Hyundai Project Ai3

Hyundai Motor India recently unveiled the design sketch for the All-New Verna which is set to launch in the country by the 21st of March 2023. Bookings for the Next-Gen Verna are already open at a token amount of Rs 25,000. As claimed by the company, the 2023 Hyundai Verna will get the Sensuous Sportiness design language which can also be seen on the Tucson SUV, the recently unveiled Hyundai Grandeur sedan and the latest-generation Elantra sold overseas. Find out what Hyundai has offered on its New Verna that makes it unique from its outgoing model. Read Also: Your Guide to Choosing the Right Hyundai Car 2023 Hyundai Verna: New vs Old - Exterior Design Codenamed BN7i, the New Hyundai Verna introduces unique styling elements which make the car distinctive from its predecessor. One of the striking components used in the New Verna is the large parametric grille up front. The front fascia also features split headlights and LED DRL setup. Another unique aspect to notice is that the long seamless LED DRL is extending from edge to edge, making the car look really stylish. The sharpness of the bumper also needs to be admired. Its flat bonnet has a subtle crease on each side. The striking character lines on the doors blend neatly with the flared wheel arches towards the rear. What makes the car stand out is its new fastback-like design detail for the rear quarter and the chrome trim underlining the glasshouse area. Although the rear of the New Verna has not been revealed, previously released teaser images indicate a full-width LED light bar and crystal-like inserts for tail lamps. 2023 Hyundai Verna: New vs Old - Interior Layout Hyundai has not released any interior sketches for the 6th-Gen Verna. However, it is likely to come with a large touchscreen infotainment system and a digital driver’s display. The current model offers ventilated front seats, a single-pane sunroof, wireless phone charging, and paddle shifters. For the New-Gen Verna, Hyundai will provide ADAS features including 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and more. 2023 Hyundai Verna: New vs Old - Powertrain Details With the new update, Hyundai Verna will drop the diesel engine option for the 2023 model. It will only come equipped with two petrol engines. The 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated unit produces a maximum power output of 113 bhp with 144 Nm of torque while the New 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is expected to generate 157 bhp alongside 253 Nm torque. While the former will be paired to a 6-speed manual and CVT option, the latter might feature a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Both these petrol engines are compliant with RDE (Real-Driving Emissions) and E20 (20 Percent Ethanol and Petrol Blend). 2023 Hyundai Verna: New vs Old - Variants, Pricing, and Rivals The New-Gen Hyundai Verna will be available in four trims; EX, S, SX, and SX (O). Expect the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to be equipped on higher trims and the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine on lower variants. The outgoing Hyundai Verna was priced between Rs 9.63 lakh to Rs 15.71 lakh (ex-showroom). With new design and features update, the 2023 Verna is expected to be priced a bit higher than the current model. It could be around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom). Talking about the rivals, it will compete against Maruti Ciaz, Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia, and the upcoming Honda City Facelift in its segment. Read Also: Hyundai Tucson Old VS New

Hyundai Motor India Limited is good at understanding the dynamics of the Indian car market which is why it has been able to maintain a certain position in the auto industry. To keep the momentum going, the Korean automaker is now planning to launch a range of SUVs which include an EV, the micro SUV, and Facelift models as well. Here is a list of the most awaited upcoming Hyundai SUVs that will be launching by the end of this year. Upcoming Hyundai Micro SUV Ai3/Casper Hyundai is preparing its all-new micro SUV, codenamed Ai3 for the Indian market. Tata Punch will be a direct rival to the Hyundai Ai3. The model will share some design cues with Hyundai Casper sold overseas and is expected to be launched in the second half of 2023. The New Hyundai Ai3 will be based on the platform that underpins the Grand i10, Aura and NIOS. Similar to the platform, the powertrain of the SUV will remain the same as seen on the hatchback and the subcompact sedan. However, there will be no diesel option. The expected price of the four-wheeler should be in the range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom). Upcoming Hyundai Kona Facelift Another upcoming model is set to be introduced in the electric vehicle segment. The brand is expected to launch the Kona EV in the country by early 2023. The New Kona electric SUV will be slightly longer due to its re-designed bumpers. It will come equipped with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 2023 Kona is expected to feature a 64.8 kWh battery pack and an electric motor. Their combined power output is said to be 201 bhp with a claimed range of 465 kms on a single charge. Besides, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 47 minutes via a 100 kW DC fast charger. Hyundai is likely to price the 2023 Kona Facelift between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 28 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. Upcoming Hyundai Venue CNG The company is likely to bring its best-selling sub-compact SUV Venue in the CNG avatar. The upcoming Venue CNG variant could be launched in the country in the first half of 2023. It could be equipped with a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder Kappa Bi-Fiel CNG engine. This powertrain is expected to generate 82 bhp of power with 114 Nm of peak torque. It will be offered only with a 5-speed manual transmission. Besides, the SUV will be provided with a pack of safety features which include a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, speed-sensing door locks, ABS with EBD, 6 airbags (top variants), and more. Once the CNG variant of Venue is launched in India, it might cost around Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). Read Also: Top 5 Upcoming SUVs Under Rs 20 Lakh in India Upcoming Hyundai Palisade Another upcoming SUV from the brand is the Palisade which is already on sale globally. Once launched in India, it will be positioned as a flagship model in Hyundai’s product portfolio. In terms of dimensions, the SUV measures 4,980 mm in length, 1,975 mm in width, and 1,750 mm in height having a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. Internationally, it is offered with two engine options; a 3.8-litre V6 direct injection petrol (291 bhp/355 Nm) and 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel (200 bhp/441 Nm). Its expected price for the Indian market is likely to be in the range of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom). Read Also: 2023 Hyundai Aura Facelift: New vs Old

South Korean manufacturer Hyundai recently unveiled the Mufasa Adventure SUV Concept. The rugged and off-road focused concept essentially previews the new upcoming SUV for the Chinese market. The production version of the Mufasa is slated for its global debut at the 2023 Shanghai Motor Show which is being held in April 2023. As for the SUV’s name ‘Mufasa’, it is said to be inspired by the 1994 Disney animated movie, The Lion King. Hyundai Mufasa SUV: What is it? The Mufasa will be the latest addition to Hyundai’s global SUV portfolio. It will be going on sale in China at first, followed by other international markets. The new SUV is around 4.4 metres long, and will slot in between the Tucson and Creta. Hyundai is expecting that the Mufasa’s more squared-off proportions will attract buyers who may not like the Tucson’s coupe-like design. Talking of the design, the Hyundai Mufasa’s front end features a large X-shaped piano-black grille that is flanked by vertically stacked headlights on either side. The front bumper offers a wide air dam finished in black, and a black skid plate. Over to the side, you will notice the slightly tapered roofline, blacked-out door pillars, and the huge flared wheel arches with black body cladding. Towards the rear, it gets oval shaped LED tail lights that span the width of the SUV. Hyundai Mufasa Adventure SUV Concept: Key Highlights The SUV concept which was unveiled recently gets a lift kit and 18-inch wheels fitted with knobby off-road tyres. The Mufasa Adventure Concept has also been equipped with faux aluminum skid plates which can be found upfront and towards the rear. In addition, there are a couple of off-road centric parts like a utility box area available within the rear quarter glass and the utility roof rack with integrated LED auxiliary lights. Compared to the Mufasa’s production-spec model, the concept’s high ground clearance makes it look like a rugged SUV. Hyundai Mufasa: Powertrain Details The automaker has confirmed that the Mufasa will be offered with a 2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which will be capable of producing a maximum power output of 160 bhp with around 220 Nm of peak torque. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be offered.  Hyundai Mufasa: Will it come to India? It is quite unlikely that Hyundai will be bringing the Mufasa to India. However, the brand may borrow some of the design elements for the upcoming Creta Facelift which is slated for a launch by the end of this year. Read Also: Hyundai Genesis India Launch Expected

Hyundai Motor India Ltd could soon introduce its luxury sub-brand, Genesis in India. Unsoo Kim, MD and CEO of Hyundai India, stated in a recent interview, “We have been studying Genesis for India. Our stakeholders also ask me to do that.” On the basis of this statement, we take a closer look at the upcoming premium brand. Hyundai Genesis: What is it? Genesis is to Hyundai like what Lexus is to Toyota or Infiniti is to Nissan. It is a standalone sub-brand from the South Korean automaker that focuses mainly on premium segment vehicles. In markets like the US and Europe, the Hyundai brand is more closely associated with affordable and frugal vehicles rather than luxury cars. A relatively new brand, Genesis competes with the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Lexus in the international markets. In India it will take on the German trio alongside Swedish and the Japanese brand. Hyundai Genesis Models to be locally assembled: In India, importing a vehicle via the CBU (Completely Built Up) route is an expensive affair. This is mainly due to the custom duties that are levied on a vehicle which amount to more than 200 percent. To avoid this, Hyundai is expected to utilize the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route for its upcoming Genesis cars. In this process, the vehicle parts are imported to the country and assembled locally, bringing the production costs significantly down. This could help Genesis price their models comparatively lower than their rivals, helping them gain a competitive advantage. Unsoo Kim also stated that,  “local assembly would be favored as imports would make it unviable. It may not happen this year though.” Read Also: Next-Gen Hyundai Verna Price, Variants, and Colours Explained Hyundai Genesis: When is it expected to come into India? As mentioned, Unsoo Kim also revealed that Hyundai is yet to confirm the Genesis brand’s introduction into the Indian market. Hence, it is likely to enter sometime in 2024 at the earliest with the likes of the G80 luxury sedan and GV80 luxury SUV as their first models. Read Also: New Hyundai Sonata Revealed