Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced the India-spec Bayon ahead of the official launch on 26 October. The new crossover will be powered by a new 1.5-litre petrol engine, come with manual and automatic transmissions and sport a voice-activated generative AI system. Bookings are open on Hyundai’s official website and authorized dealerships for ₹11,000.
Hyundai is positioning the Bayon as an ‘Intelligent Utility Vehicle’, with a focus on connected technology and software-based features. A dual 12.3-inch display, an NVIDIA-based infotainment system, over-the-air (OTA) software updates and Hyundai Bluelink connectivity will be added to the model. Further details on pricing and variants, along with additional launch information for the device, will be announced on 26 October, the company said.
The Bayon has a sculpted bonnet, angular wheel arches and black body cladding. The front features slim H-edge LED daytime running lights; the headlamps are below. Externally, the alloy wheels feature a geometric design, bridge-type roof rails and a rear spoiler.
The crossover’s interior features a dual-tone grey-and-black cabin with a curved panoramic panel housing two 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. The dashboard also includes rotary controls and a central climate-control panel, plus physical buttons to quickly press shortcut keys.
The Bayon will be the first time HMIL’s AI-powered voice assistant is built on Perplexity’s AI technology, powered by SoundHound AI’s voice technology. Hyundai says the system can converse with users on travel arrangements, hotel and restaurant suggestions, weather and sports news. It is an English version of the generative AI assistant, according to Hyundai Motor.
The car has over 500 embedded voice controls in English, Hindi, Hinglish, Tamil, Bengali, and Telugu for offline use. The infotainment and instrument cluster interfaces support 10 regional and two international languages.
The NVIDIA-powered Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) equips cars with split-screen capabilities, onboard navigation and customization options that enable personalized user profiles and controls. Hyundai also announced OTA updates for over 19 vehicle controllers and Bluelink connectivity to over 70 connected features, such as remote vehicle controls and location services.
The India-spec will get a 115 PS, 144 Nm of torque, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder MPi petrol engine. It is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) automatic, according to Hyundai Motor.
The Bayon is said to be based on the company’s Global K Enhanced Platform, designed to comply with the 5-star Bharat NCAP regulations. Tarun Garg, Managing Director and CEO, said the model combines AI, connectivity and software-driven features to deliver a more personalized driving experience.
The will be available in India from 26 October 2026. Deliveries will be made during the holiday period, but further details are yet to be released.
