[wheelguy]

Like Tata Motors, Hyundai is working on a micro-SUV similar to Maruti Suzuki's Ignis. South Korean reports say that this model, codenamed 'AX', will debut at Auto Expo 2020.

This year, Hyundai will be busy refreshing existing models. It will launch the next-gen i20, next-gen Creta, facelifted Verna and the facelifted Tucson. So, it is possible that the company will unveil the AX only in concept form at Auto Expo 2020 and introduce the production version in 2021. Supporting our theory is the fact that Hyundai is not the one to directly launch production models; it showcases future models first in concept form.

The Hyundai AX will be a crucial product not only for India but also South Korea. There, it will be an indirect successor to the previous generation Hyundai Atos (Hyundai Santro) and will be produced at a new plant in Gwangju. The annual manufacturing target (in S. Korea) for the Hyundai AX has been set at 70,000 units. It will be based on the K1 platform of the new-generation Hyundai Santro.

In India, Hyundai may target an INR 4-6 lakh (ex-showroom) price bracket for the AX. Going with its modern-premium positioning in the market, it would definitely make this model a more premium product and better equipped than its key rivals.

Under the hood, the Hyundai AX should have the Hyundai Santro's 1.1L naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit delivering 69 PS and 10.1 kg.m (99.05 Nm) of torque. Expect the transmission options to include a 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual units.

Expect the production-spec Hyundai AX to arrive in India in 2021.

Source

[volkman10]

Hyundai AX1 is what is being called the next subcompact SUV of the South Korean brand, but it is not the size of the Venue, which is 4 meters.

Expect the launch to be in late 2021 rivalling Maruti Suzuki's S-Presso in the Indian market.






Targeting SE Asian markets and India the micro-SUV is expected to be built on the Santro platform.

the AX1 will only have a three-piston block and obviously it will be from the Kappa family, where we have 1.0 and 1.0 TGDI here.

From the little one, attention is drawn to the straight columns and ceiling, as well as the door handles embedded in the rear doors. In the rear image, you can see that there is no alignment at the base of the windows.

This difference is due to the shape of the front doors, which is distinguished from the views at the rear, having these lower waist lines.

On the front, the headlights should follow the same style as the Venue, with the optical set on the bumper, while daytime running lights and LED repeaters higher up. The grill also looks large.

power that must range from 65 horsepower to 100 horsepower, the AX1 can also bet on the manual automatic clutch box or automated gearbox

Hyundai's entry level hatch Santro, could be challenged with launch of AX1.


Link

[Nithesh_M]

This is the return of the Eon nameplate. Wonder if they'll discontinue the Santro again.

[redohabitat]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Hyundai AX1 is what is being called the next subcompact SUV of the South Korean brand, but it is not the size of the Venue, which is 4 meters.

It's funny that you would call it a SUV. This comes across as mocking any true SUV. It's a Santro, so why don't you simply call it a "tallboy" hatchback, a term introduced by Hyundai itself!?

Can you call a large-ish apartment, a villa?
Can you call an extremely intelligent monkey, a human?
Can you call a Camry or an Accord, a limousine?

Let's be technically correct please, or we'll start calling china a democracy

[Kosfactor]

Finally Maruti will have something to worry, S-Presso will not be bothered by this but everything above it and below Brezza are going to lose sales from Maruti stable. Lets see how Hyundai places this in the market.

[Dry Ice]

I wonder if in a few years time all we would have will be SUVs. No hatches, sedans etc. Just mini SUV, micro SUV, long SUV, compact SUV, tall SUV, short SUV, maybe even SUV SUV!

Oh well!

It will be a good match to the SPresso though, right down to the 0 crash rating I guess.

[MunnabhaiMBBS]

Isn't it electric (As well)?

Link

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Finally Maruti will have something to worry, S-Presso will not be bothered by this but everything above it and below Brezza are going to lose sales from Maruti stable. Lets see how Hyundai places this in the market.

I think if Hyundai prices it close, S-presso will be worried. A lot of people are willing to pay a justifiable premium in order to upgrade to the Hyundai badge. (Might regret later after seeing the A.S.S bills/experience).

For Hyundai, S-presso is a low lying fruit it can pick. Even a 2 star crash safety rating for the SantroUV, will be a big plus point. I know it's not good enough, but a savvy salesman can sell it.....'Sir what would you prefer grievous injuries OR instant death?!'

[Amit_breakfree]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Just mini SUV, micro SUV, long SUV, compact SUV, tall SUV, short SUV, maybe even SUV SUV!

We are already in the right direction:
Hyundai Creta: The Perfect SUV
Mahindra KUV100: The Young SUV
Toyota Urban Cruiser: The Youngest Urban SUV

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by shortbread

For Hyundai, S-presso is a low lying fruit it can pick. Even a 2 star crash safety rating for the SantroUV, will be a big plus point. I know it's not good enough, but a savvy salesman can sell it.....'Sir what would you prefer grievous injuries OR instant death?!'

Don't be fooled by the safety brigade on our forum that all car buyers are thinking about what happens when they are in a crash, it really is the least of their concern.

According to the Insurance bureau report in 2019 less than half of the vehicles on the road has valid insurance, this I'm sure is a lot better than how it used to be a decade ago so things are improving. Safety will become a concern at some point, but in the meantime we need affordable cars , so long as they meet government safety norms, good enough to be sold. Let the consumer decide in the end.

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Safety will become a concern at some point, but in the meantime we need affordable cars , so long as they meet government safety norms, good enough to be sold.

LOL.... this sounds like the same theory that maruti is peddling to the Indian public in its press releases!

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by shortbread

LOL.... this sounds like the same theory that maruti is peddling to the Indian public in its press releases!

Maruti did not forcefully make public buy their vehicles, but they and we all did it anyway.

Baleno has 3 stars, Brezza has 4 stars , Ertiga has 3 stars - considering how much these cars sell, Maruti sells more NCAP 4 & 3 rated cars than anyone else making travel that much more safer for Indians.

You can see this screenshot below from Wikipedia how our market has been since 1985, surely there were other vehicles.



Once we start really thinking about the impact of affordable transportation, its easy to see that affordable cars make roads safer for those who otherwise have to ferry themselves and their family of 5 in a scooter \ bike. M800 is a monumental leap forward for our automotive sector and our freedom to travel.

The point I am trying to make is, minimum standards can be set by government, let the consumer vote for the rest with their wallet.

PS : I do not own any Maruti vehicles currently.

[Stribog]

Originally Posted by shortbread

LOL.... this sounds like the same theory that maruti is peddling to the Indian public in its press releases!

Which is actually, unfortunately the reality.

Every auto market goes through its own phase of evolution and reform. Seat belts for instance, now ubiquitous in the USA (and Europe) faced massive resistance. As recently as the mid 1980's, fully 85% of the US public did not or outright refused to wear seat belts.

In the 60's, auto makers in the US were deliberately flouting safety norms to sell cars, Ralph Nader's "Unsafe at any speed" campaign took a decade to expose this and bring in better safety standards. Even now the state of NH does not mandate seatbelts.

Airbags? It was made mandatory for both passenger and driver side ONLY in 1998!This is not just the US but a similar trajectory in Europe is also observed. China? Mandated installation of seatbelts only in 2005!

If anything relative to how mature our economy and in particular car market is, we have leaped forward in terms of how long the advanced markets took to mainstream seatbelts and airbags (5+ decades) while we have taken less than 2 decades after cars went mass market.

Already the sales numbers indicate a shift from the Alto to the Swift (in volume terms), indicating a maturing market. As our economy grows, as disposable income grows, as awareness grows, there will be a push for safer vehicles leading to legislation leading to increased safety.

It is easy to go "lel Indian consumers bad" but that ignores a whole host of factors.

There is a reason Maruti sells and it does not mean that every Maruti buyer is a callous person who does not care about their own or families wellbeing. Service, cost (a car, even an entry level one is a huge investment to this very day), accessibility of service centres, reliability, ease of repair in remote areas...all this is important and relevant to a buyer. The average buyer sees a car has seatbelts and airbags (which is mandatory), they are comforted.

Maybe 1% of the global (not just Indian) car buying populace might see GNCAP scores before making a purchase. I guess 90% won't even know about GNCAP.

[landcruiser123]

I'll not be surprised if the top variant of this car touches INR 8 lakh in Bangalore. If it does, Hyundai's VFM quotient is going down, and GFM (greed for money) quotient is going up.

That being said, they should introduce this car with the 1.2 liter engine - try killing 2 birds (errr.... cars - S-Presso & WagonR) with one stone (err.. engine.)

[ShivrajG]

I bet it will look uglier than new I20 and New Creta Combined.
Safety is least of the buyer concern, I know I bought Ritz (first choice was alto k10) from Maruti in 2010.

Though it didn't have airbags, ABS or EBD it saved our life in an accident due to its better build than alto/Wagon R.

If you are looking for an entry level car you wouldn't get everything in single package.

"Itne paise me itna hi milega"

Companies and the consumer both need to grow up.