Hyundai’s upcoming compact SUV will rival vehicles like the Punch and even the upcoming Fronx. While Hyundai officially announced the name of the upcoming car as Exter, the vehicle was spotted testing on heavy snow. It will be a global vehicle which is why the vehicle was spotted testing in a foreign country.
The new Hyundai Exter is likely to be the most capable vehicle in the segment. Hyundai might offer terrain modes and similar traction-based features that will make the vehicle more capable. In fact, Hyundai released in the teasers that the compact SUV will be able to go to various different terrains.
The Exter SUV spotted by Moto.ES is expected to have a similar boxy and upright stance as the Venue, but it will be smaller in size. Despite being heavily camouflaged in spy shots, some design elements have been visible, such as the split headlamp assembly, similar to the Venue, with LED daytime running lights and LED projectors in the top-end trims. Additionally, higher variants of the Exter are expected to come with features such as 15-inch machined alloy wheels, roof rails, LED inserts in the tail lamps, and a single-pane sunroof.
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The Hyundai AI3 sub-compact SUV is set to be constructed on the K1 small car platform, which is already utilized by other compact models from Hyundai, such as the Grand i10 Nios and Aura. Despite sharing a comparable size to the Korea-exclusive Hyundai Casper, the AI3 will possess a unique design language. Unlike the Casper, the AI3 will adopt a less extreme design, with a boxy and upright stance similar to the Venue. However, the AI3 and the Venue will feature entirely different designs, and there is a possibility that the new AI3 will incorporate Hyundai’s “sensuous sportiness” design philosophy.
The Exter’s interior is anticipated to include contemporary features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It may also have a push start-stop button, wireless charger, and leather upholstery. As with many Hyundai cars, a dual-tone black and beige upholstery for the cabin is expected.
Petrol-only
It is anticipated that the Exter will be powered by a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine that can generate 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque. The standard gearbox offered will be a 5-speed manual, while a 5-speed AMT may also be provided as an option. The higher variants of the vehicle might also come with the option of a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is already offered in the Venue.
The Exter will be in competition with other sub-compact SUVs like the Tata Punch and Citroen C3, as well as the lower-spec, naturally-aspirated variants of other compact SUVs like the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Fronx.
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