The Indian subsidiary of South Korean multinational automaker Hyundai – Hyundai Motor India is under heavy pressure from its Japanese, German, and Indian competitors.
Despite the brand retaining the second spot in the list of best-selling carmakers, it is still in dire need of some facelifts and new product launches.
And it’s not that the company isn’t planning, but it’s just taking a little longer than anticipated.
Hyundai India is all set to launch the all-new facelift of its popular mid-size sedan Verna and is also gearing up to showcase its Tata Punch rivaling micro SUV Casper (AX1) to the nation.
2023 Hyundai Verna Facelift
Within days the list of top sellers in the mid-size sedan segment was revealed, and Honda’s all-new fifth-generation City topped the list.
On the other hand, the Hyundai Verna, which used to be the top competitor in the City, came in at number three and would have been lower had the Volkswagen Virtus been launched a bit earlier.
So to set things right and crawl back down the list, the South Korean automaker is getting excited to launch the facelifted iteration of its mid-size sedan Verna. Recently, the model was spotted wearing heavy camouflage during testing in Delhi.
As of now, we know that the sedan’s exterior and interior will be extensively redesigned. The images and renderings confirm its split headlamp design with daytime running LEDs on top.
The new Verna will also feature a parametric grille, initially seen on the new Tucson.
Several test mules of the Hyundai Verna have been spotted so far, and these vehicles have been found to sport diamond-cut alloy wheels, a tall waistline, and front parking sensors.
The car appears longer than the current Verna, indicating that it will be over 4.5 meters tall, just like its all-new rivals.
It will also undergo a substantial interior refurbishment and will, of course, have a new layout. The upcoming Verna will also feature Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology, a noteworthy aspect.
While this is happening, rumors suggest that the company will give the Verna an all-new 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine that will also be featured in the upcoming Creta, Seltos, and Alcazar.
This new engine is expected to produce a maximum output of 160 PS and 260-265 Nm of torque. Sources claim that this engine will be mated to manual and DCT transmission.
Regarding the launch date, it is speculated that the company will launch this popular sedan in the last month of this financial year, i.e., March.
2023 Hyundai Casper (AX1)
This time last year, the hype about this Tata Punch rivaling micro SUV peaked, and the car was expected to make its debut in 2022 itself.
However, due to some reason, this could not happen, and now it is reported that the company is planning to launch this small SUV this year itself.
The first test drives of the highly anticipated model began in the United Kingdom, and the model will look exactly like the one we featured here on Cartoq.
From all the pictures we have seen of the upcoming micro SUV, we will get a prominent grille with triangular elements at the front.
The grille runs the entire length of the fascia, and the headlights are large circular units with circular LED daytime running lamps.
The turn signals are above and have a black border that blends in with the black stripe that houses the Hyundai logo.
Roof rails will be placed on the sides, and rear door handles will be placed on the C-pillar. Meanwhile, the back also gets a unique design.
There will be a large glass area in which the brake lights have been incorporated. The brake lights will also be triangular.
The reverse lights and turn indicators will be round in shape and located on the bumper. The micro SUV will measure 3,595 mm in length, 1,595 mm in width, and 1,575 mm in height.
It will be built on the K1 platform, previously seen in the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Santro, and the Kia Picanto.
Moving on to the interiors, the micro SUV will feature a plush interior and an 8-inch floating touchscreen entertainment system that will enable Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The two-spoke steering wheel will also be new. It will have controls for the multi-information display, phone, and entertainment system.
Like the i10, Grand i10, Xcent, and Aura, the gear lever will be integrated into the dashboard.
The Casper will be offered two petrol engine options in terms of powertrains. Both will be three-cylinder 1.0-liter units.
The naturally aspirated engine will produce 76 PS of max power, while the turbocharged engine will produce 100 PS of max power.
Both the engines will come mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission as standard. As far as the launch of this micro SUV is concerned, it can make its debut by March this year.
