New Hyundai Santro: 10 things you need to know about
Korean carmaker Hyundai looks all set to bring back an iconic car – the Santro – back to Indian roads. With its launch just around the corner, Cartoq takes a look at 10 things you ought to know about the upcoming Hyundai Santro.
1) Return of the Santro Name
The new Hyundai Santro is expected to keep the iconic nameplate of its predecessor, which became a household name rivalling the Maruti 800. However, the new name will have a suffix added to it, like in the case of the old Santro Xing.
2) India will be the First Market
The upcoming Santro will first arrive in India before hitting any other markets. The upcoming Santro is expected to go on sale in other South Asian countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, but only after it launches in India.
3) Tall Boy Design
The original Santro made the tall boy design car a familiar sight on Indian roads and the new Santro will remain true to its design roots. However, the new Santro will also incorporate Hyundai’s current Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy, which means that the new car will share styling cues from the i10 and i20.
4) Will use the old i10 platform
The new Hyundai Santro will use the same platform that underpinned the previous i10. However, the new Santro will be larger in size compared to the old i10, as per our sources.
5) Updated 1.1-litre engine
The new Hyundai Santro will use an updated version of the old Santro Xing’s 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine. The new engine will meet BS VI emission norms, which go into effect in 2020.
6) AMT Gearbox
The new Hyundai Santro will be the first car from the Korean carmaker to be offered with an AMT gearbox. The new AMT gearbox is expected to bear the ‘Smart Drive’ system. All other Hyundai models with automatic offerings use a regular torque converter.
7) Dual-tone Interiors
The new Santro will feature dual tone beige and black interiors. The upholstery will be in beige with the dash, steering wheel and gear lever in black.
8) Will meet new BNVSAP safety norms
The new Santro will comply with the new Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) for vehicle safety. To meet these requirements the new Santro will come packed with a whole host of mandatory safety systems, including airbags and ABS.
9) Will replace the Eon
The new Santro will replace the current entry-level Hyundai Eon. The Eon does not meet the upcoming emission and safety norms and will be phased out once the Santro hits the roads.
10) Launch Date
The new Hyundai Santro will be launched in October in time for the Dussehra-Diwali festive season to maximise sales. Prices for the Hyundai Santro are expected to start at around Rs 3 lakh, ex-showroom.