The average Indian car buyer might always aspire to have a big sedan or probably a sporty hatchback in his/her garage but their love for the simple and subtle family car will never extinguish.
The Hyundai Santro etched its image into the hearts of many entry-level car buyers, so much so that at one time it was one of the top selling products after its introduction way back in 1997.
The Santro was discontinued in 2013. Now, the much loved compact hatchback is set for a comeback at the Auto Expo 2018 in a completely new avatar, though it could be a concept model on display at the expo.
Since the Hyundai i10 was discontinued in 2017, the upcoming Hyundai Santro would be the ideal replacement.
Rumours suggest that the new Santro could come with a 800cc and 1-litre engine options mated to a 5-Speed manual gearbox. There are possibilities that an AMT variant will be launched later since that seems to be a trend in entry-level cars these days. The leaked images suggest that the car will sport the same-as-before ‘Tall Boy’ design.
There are chances that the car could receive a full touch infotainment system and rear windscreen wipers.
Although the Auto Expo is just a platform for the car to be unveiled, expect it to hit the market by the second half of the year near Diwali. Since Hyundai is looking to make this a really hot selling property, we can expect a price tag somewhere between Rs 4 to 6 lakh.
This car will stand in direct competition against the likes of Renault Kwid, Tata Tiago and even Maruti Suzuki Celerio.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)