As reported earlier, the Hyundai Creta 7-seater had been spotted in South Korea being road-tested under heavy camouflage covers and panels that hide the bodywork of the car. The spied pictures were shot from the front three-quarters and the rear part of the SUV was hardly visible. Now a new batch of spy pictures is being circulated on the internet with the side view of the SUV.
Though the SUV is still camouflaged the profile view allows us to see the extended bodywork and rear overhang on the Creta SUV which makes room for the extra row of seats. Other features on the side remain unchanged and expecting this is a production version the squared-off wheel arches and alloy wheel design has been retained from the 5-seater version. But the brand is likely to offer the 7-seater iteration with a new alloy wheel design as a distinguishing feature.
On the front end, earlier pictures revealed a new chrome studded grille but the SUV is expected to retain other features such as the low mounted headlamps, LED daytime running lights, fog lights etc. The rear end reveals very less information but its safe to hypothesize that the LED lamps are likely to continue on the 7-seater with only changes to the moniker. It is being speculated that Hyundai could give the 7-seater Creta a new name similar to the Tata Harrier/Gravitas.
In the engine department, the Hyundai Creta 7-seater is expected to be powered by the same engine line-up from the 5-seater iteration which is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre MPi Petrol engine that produces 115 ps of power and 144 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed manual or an IVT (CVT) gearbox, a 1.4-litre Kappa Turbo GDi Petrol engine that makes 140 ps of power and 242 Nm of torque coupled to a 7-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission) and a 1.5-litre CRDi U2 Diesel engine that produces 115 ps of power and 250 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter type gearbox.
When launched in the Indian market, the Hyundai Creta 7-seater will compete with the upcoming Tata Gravitas and the MG Hector Plus SUVs.