Chennai: Yet another crossover vehicle after Ford Fusion is set to hit the Indian auto market by the middle of 2005.

Hyundai Motor India is getting ready to launch the 1.5-litre Matrix in India. Also called a recreation vehicle, the Matrix is being brought in through the CBU import route due to which it will be priced at a steep Rs10 lakh. The Matrix, pitted against Ford''s Fusion would be available in 1.5 litre CRDi diesel version (available only in Europe now) and 1.6 and 1.8 litre DOHC variants. Hyundai Motors will decide on manufacturing the car in India depending on consumer response.

Matrix is a front wheel driven 5-door MPV with a 4 cylinder, DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder engine capable of generating 121 Bhp @6000 rpm. With a torque of 160nm at 4500 rpm the Matrix gives mileage of 9 to 10 km / litre. Relatively lightweight for vehicles of its class, the Matrix has a kerb weight of 1304kg, a length of 4025mm, height of 1685 mm and width of 1740mm, which puts it among the wider vehicles in its class in India at present. Its hefty price of Rs10 lakh is expected to place the Matrix at a disadvantage against the Fusion manufactured at Ford''s Chennai facility, and priced at Rs 6.20 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai).

"It remains to be seen how Hyundai positions the Matrix, to take on competition," says an auto analyst. The Matrix was displayed in Auto Expo 2004, held in New Delhi early this year. Based on the enthusiastic response for the MPV, the company is believed to have gone ahead with its plan to introduce the model in India. Hyundai is also planning to launch its sports utility vehicle (SUV), Tucsan, by early 2005.

Meanwhile Hyundai Motor''s sales rose 54 per cent in November, helped by rising domestic and export demand for its Santro compact car. It sold 23,532 vehicles in November and 195,701 units in January-November, up 30 per cent from the year-ago period. Hyundai now manufactures the Santro and Getz hatchbacks as well as the Accent, Elantra and Sonata sedans at its car plant on the outskirts of Chennai while it imports the Terracan sports utility vehicle fully built from South Korea. Hyundai is also using India as an export hub for small cars. Hyundai''s November sales included 18,263 units of the Santro, 1,101 Getz, 3,560 Accents, 408 Elantras, 164 Sonatas and 36 units of the Terracan SUV.