In Just One Day... Casper Narrowly Chasing This Year's Sales Leader in Compact Cars

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Company's compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) Casper, released for the first time in 19 years, is creating a strong sensation. It nearly caught up with the cumulative sales of the top-selling compact car model this year in just one day of pre-orders.

According to Hyundai on the 19th, the number of Casper pre-orders made online on the 14th (from 8:30 AM to midnight) was recorded at 18,940 units. This corresponds to about 80.0% of the cumulative sales of Kia Ray, the best-selling model among the three domestic compact cars, from January to August (23,657 units).

Although this result is due to the combined effect of the 'new car effect' and direct online sales (D2C), the industry is hopeful that Casper could become a savior for the compact car market by achieving 80% of the annual cumulative sales of the top compact car model in just one day. The domestic compact car market has been struggling as the trend toward more luxurious and larger vehicles continues, with last year's sales falling below the 100,000-unit mark.

The Hyundai Casper is the first SUV-type vehicle launched in the compact car segment, with an engine displacement of 1000cc and dimensions of 3,595 mm in length, 1,595 mm in width, and 1,575 mm in height, meeting the compact car standards. While other exterior dimensions are similar to existing vehicles, its height is slightly taller than the Kia Morning (length 3,595 mm, width 1,595 mm, height 1,485 mm) but lower than the Kia Ray (length 3,595 mm, width 1,595 mm, height 1,700 mm).

However, it surpasses existing compact car models in various advanced technologies. All trims come standard with intelligent safety features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), High Beam Assist (HBA), and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert. Additionally, higher trims offer Hyundai SmartSense, which includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (oncoming traffic at intersections), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Smart Cruise Control as optional features.

The turbo model is also a strength. The 'Casper Active,' equipped with a 1.0-liter gasoline turbo engine, delivers 100 horsepower, a maximum torque of 17.5 kg·f·m, and a combined fuel efficiency of 12.8 km/l, making it an attractive option for buyers unsatisfied with the driving performance of typical compact cars.

Despite being a compact model, it also draws attention for being optimized for outdoor activities such as car camping. Casper features folding, sliding, and reclining technologies on all seats in the first and second rows, and for the first time in the world, the driver's seat can fully fold forward with a full folding seat. Each seat can be fully folded individually, and sliding the rear seats forward can secure a maximum space of 2,059 mm.

A Hyundai Motor Company official stated, "The explosive response from customers on the first day of early bird reservations for the new Casper segment was due to its versatile product qualities that combine economy with design, safety, and spaciousness," adding, "Offering purchase convenience through the first-ever direct customer sales method by a Korean automotive brand was also a key factor."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.