Leaked: Perodua Aruz-rivalling ASEAN-bound 2021 Hyundai Alcazar

Hyundai is busy these past couple of weeks. Aside from unveiling the Hyundai Staria MPV, the Korean carmaker has also revealed the first official images of the 2021 Hyundai Alcazar 7-seater premium SUV.

Unlike the Staria, the Alcazar is made for developing markets like India where it is expected to make its world debut soon. However, Hyundai has only revealed design sketches of the interior and the rear of the hotly-anticipated SUV.

Mere days after Hyundai’s official teaser is posted, however, a 3D model of the Alcazar was leaked, complete with its 3D blueprints.

From what we can see, the Alcazar sports a different front grille design from the Creta. It definitely shouts premium and features Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness Global Design.

Speaking of the Creta, a 7-seater version is supposed to be developed for the Indonesian market and it would be brought into Malaysia. Could this Alcazar preview what is to come?

Also read: Indonesia's 7-seat Hyundai Creta is coming to Malaysia in 2022, upsets Proton X50's export plans

Back to the Alcazar and based on the official sketches, there would be a 6-seater configuration as well with a pair of individual captain chairs in the middle row. The brown and black colour scheme certainly accentuates the luxurious feel.

Hyundai has not revealed the powertrains of the Alcazar but perhaps there are some clues in the leaked 3D rendering. Upon zooming closer to the rendered Alcazar, we noticed a couple of badges - one reading 2.0, while the other reads "Signature".

Could the Alcazar be running on an engine that isn't offered on the Creta? Hyundai's 2.0-litre unit is available in India on the Elantra and Tucson, with the latter offering either petrol or diesel with the same capacity.

Meanwhile, the Creta is powered by a variety of engines: a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated Smartstream G MPi (115 PS/144 Nm), a 1.4-litre turbocharged T-GDi (140 PS/242 Nm), and a 1.5-litre CRDi turbodiesel (115 PS/250 Nm).

These engines are mated to either a six-speed manual transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, or a CVT.

Will Hyundai be creating another success in the Alcazar for the Indian market? According to 2020 sales data, the Korean giant is certainly making waves in the subcontinent as the second-best-selling brand behind Maruti Suzuki.