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S. Muralidhar

NAMING a new product is tricky business for car manufacturers.

The name must ring a bell, have great recall, be peppy, stately or sophisticated depending on the car's market positioning and must be out of the ordinary. At least that is what car-makers attempt to achieve with new names.

So, after the Josh machine and the car, which is touted to be fun on the run, the latest to join the brat pack is the Hyundai Santro `Xing'. After much thought, trying to come up with a peppier name, Hyundai Motor India (HMI) officials decided on the Zing, with an `xciting' twist to the head.

The Santro Xing is HMI's preparation for more competition (to come) in the small car segment and also to integrate the car's design globally.

Credit must also be given to the company for attempting to continually keep refreshing the Santro's looks and engage in value packaging.

Unlike Maruti Udyog, which does not think that the Maruti 800 needs a facelift, Hyundai has been offering upgrades of the Santro fairly regularly, despite it (on a stand-alone basis) being the largest selling small car.

The Santro Xing looks a more filled out car compared to its previous avatars.

Again, unlike the earlier versions, which looked rather `offbeat', the dominating clear lens headlamp and tail-lamp clusters and the plunging bonnet grille in the new Santro Xing give it a more pleasing and internationally acceptable look.

One aspect that automobile enthusiasts criticised the Santro for — especially after the supposedly more pleasing Tata Indica was introduced — was that its bonnet wore a disgruntled look. The Tata Indica, on the other hand, seemed to have a smiling countenance.

The plunging bonnet grille, with an additional, third chrome-accented horizontal slat, should silence the critics.

The prominent and well-designed tail-lamp cluster and the redesigned rear windscreen also gives the Xing a squat and sturdier appearance.

HMI has added a number of small add-ons to both the interiors and exteriors, even while retaining the price at the existing levels. While these may not add up to be much, it helps in distinguishing the new Xing from its predecessors.

The Xing's new interior comes with a cushy three-spoke steering wheel, a new instrument cluster, with a plain semi-circular console (instead of the earlier petal-cluster style console), front and rear power windows and new upholstery.

The new three-spoke steering wheel comes with a thicker grip and firmer handling.

The new-look instrument cluster also features additions such as `door ajar' and `seat belt' warning lamps. Hyundai has attempted at offering better functionality with thoughtfully integrated storage areas such as door map-pockets, cup holders, under-seat trays, rear parcel tray with integrated speaker sockets and a lamp for the boot.

Clear headlamps and fog lamps will aid greater visibility and safe night driving under all weather conditions.

The new-look rear combination lamps also enhance the Xing's sporty looks and offer better safety while braking.

The body-coloured bumpers with waistline moulding accentuate the stylish looks and offer better crash resistance.

Hyundai has also added another Indian touch to the bumper protection strips on the four corners of the car.

They can be easily removed and new ones strapped on in case of an accident, nick or scratch.

The new horizontal and internally adjustable rear view mirrors are another add-on that offers the new Santro Xing more functionality and elegance.

While these were available on the Santro's European variant — the Hyundai Atoz Prime — the previous Indian versions used to have tackier, vertical rear-view mirrors, in the name of better visibility.

On the whole, the new Santro Xing, which will be identical now with its international cousins, offers better looks and more value for potential customers, though one still wonders if its design will be as universally accepted as the Maruti Zen.

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