Hyundai Motor
India Ltd has just announced the name of its new sub-compact SUV which is to be
launched in India and soon across world markets. Hyundai has christened the car
‘Creta’. Sources maintained that the Creta will be based on the ix25 platform.
Hyundai had revealed the ix25 SUV concept more than a year back at the
different auto shows around the world. The Hyundai ix25 compact crossover SUV was then later launched in China in October 2014 at around Rs 12 lakh and was available with a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engine option that came with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission. The top-end variant was priced at around Rs 18 lakh.
The global roll-out of this all-new
model will start in the second half of 2015 in India.
According to
a Hyundai global press release, the name ‘Creta’ is dervied primarily from the
name for Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Situated in the Mediterranean
Sea, Crete was the focal point for Greece’s global prowess in trade and
culture, in its heyday connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Creta will be an
influential global model for the Hyundai Motor brand in one of the
fastest-growing vehicle segments, helping the company to reach out to many more
consumers in new and established international markets.
Hyundai Motor
India has been testing a compact SUV in India and spy pictures of the vehicle
have already appeared on various car blog sites in the country.
The Hyundai
global press release further stated that consistent with the core concepts
underpinning Hyundai Motor’s modern premium brand direction – Simple, Creative,
Caring – the ‘Creta’ name is simple and easy to remember. Pronunciation of
Creta deliberately evokes welcome similarities with the term ‘creative’, and
draws on positive associations with the Mediterranean island of Crete, which is
famed for combining a relaxed and tranquil environment with a vibrant,
energetic approach to outdoor activities.
In India, the
car is expected to compete in a market that has begun to take the shape of an SUV
inspired range of vehicles. Apart from blue blooded SUVs in the country, the
market in India has sub-compact SUVs like the Ford Ecosport, the Renault Duster,
Nissan Terrano, and the Mahindra Quanto. Maruti Suzuki will be launching in
July 2015 its much awaited crossover, the S-Cross. Then there are crossovers from
the stables of Hyundai Motor India, Toyota, Fiat etc that have aggressive styling
on the lines of an SUV. The recently revealed Renault Kwid that will be
unveiled in India by Diwali season in October-November 2015, is a small 800cc
car but has an SUV styling of sorts.
With the
Creta, Hyundai Motor India will surely be looking at grabbing a large chunk of
market in the growing sub-compact SUV market in the country.