Making of a Legend
We head to Hyundai Motor India Limited’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility near Chennai in Tamil Nadu for a behind the scenes journey of the Creta’s transformation from sheet metal to a blockbuster SUV
Every once in a while there comes a car that sets new benchmarks, one that redefines the segment, one that leaves competitors scratching their heads trying to somehow match up to it. Launched in July 2015, the Hyundai Creta is a prime example. It not only became the segment leader from the word go, a position it held on to for over four years, it was a regular feature in the top 10 best-selling cars in India month after month. The first generation Creta notched up sales of over 4 lakh units, which goes to show just how much Indian buyers loved the SUV. Now, though, it is time to add a new chapter to the Creta’s story, time for the perfect SUV to evolve into the ultimate SUV, time to welcome the all-new Hyundai Creta.
Hyundai’s production facility located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu has been manufacturing vehicles for over 23 years now. From four minutes per car in the beginning in 1998, the plant currently churns out a car every 33 seconds! And the latest addition to that number is the new Creta and Hyundai Motor India Limited was kind enough to take us behind the scenes and walk us through the genesis of the SUV.
PRESS PLAY
The structure of the Hyundai Creta, or most cars for that matter, starts off with blank metal sheets that go through the press shop and come out of the other side as body panels. Cumulatively, 5,400 tonnes of pressure is exerted to form body panels from sheet metal. In all, coils weighing in at 395 tonnes are transformed into Hyundai vehicles every single day! For the first time, the Creta is being offered with a panoramic sunroof and roof panels specific to the variant with this sunroof head to a separate section where they are mated to a bracket to compensate for any loss in strength courtesy the panoramic sunroof cavity. These panels form the foundation of the superstructure of the Creta, one that has been engineered to incorporate 74.3% high strength steel. In fact, the superstructure of the Creta can withstand the weight of two full-size African Elephants.
BODY TALK
The body shop is where all the panels come together to form the superstructure. Full automated, the body shop at Hyundai’s production facility boasts 100% weld automation. Once the superstructure or ‘body in white’ is ready, it is taken for inspection. It undergoes 3D scanning precision checking. Over 1,200 points are inspected including panel gaps and mounting points to maintain the high quality standards Hyundai is known for. Once the superstructure is ready and cleared it heads to the paint shop.
COLOURIZE
The paint shop is fully automated and to adhere to its own high quality standards, Hyundai does not allow entry into it to prevent any sort of compromise in paint finish. The structure enters the paint shop with the doors, bonnet and tail gate attached and comes out the other side finished in one of the eight exterior shades Hyundai is offering the Creta in. There are two dual-tone options to choose from as well, but only for the turbo petrol variant.
HEART OF THE MATTER
Engine assembly is where the powertrain comes together. The Creta is being offered with three engine
options – 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and 1.4-litre turbo petrol – and all three are available with an automatic transmission option. Hyundai’s engine assembly area packs in 684 CNC machines and boasts thorough inspection processes to ensure each unit has the finest quality possible.
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Assembly shop is where everything comes together and the Creta assumes its final form. The interior trim, engine, transmission, suspension setup, are all brought together via a combination of highly skilled employees working with state-of-the-art machines. This
also where the Creta receives all those class-leading features that has everyone talking.
THE FINAL STEP
But before the car can be shipped to dealers to reach buyers, there are a few hurdles than need to be cleared. Every car has to undergo road testing through 17 drive tracks mimicking various driving conditions. Then comes the shower test that simulates rain pressure that exceeds the heaviest recorded monsoon. And finally, there is PDI or Pre-Delivery Inspection, where the car is checked on 150-200 parameters before being given and OK and sent for dispatch.