Tiny all-new Hyundai Casper comes out of hiding

Revealed in a teaser sketch just over two weeks ago, Hyundai has officially taken the covers off of its smallest production SUV: the new Casper.

Its name uncovered and confirmed some two months ago, the Casper – known internally as the AX1 – slots-in below the Venue and apart from India where production will take place, sales will also take place in South Korea and other developing markets, likely to include South Africa.

Based on the same K1 platform as the and Grand i10 and Santro, known locally as the Atos, the Casper conforms to India’s sub-four metre regulations in that it measures 3 595 mm in overall length with its wheelbase rated at 2 400 mm, height at 1 575 mm and width at 1 595 mm.

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Sporting design cues from the Staria as well as from its closest rival, the Suzuki Ignis, the Casper will derive motivation predominantly from the brand’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in normally aspirated guise with outputs of 57 kW and in turbocharged T-GDI form rated at 74 kW.

Other markets meanwhile will reportedly receive the 1.1-litre engine from the Atos as well as the bigger free-breathing 1.2 from the Grand i10. Regardless of the powerunit though, transmissions will comprise of a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic with drive going to the front wheels as standard.

Aimed at not only the Ignis but also the Renault Kwid and Suzuki S-Presso, the Casper, which will reportedly weigh as little as 985 kg in its lightest and 1 370 kg in its heaviest according to thekoreancarblog.com, will enter production later this month with sales initially kicking-off in South Korea.

For now, little else is known about the newcomer, but expect more details, including images of the interior, to emerge over the coming weeks.