With the new, stricter BS6 emissions norms set to come into effect from April 1, 2020, carmakers are looking to update popular models with engines that comply with these new norms. Hyundai is no different, as we can now confirm that the carmaker will update the Santro to become a BS6-compliant vehicle very soon.
In order to meet the new emission norms, Hyundai will upgrade the Santro’s current 1.1-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine to meet BS6 standards. The engine will continue to produce 69hp and 99Nm of torque, even after the transition to the stricter Bharat Stage VI emissions standard. The engine will also continue to be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT automatic gearbox. Interestingly, the carmaker will most likely offer the automatic gearbox option across all variants of the Santro and not just the Magna and Sportz trims that it is currently offered with, in order to increase the model's appeal.
There are talks of the Santro getting some minor tweaks to its interior as well as exterior in order to increase appeal. However, the current car’s dashboard design and dual-tone cabin will remain more or less the same. The top-spec Santro Asta will still be equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse camera, a rear wash/wipe, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink compatibility, steering-mounted controls and power-adjustable wing mirrors.
Though the pricing has not been announced, we expect the costs across the entire range of the Santro hatchback to marginally increase. The hatchback rivals the likes of the Tata Tiago (to get a facelift soon), Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Celerio in our market.
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