Hyundai Compact SUV To Get 1.0-Litre Turbo Petrol Engine

“Slap on a turbo!” Now, these words might seem apt for a tuner-boy in ragged jeans and a cap worn the wrong way. But, oddly enough, it’s a mantra most manufacturers are following for their small, mass-market petrol cars. Next in line to embrace the concept of forced induction is Hyundai. 

Now, don’t get your hopes up. We aren’t talking about a turbo’ed Elite i20, yet. The car in question is something you and I have seen as a big orange blob at the 2016 Auto Expo. Hyundai’s first sub 4-metre SUV (that will be based on the Carlino concept) will feature a turbocharged petrol engine. 

Sources close to Hyundai hint at the 1.0-litre motor from the UK-spec i20. The 998cc, three-cylinder engine is available in two states of tune, with either 100PS or 120PS on tap. Torque is identical at 171Nm, and while the lower tune is available with a 5-speed manual, the latter gets a 6-speed stick shifter. There’s no trace of this engine being paired with an autobox yet. That said, Hyundai is developing an automated manual transmission to go with its upcoming small car (Santro?). We wouldn’t be surprised if the AMT found its way into the compact-SUV’s engine bay. 

We’d place our bets on the 120PS motor making its way here, simply because it’d give Hyundai enough to one-up Tata and stand neck-and-neck with Ford. For reference, the Tata Nexon gets a 1.2-litre, turbo-petrol motor that develops 110PS and 170Nm. The EcoSport’s EcoBoost 1.0-litre engine, on the other hand, makes 125PS and 175Nm. Interestingly, the current chart topper, the Maruti Vitara Brezza is set to feature a 1.0-litre turbo motor itself, borrowed from the Baleno RS hatchback. 

Hyundai’s sub 4-metre SUV will hit showrooms earliest by 2019. It will be interesting to see how the segment matures by then, considering the Nexon and the upcoming Ford EcoSport facelift would’ve settled into a rhythm and the updated Brezza will be lurking around the corner. 

Let the turbo wars begin!

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