A few days back, Hyundai Motors has revealed its quirky-designed Hyundai Casper micro-SUV. Earlier, it was seen as a true contender for the upcoming Tata Punch. But now, a recent media report from Powerdrift has claimed that it will not be launched in India.
According to the report, the Hyundai Casper has exclusively been developed for the South Korean market and meets the Gyeongcha (light car) regulations, according to which cars must be less than 3.6 meters in length to comply with the tax benefits. And so, the Casper is 3,595mm long. At this point, it is even smaller than the Hyundai Santro (3,610mm). Thus, the carmaker does not consider Casper's ultra-compact size appropriate for the Indian market. However, the brand may consider developing a different micro-SUV for our market.
In South Korea, the Hyundai Casper will be offered with two engine options: a 76PS 1.0-liter naturally-aspirated petrol and a 100PS 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol. Both mills will be paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. It is expected to be launched overseas by the end of this year.
The news may have left Hyundai fans outraged, but their grief may be slightly subdued in the form of Tata Punch (HBX). The Indian automaker has already revealed the Punch's exterior design, and it is expected to be launched around the festive season. Based on Tata's latest ALFA architecture, the Punch looks like a smaller version of the Tata Harrier. Click here for more details.