Hyundai launches the Verna hatchback in China

The Verna 4-door saloon was first launched in China in August, and now, Hyundai has unveiled the 5-door hatchback model at the Guangzhou Motor Show. Hyundai says the car will be a China-specific model, and will not be sold in other markets.

The Verna hatchback will be built at a factory in Beijing, and have a choice of two petrol engines. The first is a 1.4-litre Gamma unit, which produces 106bhp and 135Nm of torque, while the other is a 1.6-litre Gamma engine, with 122bhp and 155Nm of torque.

Hyundai has been experiencing rapid growth in the Chinese market, and expects to sell 700,000 cars by the end of 2010. The Korean carmaker already has two factories in China, with plans for a third, to boost Chinese market sales to 1 million cars a year by 2012.