The game is on for Hyundai in India as the South Korean automaker launched its all-important new Eon city car on Thursday. The five-door hatchback is Hyundai’s smallest model and it will be built and marketed in India where it will go up against the best-selling vehicle in the country, the Maruti-Suzuki Alto.

At 3,495mm long, 1,500mm tall, 1,550mm wide, and with wheelbase length of 2,380mm, the Eon is slightly more compact than the i10 hatchback (3,585mm long).

It was designed at Hyundai’s Namyang R&D center in South Korea and features the latest interpretation of the company’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ styling language.

The five-seat model is motivated by a 0.8-liter three-cylinder petrol engine rated at 56HP and 74.5Nm that returns an average fuel consumption of 21.1km/lt (49.7mpg US or 4.7lt/100km). A standard five-speed manual gearbox transfers power to the front wheels.

Buyers in India can choose from six trim levels with prices at New Delhi showrooms ranging from 269,999 rupees (US$5,515) for the base model to 371,869 rupees (US$7,595) for a top-of-the-line variant.

Hyundai said it estimates to sell around 150,000 units of the Eon per year in India.

Hat tip to Spyros!

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