India and the Asian subcontinent aren’t exactly famous for snow, but that doesn’t mean cars designed for those markets can escape the same cold-weather testing programs cars headed for Europe and the U.S. have to endure.
The boxy little SUV you see here hiding under a mountain of black disguise and camouflage wrap is Hyundai’s new Ai3, a subcompact with fairly flimsy off-road pretensions that won’t be appearing on European or North American roads any time soon. Instead, it’s been created for countries like India where it will go head-to-head with other budget cars like the Tata Punch and Maruti Ignis from late summer 2023.
Autocar India reports that the Ai3 will be built in Hyundia’s Chennai, India, plant using the same platform as Hyundai’s Grand i10 Nios, a scaled-up version of the i10 offered in Europe, and could get a design inspired by the cute Casper crossover offered in other Asian markets. That means it should measure around 150 inches (3.81 m) long and feature a split-headlamp setup comprising of slim DRLs just below the hood and much bigger headlamps located in a tall and wide grille located below.
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Judging from these spy shots, the Ai3’s DRLs appear to have an ‘H’ pattern designed to telegraph the brand identity at night, or from a distance, when the Hyundai badge isn’t visible. We can’t get a clear look at the rear end through all that disguise, but if it’s anything like the Casper’s it could come with some kind of horizontal light bar linking the two taillight units.
In addition to pinching the Grand i10 Nios’s platform, the Ai3 is also likely to borrow the very same 1.2-liter, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine hooked up to the front wheels. In the Grand i10, it develops 82 hp (83 PS) and is available with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions, and it seems fair to assume that Hyundai will give Ai3 buyers the same choice. But a note about that topical name: the budget end of the Indian market is no place for sophisticated tech, whatever the badge says, so don’t expect Level 4 autonomous functionality and be prepared to pay extra for a wireless phone charger, Apple CarPlay, and cruise control.
