The Tam will mirror that of many Japanese kei-cars, with its tall profile, tiny wheels, and smart styling. The new model will feature large wheelarches and a unique door layout, in which the rear passengers door (if the steering wheel is on the left-hand side) slides with the driver's side passenger door opening conventionally.
With a wheelbase of 2,540mm, the Tam's wheelbase is 170mm longer than the previous Picanto, ensuring a spacious interior despite being shorter. Although the Tam was spied undergoing extensive winter testing in Northern Europe, the Tam is likely to be a Korean domestic market model only.
Although powertrains remain a mystery, the ultra-compact MPV may be powered by the 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder or a 1.25 litre 4-cylinder Kappa petrol engines, mated to a 5 speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. Another possibility is a newly-developed Hyundai-Kia naturally-aspirated 0.8 litre petrol engine, that will be manufactured in India.
Slotting under the larger Picanto, the Tam is expected to be cheaper than its 'bigger' brother when it goes on sale during Summer 2011 in South Korea.
Via MotorBlog.kr