Spied - Hyundai's EcoSport rival is now testing in China

31/07/2013 - 13:54 Hyundai, Spy pictures Anjan Ravi

The Hyundai Compact SUV has been spied testing once again. Earlier, we brought you spy images of the crossover testing in Korea, this time though these images come from China, thanks to our friends at Sohu.

Sources say that this is the global mini SUV which has also been earmarked for the Indian market. Hyundai India have confirmed 4 new products in the next two years, out which a mini SUV is a definite prospect.

The compact crossover has taken inspiration from the Hyundai Curb Concept which was unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. However the grille comes off the latest gen Santa Fe.

The vehicle was penned by Hyundai's California Design Center and previewed with a turbocharged 1.6-liter GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine. The power output was quoted at 175bhp while the overall weight was 1,400kg (a Ford EcoSport weighs about 1,300kg).

The concept car measured 4.17 meters in length which puts it in the middle of the EcoSport-Duster territory (EcoSport measures 3.99 meters and the Duster measures 4.31 meters). Would the production model be constrained to the sub-4 meter length? It seems early to speculate and almost impossible to judge from viewing the spy shots.

The Hyundai Compact SUV would rival cars such as the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Honda Urban SUV, Fiat 500X and the Chevrolet Trax. This Hyundai would be a global model (like the Elantra and Sonata) and we are expecting to see the production version sometime by early 2014.