Hyundai Casper Micro SUV Officially Revealed; India Launch Next Year

Hyundai has officially revealed the production-spec images of the upcoming Casper micro-SUV ahead of its launch in South Korea.  The Casper – named after the freestyle skateboarding trick invented by Bobby ‘Casper’ Boyden in the 1970s, and not the friendly ghost, will be Hyundai's smallest SUV to date. The Casper is expected to make its India debut by early 2022.The South Korean carmaker will offer Casper two 1.0-litre petrol engine options in its domestic market- a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated mill and a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit. The naturally aspirated three-cylinder unit will produce up to 76 bhp and will be paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission unit. And, the 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder GDi unit will generate up to 100 bhp and will be mated with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.As per sources, Casper will be based on the same K1 compact car platform that also underpins the Santro and Grand i10 Nios. In terms of dimensions, the micro SUV will have 3,595mm in length, 1,595mm in width, and 1,575mm in height, making it shorter and narrower than the aforementioned hatchbacks, but is taller, with a 2,400 mm wheelbase. The micro SUV will sit below the Hyundai Venue.The Casper’s silhouette is upright and boxy. To spice things up, it features slim LED lights up top, while the round headlights with LED DRL rings sit below them, positioned in the bumper. As per the images, there will be two versions of the grille, one is finished in gloss black with circular design motifs that mimic the headlamps, while the other is finished in silver. The Casper also gets a faux skid plate and a flat bonnet.In the side profile, you'll notice blacked-out A-pillars, heavily flared and squared-off wheel arches, dual-tone alloys, roof rails, and different-sized front and rear window housings. At the rear, the micro SUV gets 'parametric jewel' type LED lights and circular tail-lights which are incorporated low in the rear bumper.  On the inside, the dashboard will have a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system, with a host of car-connected features.In India, the Casper will directly rival the upcoming Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Ignis and even the entry-level compact SUVs like the Nissan Magnite and the Renault Kiger.