There are rumors that Hyundai is re-launching its highly popular Santro brand in the country. Hyundai is likely to bring its most popular hatch in 2018. Experts opine that Hyundai will be replacing it highly popular i10 in this part of the world.
The Santro was first introduced in 1998 and was one of Hyundai’s best selling car. However, Hyundai discontinued the car to make way for the Grand i10. Across the globe, the Grand i10 replaced the i10. However, in India, the South Korean car maker continued to sell both the versions side by side. The company stopped the manufacture of Santro so that there is no cannibalization of sales by either brand because they both belonged to the same segments of cars.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, the Santro which will be re-introduced with a completely refurbished and new platform. It will feature an 800 cc or 1.0 liter Kappa petrol motor. It will also feature a five-speed manual transmission. The car will fill in the slot between the core level Eon and the Grand i10. However, the version will not feature the tall boy design which made it so popular in the 90’s and 2000. It will give way to the room to fit in more modern amenities.
The latest version of Santro will have broader dimension than its earlier iterations. The design has been completely revamped to give it a more chic look and will all the latest gizmos and amenities. It is a welcome move by Hyundai and given the brand value of its Santro range of cars; Hyundai will not have much of a problem to usurp the current brand leader, Wagon R as well as other new entrants to this segment of cars like Renault Kwid and Datsun redi-GO. The prices are likely to be around the Rs 4 lakh mark.
