We’ve got a new sub-4 metre SUV heading our way and it will wear a Hyundai badge. It doesn’t have a name yet but in the world of auto geeks, it is currently codenamed as the QXi. What we see here is Hyundai starting to officially tease the upcoming SUV and before the D-day comes, expect more such teasers to pop out of the carmaker’s belly.

Which D-day are we talking about? The world premiere, which will happen at the 2019 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) next month. For the record, the said event will open its gates on April 19 for the general public. What that means is that we’ll get to see the Hyundai QXi a couple of days before.

So, let’s get some perspective into the picture. The QXi will sit below the Creta in Hyundai’s SUV portfolio in India. To get all the monetary benefits in place, the upcoming SUV needs to have a petrol engine less or equal to 1.2 litres and a diesel engine less or equal to 1.5 litres. As far as the latter is concerned, Hyundai is sorted. The QXi will, in all probability, borrow the 1.4-litre mill that does duty in the Verna. As for the petrol, Hyundai will debut a new 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine with the QXi. While it isn’t expected to be as gutsy as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine from Ford, the new entrant will surely be more frugal.

Hyundai is also likely to introduce a go-fast version of the QXi by placing the 1.4-litre petrol engine from the Verna. The QXi will also offer a choice of manual and automatic transmissions with the QXi. To keep the costs in check, only the petrol engine will be offered with a two-pedal setup.

As you’d expect from a Hyundai product, the QXi will come loaded with features. The teaser itself confirms a couple of them. First is the unmissable sunroof; second, if you look closely, a split headlamp design like we saw on the Tata Harrier and third are the dual-tone allow wheels. Inside, the list of features will include automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control and a bunch of airbags. The South Korean carmaker is also expected to bring some segment-first features like ventilated seats and semi-digital instrument cluster.

The Hyundai QXi is likely to launch in May 2019. It is by far the most important launch for Hyundai and the sub-4 metre SUV segment this year. Once launched, it will lock horns with the Ford EcoSport, Honda WR-V, Mahindra XUV300, Tata Nexon and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.