HM launches SUV 'Outlander' at Rs 20.20 lk

New Delhi, Oct 3: Riding on the overseas success of its Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) 'Outlander', Hindustan Motors Ltd on Friday, Oct 3unveiled the SUV for the Indian market at Rs 20.20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

''After receiving a phenomenal success in North America, Japan, Australia, Canada and Western Europe, we decided to launch our high-premium SUV Outlander for the Indian market,'' Hindustan Motors Managing Director R Santhanam told reporters here during the launch. The model, available in seven colours, will be powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC petrol engine and a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifting. It will also have an electronically controlled four wheel drive (4WD system) based on a common All Wheel Control (AWC) philosophy.

The SUV market in India grew 32 per cent to 1,30,041 vehicles in FY08 from 98,086 vehicles in the previous fiscal.

Other imported SUVs already available in the Indian market include Honda CR-V, Maruti Suzuki's Grand Vitara, Hyundai's Tucson and Ford Endeavour.

UNI