The Hyundai Casper micro-SUV has been revealed globally. Although test mules of the Casper have been spotted globally, it has only been revealed now, interestingly enough, only after the unveil of the upcoming Tata Punch. This could mean that an India launch of the Casper is a strong possibility.
On first glance, the Hyundai Casper bears resemblance to the Venue, with the silhouette being of a similar shape, albeit much smaller in size. The Casper attempts to emulate the 3-door car design with its hidden rear door handles, a feature that’s also seen on the Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Tata Punch and the Tata Altroz.
Up front, the Casper gets round halogen headlights placed below the DRLs, a trend which is slowly catching on in the Indian market. The rear features a tail lamp neatly integrated onto the boot, followed by two round units on the bumper.
The Casper will likely be Hyundai’s smallest offering since it is narrower and shorter than the Santro. However, with its micro-SUV body style, it is likely to be taller than its hatchback sibling.
The Casper is available internationally with a choice of two petrol engines; a 1-litre nat-asp and a 1-litre turbo-petrol. It is likely that the turbo-petrol engine could come to India, albeit in a different state of tune, since it is already present in a number of Hyundai cars, including the recently unveiled i20 N Line.
While it is not confirmed if Hyundai will bring the Casper to India, the carmaker has commenced bookings for customers internationally and the Casper is slated for a global launch soon. With Tata gearing up for the launch of the Punch, it is possible that Hyundai may bring the Casper to India. If launched, the Casper would go up against rivals like the Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, and Tata Punch, in the Rs 3-5 lakh price bracket.