Hyundai To Launch Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Rival in 2019

"We aim to launch an entry-level SUV in the first half of 2019. It will be below Creta. So, we will have four SUVs in our product range.”

By Sreejith

Updated: Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 10:22 [IST]

Korean automaker Hyundai is developing a new entry-level SUV to rival Maruti Suzuki Brezza. The compact SUV is expected to hit the Indian market in the first half of 2019. Recently, the car maker launched its third SUV, the Tucson.

Hyundai To Launch Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Rival in 2019

YK Koo, Hyundai Motor India Ltd MD & CEO told reporters at the launch of Tucson, "We aim to launch an entry-level SUV in the first half of 2019. It will be below Creta. So, we will have four SUVs in our product range."

The vehicle will be a sub 4-metre SUV and it will go up against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. The price of Hyundai's yet to be launched SUV will be under Rs 10 lakh.

At the Auto Expo 2016, the company showcased the HND-14 Carlino concept and this concept will be the base for the compact SUV.

The styling cues of the compact SUV will be borrowed from the i30 hatchback and the Tucson SUV. It is expected that the new model will be based on the stretched i10 platform and most of the parts will be shared with i20 and the Creta.

The model will be developed by Hyundai's Research & Development in Hyderabad and it will be its first project. The car will not borrow the engine from its sibling, the Indian-spec i20.

The vehicle is expected to get a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine and the unit is likely to develop around 120bhp. The three-cylinder engine variant is already used in international spec i20 models.

The power unit is likely to be mated with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The company is planning to introduce this transmission system next year.