Hyundai is Ready to Enter the Compact SUV Market With ix25

South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) showcased the production version of its India bound compact SUV –the ix25 at the Chengdu Auto Show in China. The concept version of the SUV was unveiled at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show and is reportedly entitled to go on sale on 10th October in China.

On the design front, the ix25 features the second iteration of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design – Fluidic 2.0. The overall profile resembles Hyundai’s recent offering like Grand i10, Elite i20 and its big brother – Santa Fe. Adding to the flair, the compact SUV features projector headlamps, day-time-running-lights, large chrome plated grille, all-around body cladding and wrap-around taillamps.

For the interiors, the model showcased at the Chengdu Auto show features an all-black dashboard but the one that will come to India is likely to have a dual-tone feature. The four-spoke steering wheel has silver accents. The instrument cluster hosts two dials for the speedometer and the tachometer with large easy to read font. The centre console gets a large display and an electronic climate control.

Under the hood, the Hyundai ix25 is likely to get the same engine that runs on the Verna. It will be powered by a 1.6-litre petrol mill that will pump 123PS of power and 155Nm of torque. The compact SUV will also go on sale with a 1.6-litre diesel mill producing 128PS and 260Nm. The petrol variant will be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox while the diesel will get a 6-speed one. Both variants might also come with an automatic gearbox option.

The SUV is said to be scheduled to launch in India next year and go up against some stiff competition. Pricing details are unavailable right now, however it is expected to be priced between Rs.7.50 – 11 lakh.