Upcoming Hyundai Micro SUV (Ai3) To Be Called Hyundai Exter, Launch By August!

The Hyundai micro SUV will rival the hot-selling Tata Punch in India

UPDATE: Hyundai Exter Launched In India, Priced From 6 Lakh!

Hyundai India has revealed the name of its upcoming micro SUV- ‘Exter’. This new model is set to go into series production by July this year, with a potential market launch by August 2023. Hyundai Exter, previously known as the Ai3, will initially be produced for the Indian market and may be exported to other countries in the future. Several spy shots of the SUV had surfaced previously on the internet, and the production car is not expected to be much different.

Although the SUV itself has not yet been unveiled, Hyundai has released teasers that provide a glimpse of its exterior design. These images confirm that the vehicle will have a boxy shape with an upright stance, a flattish bonnet, and a tailgate. Additionally, the Exter is expected to feature a split-headlamp set-up, with LED daytime running lamps at the top and a square-shaped headlamp below it, similar to the Creta, Venue, and Alcazar. The DRLs will showcase an ‘H’ pattern, similar to the one on the upcoming Santa Fe SUV, due for its global debut later this year.

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Image: Upcoming Hyundai Exter micro SUV teaser image

Regarding the Exter, it is anticipated to feature a distinctive and angular tail-lamp design that will likely be linked via an LED light bar. The side profile of the vehicle is expected to include some imitation cladding, particularly around the wheel arches and along the doors, to enhance its SUV aesthetics. Additionally, Hyundai plans to provide the Exter with slightly higher ground clearance than the Grand i10 Nios.

Hyundai Exter will offer the same entry-level engine option as the Venue, Grand i10 Nios, and Aura, which is an 83hp, 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. As we reported recently, a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is expected to be added to the lineup on a later date.

The inclusion of the 1.0 T-GDi turbo-petrol engine will give the micro SUV an advantage over the Tata Punch, which doesn’t have a turbo-petrol powertrain. This option will also provide customers with the opportunity to choose a more powerful and torquey engine that can fill the void left by the absence of a diesel engine. The Exter will also be available with a factory CNG option, and there are discussions regarding an all-electric variant that may be added to the lineup in the future. More details about the Exter are expected to be out prior to its August launch.

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