Hyundai India has announced its intentions of adding a new SUV to its line-up in the first half of 2019. The entry-level SUV will be positioned below the Hyundai Creta SUV and it is expected to be a sub-four metre car. The new Hyundai SUV will take on the popular Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza head-on.
The Korean car maker had showcased the Carlino concept of a sub-four metre SUV in India at the Auto Expo 2016 earlier this year. But, the new SUV will not be based on this concept; Carlino can be seen as a sign of intent and nothing more. The new small Hyundai SUV might be based on the Grand i10 / Xcent platform instead. As is well known, the Creta is based on the Elite i20 platform.
The new small SUV is expected to get a proper SUV stance like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford Ecosport and will not be a cross-hatch like the i20 Active. Expect 200mm of ground clearance, a buff front end, and lots of design detailing in line with the Creta’s styling. The new small Hyundai SUV will come with both petrol and diesel engine options with the petrol being offered with an auto ‘box as well.
The petrol engine will be the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder Kappa engine that develops 81bhp of power at 6000rpm and 114Nm of torque at 4000rpm and will come mated to both a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. In the case of the diesel engine, Hyundai might offer the 1.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine from the Elite i20 as the 70bhp, 160Nm 1.1-litre three-cylinder diesel from the Grand i10 might be too underpowered for the SUV. The 1.4-litre diesel develops 89bhp of power at 4000rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1500rpm and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Hyundai is also looking at expanding their product portfolio in India and as Y K Koo, MD and CEO HMIL, has said, the global R&D centre is already working on it. Kia Motors, Hyundai’s Korean sister concern, is also planning on entering the Indian market and the decision would also have a bearing on the new products that Hyundai might want to bring here.
