Hyundai Working On Elite i20 Based Crossover For India

After receiving an overwhelming response for the Elite i20 in India, Hyundai is now working on the crossover version of the premium hatchback. The company has, in fact, already started testing the car in India and might launch it sometime in the first half of 2015.

The Elite i20 based vehicle will be the company's first crossover for India and will take on the upcoming Maruti Suzuki SX4 S-Cross along with other hatchback-based crossovers. Since the crossover is based on the Elite i20, the two will share the platform and features. Moreover, the company might also use same engine options - 1.2-litre Kappa2 petrol and 1.4-litre CRDi diesel that power the premium hatch.

To make the crossover look more rugged, Hyundai India might use additional body cladding, bigger alloys and more aggressive front and rear profiles. The crossover is expected to have a sportier and more feature-rich interior as well, making it slightly pricier than the hatchback. We expect the Elite i20 based crossover to be around Rs 80,000 - 1,00,00 costlier than the hatchback.

Other than this crossover, Hyundai is also working on the Hyundai ix25 compact SUV to rival Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Terrano in India.