Hyundai has unveiled the Inster EV, an entry-level electric vehicle aimed at global markets. The Inster, which shares similarities with the popular Casper sub-compact city car, is built on a lengthened platform.

A Global Entry-Level City EV

The Inster will compete in the mainstream city EV market, sharing most of its underpinnings with the 3.5-meter-long Casper, currently sold exclusively with a petrol engine in Korea. Hyundai has extended the Casper's platform by 230mm for the Inster, with 180mm added to its wheelbase, resulting in a more spacious cabin and additional space for the underfloor battery pack. The Inster measures 3.8 meters in length, 1.6 meters in width, and 1.6 meters in height, making it slightly shorter than the 3.9-meter-long Citroen eC3. It features a practical 5-seat cabin with versatile interior configurations, allowing the seats to fold completely flat and the rear seats to slide and recline for maximum legroom or boot space.

Battery, Powertrain, and Performance

The Inster comes with two battery and motor configurations:

Entry-Level Version:

• 96hp front-mounted drive unit

• 0-100kph in 11.7 seconds

• Top speed of 140kph

• 42kWh battery pack with a range of around 300km

Long-Range Version:

• 113hp

• 49kWh battery pack

• Range of around 350km

• Top speed of 150kph

• 0-100kph in 10.6 seconds

Both versions use nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery chemistry and come with a heat pump and 85kW (DC) charging capabilities as standard.

Features and Tech

The Inster stands out with its interior connectivity and onboard technologies:

Interior Tech:

• Pair of 10.25-inch displays (instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen)

• Smartphone key functionality

Driver Assistance:

• 360-degree parking camera

• Adaptive cruise control

• Blindspot monitoring system with rear quarter view camera image displayed on the instrument panel

Potential for India

Currently, Hyundai's focus in India is on launching the Creta EV, their entry into the mass-market EV segment. The Inster, with its features and technology, presents a strong case for the Indian market as a competitor to the Citroen eC3 and Tata Punch EV. However, the launch of the Inster in India remains uncertain for now.

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