Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) may launch its small car earlier than 2011-12, to give competition to other small cars scheduled for launch around the same time. Codenamed 2CV, the car is being developed specifically for the Indian market. It is expected to come with a 1.1 litre petrol engine, and will be priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh. The car will be positioned below the Honda Jazz, but is likely to be built on the same platform. It may also share the iV-TEC technology with the Jazz. A Honda spokesperson said that the small-car project was on track, and that nothing had changed from the earlier position.
The car will compete with Maruti’s Swift, Hyundai’s i10, Fiat’s Grande Punto, Ford’s Figo and other yet-to-be-launched premium hatchbacks. HSCI may also introduce a diesel version of the car later. The company currently sells 52,000 units in India annually, and expects the new car to be a volume generator and help it double the number
It will also be built in Thailand, where it will be marketed under the country’s Eco-Car project.
