The i20 has already sold over 25 lakh globally, including 10 lakh is in India. According to the vehicle maker, over 50 percent customers in the premium compact segment choose i20. Therefore, the expectations of the new avatar are more. How magnetic will the new i20 be to appeal to customers is the key question to be answered. HMI left no stone unturned to make it suitable to get attracted by the customer through its six key pillars approach improving on interiors, exteriors, performance, safety, offering innovative technology and peace of mind in maintaining the car. Inspired by Hyundai global design philosophy – Sensuous Sportiness, the new car is sleek, agile and has progressive dimensions, incorporating a seamlessly integrated blend of advanced and modern character lines.

Exteriors

LED headlamps with i20 branded LED DRLs, projector fog lamps and parametric jewel pattern grill that is designed to be oblique, accentuating smooth curvature around the car, make the exterior iconic. The muscular looks of the bonnet with sharp lines, the flyback chrome beltline design bold, large daylight opening area with quarter glass, shark fin antenna makes the car stand apart. The chrome garnish connecting the Z-shaped LED tail lamps with i20 branding, makes the rear appear wider. The branding is also in the side sill garnish.

With an improved vehicle forward flow, lowered front hood and implementation of the air curtain, among other enhancements, the new car offers enhanced aerodynamics. Through a combination of a body structure and systemic structural engineering materials, the vehicle provides customers with a thrilling and fun drive experience. The shell is designed not only to be attractive but also to be aerodynamic to support fuel economy, as the drag coefficient is as low as 0.33.

Compared to the outgoing i20 the new variant is longer by 10mm to 3,995mm, wider by 16mm to 1,750mm and wheelbase longer by 10mm to 2,580mm. The legroom is increased by 88mm and shoulder room by 40mm.

The new car comes in a wide choice of colour options on the all-new i20 including polar white, typhoon silver, titan grey, fiery red, starry night, metallic copper and dual-tone colour options such as polar white with black roof and fiery red with blacktop.

Interiors

As and when you enter the car, the first thing that you notice is the roomy interior, perhaps due to the horizontal design pattern that runs across from door to door. The leatherette upholstery, the sleek dashboard, ambient blue light, digital cluster with TFT displaying multiple information, Oxyboost air purifier, wireless charger with a cooling pad, electric sunroof, add not only to comfort and convenience but also matches the taste of NexGen customers.

The 10 inch HD touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, can be connected with multiple devices through Bluetooth. Hyundai is the first in the country to introduce the BOSE 7-speaker system (four speakers, two tweeters and a subwoofer), in this segment. Besides, the sliding front armrest, rear-seat armrest and tilt / telescopic steering add comfort.

Improved convenience is now delivered through BlueLink that offers 50 Connected Car features including first-in-segment Over-The-Air Updates (OTA) for enhanced in-car connectivity offering customers convenience and comfort. Customers can now experience voice-enabled functions by using Wake-Up Word ‘Hello BlueLink’ to control essential vehicle features such as climate control -temperature, fan speed control, airflow direction and air-intake type control (fresh/ circulation), radio, media, navigation assistance along with in-vehicle assistance like dial by number, India’s public holiday information and track live cricket scores, at the ease of a voice command.

It also offers enhanced convenience features such as remote engine start/ stop, remote lock/ unlock & climate control, remote vehicle status & alerts and even functions such as find my car location & share my car. The function also empowers customers with information such as auto crash notification, tyre pressure information and stolen vehicle tracking/ immobilisation.

The car also gets features such as digital cluster with TFT multi-information display offering information display for individual tyre pressure, drive info, fuel economy, parking warning and turn by turn navigation.

The horizontal lines in the exterior and interior make the car appear more expansive and roomier inside. Hyundai is offering the vehicle in Magna, Sportz, Asta and Asta (O) variants. Besides, it gives the customers a variety of petrol, diesel and turbo petrol engines and transmission options that include Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT), Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) and Manual Transmissions. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol that develops 120PS of power comes in DCT and iMT options while the 1.2 Kappa that develops 88PS is mated to iVT – intelligent Variable Transmission. The 1.5-litre diesel engine that generates 100PS of power is coupled with 6-speed manual transmission.

The speciality of the car is that it is built on a lightweight K-platform with 66 percent of the body structure in advanced high strength steel. It not only enhances the crashworthiness but also make the car lighter. The use of advanced digital gauge to check the panel thinning distribution - crack, neck prediction methodology, helps in manufacturing zero crack panels. Since there are over 4,000 welding spots in each car, and more than 70 cars being processed every hour, the company deployed a high-quality welding process that features over 450 fourth-generation robots offering 100 percent weld automation. For an added layer of protection the car is equipped with 6-Airbags, Hill Assist Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Electronic Stability Control, Emergency Stop Signal, ISOFIX compatibility, DRVM (Driver Rear View Monitor), ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, driver and passenger seatbelt reminder with pre-tensioner/load limiter.

The company is offering product assurance through wonder warranty options - three years/ 100,000 kms, four years/ 50,000 kms and five years/ 40,000 kms. Further, customers can get three years BlueLink subscription plus three years roadside assistance.

The company has also introduced a wide range of 50 accessories for the new car. It offers three accessory packs such as Essentio, Platinum and Radiant.

Overall there are 13 variants with different combinations of engines and gearbox, and all India ex-showroom prices range from INR 6.79 lakh up to INR 11.17 lakh.

With all the attributes the all-new i20 is a smart car for the smart Indian customers offering quality time for a happy life. (MT)

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Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has announced the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with 29 aftersales partners during its Global Business Conference held between 4 May and 10 May 2026.

The event gathered over 200 investors and partners from North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Kazakhstan to discuss the company’s international service expansion.

The MoUs outline plans for international partners to establish electric vehicle (EV) service workshops that adhere to VinFast’s global standards. To maintain service quality, VinFast intends to provide standardised technician training, certification programmes and operating procedures. The company is also developing a parts supply network with a target of delivering common spare parts within 24 hours in major markets.

The automaker is building on its domestic aftersales foundation in Vietnam, where it operated nearly 400 workshops by the end of 2025. This contributed to a total global network of nearly 800 facilities at that time.

For 2026, the company aims to expand its global reach to more than 1,100 service workshops. This network will be implemented through several models, including – dealerships for retail customers, services for fleet and transportation business clients and partnerships with third-party local service workshops.

The expansion strategy includes specific support policies such as repair time commitments in Vietnam and the provision of replacement vehicles in international markets. VinFast also provides ongoing technical support, battery inspections and software updates for its customers.

Bui Viet Hung, Deputy CEO of Global Aftersales at VinFast, said, “Our goal is not simply to expand the network, but to build a customer-centric aftersales ecosystem that delivers an outstanding experience on a global scale. Through partnerships with experienced local operators and the application of VinFast’s global standards, we aim to provide aftersales services that are exceptional, responsive, and reliable”.

In addition to maintenance services, VinFast is collaborating with partners like V-Green to develop a global charging system. The company aims to establish more than 1.5 million charging ports worldwide to provide a comprehensive ownership experience for international EV users.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Tata Motors is upbeat on FY2027. The company reported revenue of INR 3,355 billion, down 9 percent YoY in FY2026, as compared to INR 3,660 billion a year ago. The profit before tax saw a decline of 13 percent at INR 2,333 billion, as against INR 3,142 billion last year.

The impact was primarily on the back of several headwinds at Jaguar Land Rover, including cyber incidents, tariffs, China's luxury tax, VME pressures and adverse commodities. The Consolidated Net Debt stood at INR 307 billion, on account of adverse free cash flows primarily owing to production stoppages at JLR.

However, Tata Motors management is quite optimistic about transitioning into the new fiscal year. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, outlined a ‘stay the course’ philosophy backed by aggressive technological pivots. Despite macroeconomic volatility, the company is doubling down on its multi-powertrain strategy to insulate itself from global commodity shocks.

While FY2026 was a year of ‘outperformance’ (15 percent growth), Chandra has set a realistic yet ambitious floor for the mid-term.

"We are confident growth can be over 10 percent for FY2027. There is no question about changing the long-term plan. Unless there is a significant geopolitical impact on petrol and diesel prices that may have a 1-2 percent plus or minus effect on new car sales, we remain on track," Chandra stated.

Perhaps the most significant outlook provided was the expected reversal of the traditional cost structure. Chandra views the rising cost of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) as an inevitability that will eventually make EVs the more profitable segment.

Interestingly, for Tata Motors’ alternative energy fuel mix (electric and CNG) now already accounts for 43 percent of passenger vehicle sales.

"ICE is going to be inflationary in the future," Chandra predicted. "Cost on the EV side has been disinflationary. If not equal, it will be better than ICE. We are not that concerned on profitability being impacted badly; there can be some pressure in the short-term, but it maybe for completely different reasons," he responded on the demand in the upcoming few months.

The automaker is also ramping up production to meet demand and expects to build on the strong momentum of H2 FY2026, and continue to deliver profitable and industry-beating growth in FY2027, supported by a robust demand pipeline, planned pipeline of new products and established multi-powertrain strategy.

By December 2026 or early CY2027, Tata Motors plans to enter the Flex-Fuel arena with at least one product to align with evolving government mandates.

"As far as Tata Motors is concerned, we are comfortable in terms of technology readiness," Chandra noted. "By end-December 2026 or early next year, we expect our first Flex-Fuel vehicle to be introduced. We are currently in discussion with the government through SIAM for E25 readiness."

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Maruti Suzuki India Limited has crossed a new threshold in its environmental logistics strategy, having now sent more than three million vehicles across the country by rail. The carmaker views this cumulative figure as proof of its deepening commitment to reducing emissions through supply chain innovation.

The share of trains in the company’s outbound vehicle movement has grown from just five percent in the 2014-15 fiscal year to 26.5 percent in 2025-26. The journey from two million to three million rail dispatches took only 21 months, setting a company record for the fastest addition of one million units moved by train.

Two of Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing hubs, at Hansalpur and Manesar, are equipped with in-plant railway sidings, a distinction held by no other passenger vehicle maker in India. These facilities were built under the national PM GatiShakti master plan. The Hansalpur siding became operational in March 2023 and received a virtual inauguration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi a year later. In February 2026, it earned global recognition as the first modal shift transport project registered under Verra’s carbon standards. The Manesar siding, the largest of its kind in the country, saw its first train flagged off in June 2025 by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

With a combined annual capacity of 750,000 vehicles, the two sidings feed a hub and spoke network covering more than 600 cities from 22 hubs. Popular models like the Swift, Brezza, Baleno, Grand Vitara and Ertiga, produced in Gurugram, Manesar and Gujarat, are moved through this system. Rail connectivity also extends to the ports of Mundra and Pipavav, supporting the company’s export shipments.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki, said, “Achieving three million cumulative vehicle dispatches through railways marks a significant milestone in Maruti Suzuki’s green logistics journey. Since 2014, our rail-based vehicle dispatches have increased ninefold in volume, now contributing 26.5 percent of the Company’s total vehicle dispatches. Maruti Suzuki has committed over INR 13,720 million towards dedicated green logistics infrastructure. This includes development of in-plant railway sidings at our Hansalpur and Manesar manufacturing facilities, rail yards setup at key logistics hubs, procurement of specialised automotive rakes and supporting multiple infrastructure upgrades.

 “We thank the Government of India for the visionary PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which has created a strong enabling framework for integrated, multimodal logistics and has supported the industry’s transition towards efficient, rail-led and sustainable freight movement. Going forward, we aim to increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35 percent by FY2030-31 and plan to establish an in-plant siding at our new Kharkhoda facility. This would further help reduce carbon footprint, lower fuel consumption and ease overall road congestion.”

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The 110th birthday of Ferruccio Lamborghini Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI, the famous Italian automobile designer and industrialist who created Lamborghini Trattori in 1948 and Automobili Lamborghini in 1963 was on 28 April 2026. The force behind the conceptualisation, design and development of some of the most iconic supercar models ever to come out of Italy, such as the Miura and Countach, Lamborghini was driven by an unceasing desire to improve and innovate. 
Born in Renazzo, a hamlet in the municipality of Cento (province of Ferrara), on 28 April 1916, Lamborghini – the eldest son of farmers Antonio and Evelina Lamborghini – was attracted to mechanics than to the land that his father harvested. At the very young age, he spent his afternoons in the farmstead workshop. 
Managing to get hired by the best mechanical workshop in Bologna, where he discovered the secrets of mechanics, Lamborghini was drafted and assigned to the 50th Mixed Maneuver Motor Fleet stationed in Rhodes at the outbreak of World War II.
He successfully repaired (and broke) vehicles belonging to the Italians, German and British. Founding his first company in Rhodes, a small mechanical repair shop, Lamborghini returned to Italy in 1946 and, taking advantage of incentives put in place to support the economic recovery, opened a machine shop in Cento to repair motor vehicles and build small utility vehicles. 
Observing the crisis suffered by local agriculture, he built inexpensive agricultural tractors within reach of small landowners, using the components of old military vehicles. The first was made from a Morris truck where he applied a fuel vaporiser of his own invention. He sold some eleven such machines, establishing himself as an entrepreneur.
Counted among the most important industrialists in Italy by 1963, Lamborghini decided to build the best grand touring cars in the world. An incident often told is that he complained to Enzo Ferrari about a broken clutch in his personal Ferrari. Ferrari reportedly told him: “Stick to making tractors and leave the sports cars to me.”
Determined to build a better car than his Ferrari 250GT, Lamborghini hired top talent, including former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, to design a new V12 engine, and Gian Paolo Dallara as technical director. The first prototype – the 350 GTV – was built in Sant’Agata Bolognese and shown at the 1963 Turin Motor Show. 
The refined production version – the 350 GT – debuted at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. The Muira, launched in 1966, redefined the supercar segment like no other, establishing firmly Lamborghini and his car venture into the domain that Ferrari ruled. 
The emblem found on the bonnet of the Muira was a result of an exercise where Lamborghini contacted a well-known local graphic designer, Paolo Rambaldi, who asked him what personal characteristics he felt he possessed. “I’m tamugno (which translated from dialect means hard, strong, stubborn) like a bull,” was the reply. An emblem was born thus with a raging bull in it, popularly referred to as the world-famous logo of Automobili Lamborghini.
Retaining his spirit after he left this world on 20 February 1993, Automobili Lamborghini continues to make among the best and most desirable supercars today. They are made with his conviction that the best can still be improved and new avenues can be explored.
 

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