The Hyundai Santro has been one of the more popular cars in the country and it was certainly disappointing to see the people's hatchback discontinue in 2014. While the Korean automaker positioned the i10 in its place, with the Grand i10 branded as the more premium hatchback, the Santro continues to be a more memorable nameplate in the automaker's family.
No surprises then, that Hyundai India is working on an all-new hatchback and could be christened as the 'Santro' upon launch. Although the name is not confirmed, the all-new Hyundai Santro will be a spiritual successor to the discontinued model and will be hitting the markets in 2018.
Sources close to the company have conveyed to carandbike.com that work has begun on the 2018 Hyundai Santro, which will be positioned between the Eon and the Grand i10 in the model range. The new model will be replacing the i10 in India, while the Grand i10 has already replaced the latter in international markets. So, do not expect it to be the cheapest Hyundai on sale. That will still be the Eon in the company's line-up.
It is believed that the new Hyundai Santro will be shedding its tall boy stance, but will be larger and more spacious than the current one. The interiors will be more upmarket, while expect to see an array of features on the hatchback, something now common across all Hyundai cars. Engine options aren't clear at this point, but it is likely that the new small car will draw power from 0.8-litre and 1.0-litre engine options. A 5-speed manual transmission will send power to the front wheels on both units.
Sources also tell us that Hyundai plans to conduct a dealer showcase of the new Santro sometime next year, in order to gain first impressions of the car. Still nascent at this point, it is possible that the Korean carmaker will showcase the new hatchback at the 2018 Auto Expo.
Hyundai's claim to fame in India as the second largest automaker has been largely due to the success of the Santro. The humble hatchback challenged the rein of
Maruti Suzuki in the entry-level car space when it arrived in 1998 and was a consistent seller for the auto giant, until it was discontinued at the end of 2014. In fact, the hatchback sold well over 2000 units month-on-month before production was stopped. The Santro's 16 year run helped Hyundai consolidate its position as a people's brand in India, making it one of the more popular cars in the country.
The small car segment is flooded with options, but Hyundai has the nostalgia card to play in its favour with the 2018 Santro. The car will be rivaling a host of models including the
Renault Kwid,
Datsun GO,
Tata Tiago,
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 and the likes in the segment. Prices are expected in the vicinity of Rs. 4 lakh (ex-showroom). More details are expected to surface in the coming year.
