Hyundai Motor India Ltd is gearing up to launch the all-new Hyundai Alcazar in India. The decision comes at a time when the SUV's global debut is facing delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis - and comes at a time when some states in India are under lockdown. The company originally planned to launch Alcazar during May, but later postponed the event to July. For now, we have gathered all the necessary information you need to know about the SUV.

The Alcazar will share its underpinnings with the company's popular Hyundai Creta. The all-new SUV is considered in the industry to be a three-row version of the Creta. Hyundai claims the Alcazar is a car that will redefine the driving experience with its versatility and futuristic features. In addition, the SUV will be presented as 6-seater and 7-seater versions. The 6-seat version will have a captain's seat in the second row and the 7-seat version will have a bench seating format for the second row seats.

Hyundai revealed quite a few characteristics of the SUV; however, there are still a few features that have yet to be announced. One of the unknowns about the Alcazar has to do with its dimensions, but we do know that the SUV's wheelbase (2760mm) will be 150mm longer than the Hyundai Creta's - to accommodate a third row of seats.

Hyundai Alcazar price in Nepal

Details about the Alcazar's exterior are mostly under wraps, but thanks to camouflaged images of the SUV released by the company, we can at least get an idea of ​​what it will look like. The sketch of the seven-seater SUV reveals enough to let us know that it will stand out against the Creta. The front fascia of the Alcazar appears to be more solid compared to the Creta and also has a redesigned skid plate, fog lights and front fascia. However, the three-beam LED headlights are the same as the Creta and the overall profile also shares similarities, except for the Alcazar's longer profile due to the third-row seats. Hyundai says the Alcazar will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels, which will be one factor that sets it apart from its 5-seater siblings. There are other changes as well: the rear lights of the Alcazar have been completely redesigned into a hexagonal shape containing multiple LED modules, and the rear of the SUV has a chrome trim with "Alcazar" lettering that runs across the width and between the taillights.

The Alcazar may also come with a different set of upholstery than the Creta. Alcazar could include a 10.25-inch infotainment system with BlueLink connectivity, Bose sound system, wireless smartphone charger, 8-way power driver's seat, front ventilated seats, low tire pressure monitoring system, blue ambient lighting, air cleaner Auto Healthy, multiple driving and traction modes and a panoramic sunroof. The third row of seats could have dedicated AC vents along with cruise control. And even though the Alcazar has a third row of seats and is a 7-seater SUV, it manages to squeeze in 180 liters of luggage space.

The key new detail of the Hyundai Alcazar is its powertrain. Although both SUVs are based on the same platform as the Hyundai Creta, they have different powertrain options. The Creta is offered with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Meanwhile, the Alcazar will be offered in both petrol and diesel versions, but the engines are slightly different from the Creta. The Alcazar's petrol engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that generates 159bhp and 192Nm of torque. This unit is an updated and more powerful version of the units used in the Elantra and Tucson. The diesel engine is the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit from the Creta, but it's tuned differently. The Alcazar's diesel engine delivers 115 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. Transmission duties will be handled by either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic – the same transmissions used in the Creta, but tweaked to deliver better performance. Hyundai claims that the petrol Alcazar can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds. The company further claims that both the engines of the SUV will deliver the best fuel economy in the segment.

Hyundai Alcazar is expected to be launched in Nepal during the first fourth quarter of 2021. The price of the SUV should start from NPR 80 million. In the Nepali market, Hyundai Alcazar will compete with MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV500.

Specifications (petrol)

Displacement (cc): 1999

Maximum power: 156.82 hp

Number of cylinders: 4

Valves per cylinder: 4

Transmission type: Manual

Gearbox: 6 speeds

Compliance with emission norms: BS-VI

Front suspension: MacPherson Strut

Rear suspension: RR CTBA

Luggage space (litres): 180 l

Number of seats: 7\6

Wheelbase (mm): 2760

Number of doors: 5

Folding rear seat: split 40:20:40

Driving modes: 3

Lighting: Ambient light, Foot lamp, Reading lamp, Luggage compartment lamp, Compartment lamp

Tire type: radial, tubeless