Compact SUV next for Hyundai

Hyundai Motor Europe's Chief Designer Thomas Burkle has confirmed that Hyundai is working on a compact SUV for global markets and admitted that the company should’ve done one earlier.

Burkle, who spoke to motoring.com.au at this week’s 2015 Frankfurt motor show, said that the Indian-built Creta and Chinese-built ix25 were only ever designed for emerging markets.

“The Creta is mainly for China and other markets like that -- it was planned only for specific markets.”

However, Burkle confirmed said that Hyundai is progressing with a compact SUV for first-world markets.

“I think there was a bit of hesitation, but it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I think we now have a chance to make a really good car.

Burkle admitted that Hyundai was slow to join the ebullient SUV class populated by the likes of Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Holden Trax.

“We are late with this car. I think we should have done it earlier,” he admitted.

The Creta and ix25 are built on the same platform as the just-released (but not coming Down Under) i20 hatch, while the slightly larger ix35 has been replaced by the larger again Tucson.

While Burkle said of the compact SUV that “We are working on that heavily”, he would not divulge which platform the new model would be based on or when it was due to arrive on the market. He explained that Hyundai’s delay in joining one of the fastest-growing segments was due to the marque’s already diverse model range.

“The thing is that the company already has a wide portfolio of cars. To add one more, than another, it is a challenge for every dealer… It is a challenge for the organisation.

“We have to be careful we don’t have an inflation of body variations, because some other brands are doing it extensively but there is a point where it is not profitable anymore.

“The development costs are immense,” he stated.