5 New Kia Cars Likely To Launch In India In Next 2 Years
Kia Motors India has been riding high on the success of Seltos compact SUV and Carnival luxury MPV. In order to sustain the momentum, the carmaker will bring in a range of new models that will hit roads in a couple of years. Some of them have been revealed at this year’s Auto Expo. Here, we have listed the top 5 upcoming Kia cars that will soon make their way to our market.
1. Kia Sonet
Kia Sonet sub-4 metre SUV will be the next big launch from the Korean carmaker. The carmaker showcased its near production model at the biennial event. While its official launch timeline is yet to be revealed by the carmaker, its reported to see a release in August 2020. The Sonet shares its platform and engines with the Hyundai Venue. This means, the compact SUV will come with a 1.2L naturally-aspirated petrol, a 1.5L diesel and a 1.0L turbo petrol engine option. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic unit. Interestingly, the Kia Sonet will be the first car in its segment to come with iMT (Intelligent manual transmission) with auto-rev matching.
2. Kia Compact MPV
The Korean carmaker is also planning to foray into compact MPV segment that’s currently dominated by Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Reports suggest that the new Kia compact MPV might come by the end of 2021. It’s likely to be produced at Kia Motors India’s Anantapur based plant in Andhra Pradesh. The vehicle might share its underpinning with the Seltos. It will be a 7-seater offering “adequate space” for all occupants.
3. Kia Seltos Electric
The carmaker is working on the electric Seltos SUV that will enter into production in August, 2020. In its first year of production, the company aims to produce less than 10,000 units and retail it in the Asian market only. According to reports, the Kia Seltos electric might share its powertrain with the Kia Soul – i.e. a 64kWh battery pack with a 204bhp electric motor. It’s likely to offer an electric range of around 400km on a full charge.
4. Kia Seltos X-Line
At the 2020 Auto Expo, the Korean carmaker showcased the rugged version of the Seltos compact SUV. Called the Kia Seltos X-Line, the vehicle concept was painted in custom dual-tone paint scheme. Compared to the regular model, the X-Line has 44mm higher ground clearance thanks to its custom 2-inch lift kit. The SUV also gets off-road tyres with 17X8 custom painted alloy wheels. The orange highlights all around the body give it sporty look. The matt grey colour finish on roof rack and wheel arch cladding further distinguish from the standard model. Powering the Seltos X-Line is a 1.6L turbocharged petrol engine that’s good enough for 174bhp. It gets a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox and electronic AWD drivetrain system.
5. Kia Soul EV
Kia Soul could be the first electric vehicle from the Korean carmaker in India. Reports suggest that the compact electric SUV might hit roads by the end of 2020. Powertrain of the Soul EV includes a 64kWh battery sending power to an electric motor that’s good for 204PS and 395Nm. It can do 0 to 100kmph in 7.6 seconds and attain a top speed of 170kmph. The compact electric SUV offers a claimed range of 450km in a single charge. Its battery takes an hour to get fully charged via fast DC charger and 9.5 hours via AC charger. The Soul EV comes with 4 driving modes – Eco, Eco+, Comfort and Sport.
Kia Seltos X-Line First Look Video
