Hyundai has revealed its intention to launch yet another compact crossover.
As the Korean brand reacts to market demands, where customers are apparently not yet close to product niche saturation for crossovers, there is now a need for Bayon.
This is the latest product offering from Hyundai and traces its name to the French city of Bayonne. In terms of size, this new crossover is a B-segment vehicle. That means it effectively sits below Kona in the Hyundai crossover line-up.
Product planners for Bayon are going to use the i20 platform. Although i20 and Kona are not that much different in size, Hyundai believes there is sufficient differentiation in the market to allow it a viable business case for Bayon.
We suspect that the Bayon will be a European market only vehicle as the Venue currently services this market in markets outside of Europe and it would be silly to have the 2 models go against each other.
There are no concentre mechanical details relating to this new Hyundai, but one can extrapolate that powertrains will be broadly similar to that found in i20.
As a compact crossover, Hyundai will not bother to produce with an all-wheel-drive version of the Bayon. That means the i20’s 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated engine, good for 62 kW, should be an entry-level option.
For those who seek a bit more performance from their Bayon, Hyundai should also offer its turbocharged three-cylinder engine, enhanced with mild-hybridization. Two output grades of this engine exist (74- and 88 kW), and either would serve as a credible powertrain for the i20.
Gearbox options should follow on from the i20 powertrain speciation and offer a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch for Hyundai’s latest crossover.
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Original Story by www.cars.co.za
