Few weeks ago we report about that Hyundai will be preparing a B-Segment SUV for India and other markets (maybe Europe) to fight with the Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster joining the B-SUV cars fever.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:5px;”]Today meanwhile in South Korea caught a test mule of the B-SUV rolling around Namyang R&D Centre. Hyundai Motor America president and CEO John Krafcik told reporters the brand had failed to take advantage of the country’s hunger for SUVs, with just a two per cent share of the nation’s truck segment that includes crossovers, SUVs and pick-ups. The boss of Hyundai USA admits the brand needs a third SUV and has highlighted the burgeoning sub-compact crossover market as a priority.
“We are very under-represented,” Krafcik said, as reported by Edmunds. “We lead the industry in sedans, we have a bunch of them, but if you look at our crossover line, we only have two nameplates, the Tucson and the Santa Fe.”
Hyundai says it has been struggling to keep up with demand for the new Santa Fe, which launched in the US in five-door form in the second half of 2013 and as a long-wheelbase seven-seater earlier this year.
Krafcik said there was no new SUV in the pipeline for Hyundai USA at this stage, but suggested a sub-compact crossover to rival the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Chevrolet/Holden Trax was an obvious next step for the brand.
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“Our growth potential in where we might want to put future products probably would be on the crossover side of the table.“It seems sort of obvious. I mean, if you slice the data, that is where you would want to look. “I think it is something that we have to look at. We don’t have any plans, it does seem like there is a lot of action in stuff below RAV4- and Tucson-sized vehicles. A new segment is emerging.”
As of now the powertrain details are unknown, but Hyundai has a range of engine options in diesel and petrol ranging from 1.4 litre “Gamma” petrol to 1.6 litre CRDi diesel to choose from. Also Hyundai has a 1.0-liter petrol engine with turbo (TCi) with 106 hp revealed few months ago. Stay tuned for more info so soon!
