Hyundai micro-SUV (Maruti S-Presso rival) receives green signal, codenamed 'Hyundai AX'

Y K Koo, the former MD & CEO of Hyundai's Indian subsidiary had revealed last year that a micro-SUV is under consideration. According to a new report from Digital Times (South Korea), the Hyundai micro-SUV project is a go.

The Hyundai micro-SUV, codenamed 'Hyundai AX', is meant not only for India but also South Korea, where it will serve as the indirect successor to the previous generation Hyundai Atos (previous generation Hyundai Santro). There, it will be manufactured at a new Hyundai plant in Gwangju, the same city in which the Seltos rolls out from a Kia plant. The annual production target for the micro-SUV is 70,000 units. This model could be based on the new generation Hyundai Santro's K1 platform. Under the hood, it will have a 1.0-litre engine, presumably a naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol unit.

The Hyundai AX will likely mean more to India than any other market in the world, including South Korea. So, it could be first showcased in India only. A concept version debuting at Auto Expo 2020 wouldn't surprise us. Here, it will compete with the Renault Kwid and Maruti S-Presso. However, considering the brand's modern-premium positioning in the market, expect it to be better-equipped and slightly costlier. The same petrol engine as the Hyundai Santro could be used for this model here, a 1.1L naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit producing 69 PS and 10.1 kg.m (99.05 Nm) of torque. 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual would be the transmission choices.

Also Read: 2019 Hyundai Elantra (facelift) to miss out on a diesel engine.

The Hyundai AX will slot between the Hyundai Santro and the Hyundai Grand i10, which are priced from INR 3,90,493* and INR 4,97,944* but will get pricier with the BS-VI upgrade by March 2020.

[Source: dt.co.kr]