Hyundai Ai3 will be based on the Grand i10 platform…
Micro SUVs have recently been rising to great acceptance in India. Products like Tata Punch and Citroen C3 have demonstrated the true potential of this segment. Hyundai’s foray into this space is something we’ve been hearing for quite some time. The Korean manufacturer was initially hoped to place the AX1 micro SUV as its possible Tata Punch rival in India. Exterior design details of the production-spec AX1 aka Hyundai Casper, surfaced in September last year. However, later revelations suggested that Hyundai India could deviate slightly from the global car and could probably go for a more India-centric car with minor tweaks in design.
It is now almost confirmed that the manufacturer would launch a different product in the Indian micro SUV space, internally code-named Ai3. The car has now been spotted for the first time, and in Korea. Sources suggest that the spotted prototype could be a made-in-India model which’s reached Korea for testing at the Hyundai HQ there.
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Hyundai Ai3 Micro SUV: What Do The Spy Shots Suggest?
Going by the spy pictures that surfaced online, the Ai3 SUV will be slightly larger in dimensions, than the global Casper. At 3.8 meters, the Ai3 will be notably longer than the Casper (which is 3,595 mm long). It could also come with a slightly longer wheelbase than the Punch- 2450 mm. Better cabin room is thus to be expected. The Ai3 SUV will be based on the Grand i10 platform. It would essentially be the re-rendition of the i10 in the SUV form.
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Ai3 will have a proper SUV form. The design details would differ slightly from those of Casper. The overall form and stance would resemble those of Casper. Much of the front fascia and front door would remain identical. The India-spec is, however, expected to host a larger rear door than the Casper. The prototype also has some major design deviations from Casper, at its front. It gets a split headlamps design with integrated H-shaped DRLs, and a squarish headlamp design that is more Venue-like. the tail lamps also have slightly more angular designs- unlike Casper’s rounded ones. The rear bumper is expected to be different too.
In terms of features, the Hyundai Ai3 micro SUV is expected to please the average Indian buyer. Decent equipment levels are expected. The spy pictures also show a fair-sized sunroof on the car- not an everyday sight in the micro SUV space!
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Hyundai Ai3 Micro SUV: Expected Mechanicals And Powertrain
This Hyundai micro SUV will likely share its platform and powertrains with the outgoing Grand i10 Nios and Aura. It could thus come with the familiar 1.2L petrol, turbo petrol, and CNG bi-fuel engines, mated to manual and automatic transmissions. Expect the AX1 to be placed between the Grand i10 and Venue, in Hyundai India lineup.
