Hyundai is getting ready to launch a new mini SUV in India – Which will take on the Tata Punch
Hyundai is one of the leading SUV makers in the country. Their Creta and Venue feature regularly in the top car sales of the country. But Hyundai does not have any offering below the Venue in India. Considering the huge demand for Tata Punch, Hyundai has sensed an opportunity here. Hyundai is currently prepping a challenger to this segment in the form of Ai3 (codename). Latest spy shots show this car in production-ready guise.
Hyundai Mini SUV for India – Spied in production ready guise
This is not the first time Hyundai Ai3 has been papped. Previous spy shots revealed Ai3 test mules in grey colour. A lower-spec model and a higher-spec model were spied separately. The top-spec had 4-spoke design alloy wheels. The latest test mule is white in colour, and is spotted testing in South Korea.
When compared to previous test mules, there aren’t many differences. Although, top-spec test mules spotted before sported a different wheel design. New test mules sport alloy wheels in a new interesting design. This almost reminds us of the 16” Scorpion wheels that Fiat offered with Abarth Punto (RIP). Maybe Hyundai is offering different alloy wheels for different trim levels. There is a possibility of this being an N Line variant of the mini SUV.
Top Notch Features – Sunroof, Internet, Touchscreen, etc
Aimed at a younger audience, Ai3 will get funky features in the form of H-shaped LED elements in its headlights and tail lights. Headlights get projector units in top-spec models and DRLs reside on top of in a separate housing. Exteriors get crossover elements like body claddings, roof rails seem to be functional, a single pane sunroof and there is a shark fin antenna as well. Tata Punch sunroof option is not on sale yet. We can expect Tata Motors to launch Punch with a sunroof once Hyundai Ai3 goes on sale in India.
On the inside, we expect Hyundai to offer a boatload of features in the form of a touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, voice commands and more. Owing to segment, premium features like ventilated seats and ADAS could be given a miss.
Bigger Than Hyundai Casper – Bigger Than Punch?
Hyundai already sells a mini SUV in global markets called Casper. It sits below the Venue, and measures nearly 3600mm in length. For India, Casper would have been too small. In comparison to Punch, Casper is about 230 mm smaller. For this reason, Hyundai decided to make a longer mini-SUV, for India. It is speculated to be around the same length as Punch.
When launched in India, it is likely to be equipped with a 1.2L NA petrol engine capable of developing 82 bhp of power and 114 Nm of torque. Transmission will be via 5-speed MT. AMT option is also likely to be on offer. If our speculations of N Line variants turn out true, we will see the 1.0L turbo petrol unit as well, developing 118 bhp of power and 172 Nm of torque. Punch rival Hyundai Ai3 India launch is expected later this year or early next year.
