduced buyers to spacious interiors and Hyundai wouldn’t want to lag behind in this crucial aspect. So expect generous proportions on the outside, and cavernous innards. The new crop of Hyundais have laid much emphasis on high quality interiors and premium features. Expect this line of thought to percolate into the new Verna as well. Segment leading features are on the cards.

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Hyundai has just introduced a 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox on the facelifted, current generation Verna Diesel sold in South Korea. This very transmission is expected to be offered in the next-gen model’s turbo diesel variants. The petrol engines are expected to continue with the newly introduced 6 speed automatic transmission, first seen on the Russia-spec Solaris last year. Also, the automaker could outfit the new car with the 1 liter-3 cylinder T-GDi turbo petrol engine, which will be first seen later this year, on the European i20 Elite.

The current crop of 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter petrol and turbo diesel engines could continue doing duty, albeit with revised power and torque outputs. Hyundai has been making steady improvements to the ride and handling dynamics of its mass market cars. The automaker now has a test facility at the Nurburgring circuit to hone driving dynamics of its vehicles. The new Verna is expected to be a much better handler than the current version, apart from offering a steering that delivers better feedback at speed.

Spyshots courtesy TheKoreanCarBlog