Check out this upcoming Hyundai minivan
Back in May of this year, we reported about a heavily camouflaged passenger van that could be the next generation Hyundai Starex. Well we were wrong, at least for the model. That passenger van spied in March is apparently a new minivan model from Hyundai and it’s gonna be called the Custo.
What we know so far, based on a report by CarScoops is that the upcoming Hyundai Custo is going to be built through the company’s joint venture with BAIC Motor. For those who don’t know, BAIC (whose vehicles are available in our market by the way) has been manufacturing vehicles for Hyundai since 2002. In fact, the Hyundai Reina which is the company’s current entry-level sedan in the Philippine market is sourced from the said joint venture company.
What we are currently seeing looks to be a prototype version and is definitely not yet for production. What we can immediately see is the uniquely styled front fascia which definitely looks part of the recently unveiled models of the Korean car company which display the company’s new Sensuous Sportiness design language. It’s definitely different from what we typically see in minivans. Looking at the side profile though, it’s just your typical minivan. At the back, the Custo features a trendy LED lightbar and a nice rear spoiler which wraps around the rear windshield pretty nicely. The reverse lights are integrated into the bumper with what could be either reflectors or rear fog lights.
Inside, the Hyundai Custo definitely looks very upmarket even if we’re seeing it with rather blurry images. On the dashboard we can see that the steering wheel is taken directly off the 8th-generation Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan which was made available in other markets last year. We also see a portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system which will also probably house other controls such as those for climate. In the center console there is a push button gear selector.
For the second row we can see a pair of captain chairs but that’s the only thing we can make out thanks to the sky’s reflection on the van’s windows.
According to a Facebook post by CarNewsChina.com, the Hyundai Custo will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes 237 hp and 353 Nm if torque, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. There is no mention as to whether there will be a diesel option but it is mentioned that there won’t be any plug-in hybrid and electric powered versions.
As of now, it is not yet known if the upcoming Hyundai Custo will be available outside China. If ever, it could be a replacement to the passenger version of the Hyundai Starex or could be sold alongside it as a more premium model. This could be the case for markets like the Philippines where vans both in their most luxurious form are as popular as in their most utilitarian form. Hopefully we can get more information once the minivan is fully revealed to the public.
