After launching the all new Elite i20 premium hatchback just last week, Hyundai India has commenced testing its next major product the ix25 compact SUV in the country and we have the first exclusive spy shot of the compact SUV being tested wearing heavy camouflage with rivals Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport of the same segment. MotorBeam’s eagle eyed reader V. R. Muthukaruppan managed to snap the image of the ix25 while it was being tested at the NH7 in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, before the Hyundai representative barred him from taking any further pictures.
While the Hyundai ix25 spy shots from China and South Korea are a common sight on the internet, this is for the first time that the compact SUV has been spotted testing in India. Mr. Muthukaruppan stated that the test mule of the ix25 SUV was running on 17-inch alloy wheels, while the car was completely camouflaged including the interiors. Our reader further stated that the exposed parts looked very rich in quality and the ix25 was definitely longer than the EcoSport, offering a roomier cabin.
The Hyundai ix25 shares its platform with the new i20 and a lot of equipment is expected to be shared between both the vehicles. The ix25 measures 4270 mm in length, 1780 mm in width and 1630 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2590 mm. The engine options on the other hand are most likely to include the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel units, while 4WD will be available on higher variants. A major albeit new segment for the automaker, Hyundai is betting big on the new compact SUV to improve its market share in the country.
The interiors of the ix25 take inspiration from the bigger Santa Fe SUV and expect to see a strong resemblance on the entire layout. The compact SUV was first showcased at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year and will be officially launched in China on 9th October with a number of variants. The Indian launch is expected to be in the first half of 2015, while the pricing is likely to be in the Rs. 8-12 lakh bracket.
