Hyundai To Launch 7-Seater Hybrid SUV To Rival Mahindra XUV700, Tata Safari

We informed you earlier that Hyundai is developing an all-new 3-row SUV, which will be positioned above the Alcazar 5+2 SUV. A new media report claims that Hyundai Motor India has started working on this SUV that is likely to be launched in the next 24 to 30 months. It will be produced at the company's newly acquired General Motors facility in Talegaon, on the outskirts of Pune. 

Codenamed Hyundai Ni1i, the new 3-row SUV will sit between the Alcazar and Tucson in Hyundai India's portfolio. The big news is that the new 7-seater SUV will be the first Hyundai SUV to feature a petrol-hybrid powertrain in India. The petrol-hybrid SUVs are gaining popularity among Indian buyers. Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are selling a good number of hybrid SUVs, and Hyundai will be the next to join the race. 

The new model will be a proper 3-row spacious SUV and will be positioned against the Mahindra XUV700 and the Tata Safari. The new model could be longer than the Tucson, which is 4630mm in length. Hyundai could use the Tucson LWB as a base to manufacture the new 3-row SUV. The Chinese-spec Tucson LWB is 4,680mm long, and is designed to offer a spacious cabin and a third-row seat. As a reference, the XUV700 and Safari measures 4695mm long and 4668mm long, respectively. Both offer more space in the third-row compared to the Alcazar. 

It is expected that Hyundai could use the 1.6-litre petrol hybrid engine available in the international-spec Hyundai and Kia models. In fact, the international-spec Hyundai Tucson gets the same powertrain option. The Korean brand could construct a new petrol-hybrid unit using the existing 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine. 

The Korean brand is aiming to produce around 50,000 units of this C-segment SUV annually. Not just Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are also developing new 3-row SUVs for the Indian market. Maruti Suzuki is developing a Grand Vitara-based 7-seater SUV, codenamed Y17, which will be produced at the company's upcoming Kharkhoda-based facility in Haryana. 

Similarly, Toyota will also introduce the Hyryder based 7-seater SUV. Both SUVs will be equipped with a strong hybrid powertrain. Hyundai's 3-row SUV, codenamed Ni1i will be produced at the brand's Talegaon facility and is expected to be introduced by 2027. The next-gen Hyundai Venue will also be manufactured at this facility.

Source - AutoCarIndia

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