Top car maker Hyundai Motor India is all set to develop its proposed small car with an 800 cc engine for the Indian market.

Hyundai's 800cc car would be rolled out in the next three to four years, a company official said.

Hyundai’s plan is to launch this model directly against Maruti Suzuki’s popular Maruti 800 model, with an ambition to come out as India’s biggest car manufacturer.

Mr. H S Lheem, Hyundai Motor India Managing Director stated, “We are working on a 800cc car, which will be similar to the Maruti 800. The car is under joint development in our Indian and Korean R&D facilities. The ultimate desire is to become India’s largest car maker.”

At presently, only Maruti Suzuki has a novel model in the 800 cc segment.

Mr. Lheem also said that the upcoming car would be both for the domestic as well as export markets.

Asked whether it would be pitted against Maruti 800, Lheem answered, “The Maruti car is an old one."

Moreover, Hyundai would showcase its next model 'i20' at the Paris Motor Show by the coming month.

He said that the car would be introduced in the Indian market by December 2008 and exported later on.

It had received 17% market share in the Indian passenger car market during the last year (2007) with the aim to develop it to 22% in the existing year.

The company feels the demand for small cars in India, like its planned 800cc model, will be over 2 million units by 2011-12.

“The Indian market for the small car is set to grow further. Our 800cc car will be as per global standards and will also be exported from India. This will be the major differentiation of our 800cc car compared to Maruti 800,” said Mr Lheem.

But, he refused to comment on the proposed pricing of its 800cc car.