Hyundai iX25 compact SUV confirmed for 2015 launch in India

Hyundai will launch the iX25 compact SUV in India next year. This bit of information was confirmed by Mr. Rakesh Srivastava, the vice president for marketing and sales at Hyundai India. Earlier this year, the SUV was showcased at the Beijing Motor Show in concept guise. Production versions of the SUV will go on sale in China by the end of this year.

The iX25 is based on the platform of the 2015 i20 hatchback, which will bow into India by the end of this year. Apart from sharing its platform with the next-generation i20, the iX25 compact SUV is also expected to use engines and gearboxes from the new i20 range.

In India, the iX25 is likely to be offered with petrol and turbo diesel engine options. A front wheel drive layout will be standard fare although Hyundai has confirmed an all wheel drive system for specific markets. It remains to be seen whether the all wheel drive feature would be offered on the iX25 sold in India.

Known details about the iX25 include 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter turbo diesel engines, a 4.25 meter length, a 2,570 mm wheelbase, a five seat capacity with a 2+3 seating layout, rear air conditioning vents, projector headlamps, LED day time running lamps, rear disc brakes, an all wheel drive system and independent rear suspension.

Most of these features will be offered on the top-end variants of the iX25. Notably, the iX25 is not a sub-4 meter SUV. Therefore, pricing of the new SUV is likely to rival the likes of the Renault Duster and the Nissan Terrano than say the Ford EcoSport or for that matter the upcoming Mahindra S101 crossovers.

The iX25 is Hyundai’s first compact SUV that slots in below the likes of the Tucson and Santa Fe globally. The compact SUV features styling hints from Hyundai’s Storm Edge design philosophy, and looks like a smaller version of the recently launched Santa Fe.

Source FinancialExpress