India-bound Hyundai AX1 micro-SUV to be called 'Casper'

Hyundai Motor Company is gearing up to introduce the new AX1 micro-SUV later this year. As per the international media reports, the company has now trademarked the name 'Casper' for its upcoming car which will go on sale in South Korea followed by other markets including India.

For India, the car might be launched with a different nameplate, details of which will be revealed in the later stage. As far as positioning goes, the Casper will sit below the existing Venue subcompact SUV as Hyundai's smallest SUV. It will be underpinned by Hyundai's K1 compact car platform that is also found in the cars such as the Grand i10Nios and the Santro.

In terms of dimensions, expect the car to span 3,595mm in length, 1,595mm in width and 1,575mm in height. If these numbers are true, the Hyundai Casper will sit slightly shorter and narrower than the existing Santro hatchback that spans 3,610mm in length, 1,645mm in width and 1,560mm in height.

In terms of mechanicals, the car will feature the same 1.2-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine found on the Grand i10 Nios. The same engine produces 83hp and 114Nm on the Grand i10 Nios.

Reports also suggest that the trial production of the new Casper have already commenced, while the full production is slated to begin in September 2021. There is also an electrified version of the car in the lineup that is slated to see the light of the day sometime in 2023/2024. It is likely to feature BorgWarner integrated drive module (iDM) with an electric motor, a gearbox and power electronic in a modular unit.