The new compact model from Hyundai aimed at the Asian market will be the Eon

Most brands are devising some city car model to start boosting sales and improve the profile of their products offered in the Asian market. Hyundai has kicked things off with a new model replacing another one already offered in India: the Eon.

The Hyundai Eon will go head-to-head with a similar vehicle that Maruti has offered for quite a few years now, the Maruti Alto, a variant of the Suzuki Alto, one of the best-selling Japanese keicars in history.

The new Hyundai Eon will be almost a keicar, with a three-cylinder 800 cc engine producing 50 CV, suited to emerging markets such as India. It will go on sale towards the end of the year at a price of less than 4,500 euros at current exchange rates, for the most affordable versions.

Of course, at that price we have no great expectations regarding build quality and performance, but let’s give Hyundai the benefit of the doubt.