Hyundai has recently announced the name of its upcoming sub-compact SUV, Exter. Positioned below the Venue in Hyundai’s SUV lineup, the Exter will be the brand’s eighth SUV. The lineup already includes SUVs like Venue, Venue N-Line, Creta, Alcazar, Kona Electric, Tucson, and Ioniq 5.

The Exter will be smaller than the Venue but will have a similar upright and boxy stance. While the SUV has been spotted several times on Indian roads with heavy camouflage, some visible design cues include a split headlamp assembly like the Venue, daytime running LEDs, and LED projectors in higher-spec variants. Other features like 15-inch machined alloy wheels, roof rails, LED inserts in the tail lamps, and a single-pane sunroof will also be present in the higher variants.

The upcoming Hyundai AI3 sub-compact SUV will be built on the K1 small car platform, which is also used by other compact Hyundai models like the Grand i10 Nios and Aura. While it will have a similar size to the Korea-specific Hyundai Casper, the AI3 will have a distinct design language. Unlike the Casper, the AI3 will feature a less radical design, with a boxy and upright stance similar to the Venue. However, the two SUVs will have entirely different designs, with the possibility of the new AI3 incorporating Hyundai’s ‘sensuous sportiness’ design philosophy.

Inside, the Exter is expected to feature modern amenities like a touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a push start-stop button, a wireless charger, and leather upholstery. The dual-tone black and beige upholstery for the cabin, which is a staple of Hyundai vehicles, is also expected.

Petrol only engine options
The Exter is likely to come equipped with a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, producing 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual gearbox will be offered as standard, while a 5-speed AMT might be available as an option. However, there are chances that Hyundai might also offer the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the Venue as an option for higher variants.

The Hyundai Exter will compete with other sub-compact SUVs like the Tata Punch and Citroen C3, as well as lower-spec naturally-aspirated variants of other compact SUVs like Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Fronx.

Hyundai will also launch the facelift version of the Creta in the Indian market next year. The brand recently introduced the all-new Verna which has gathered a great response from the buyers. The Indian market is one of the first markets to get the all-new Verna.