Kia Motors’ Auto Expo stall flooded with as much as 15 cars, first car to roll out in 2019.
At the ongoing 2018 Auto Expo, Kia Motors, the sister company to Hyundai has showcased 15 cars. The list of cars includes Kia Rio, Sportage, Niro, Stinger, Stonic, Sorento, Picanto and the recently teased made-for-India SUV, the SP Concept and the list goes on. The automaker has been in the news since they announced their plans to enter the Indian passenger car market. Having bought a new facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh where all its vehicles will be assembled and manufactured, the company will be investing close to $1.1 billion (around Rs. 7050 crores) for the plant alone that is spread over 536 acres.
Kia Rio
The Rio sedan was unveiled at the 2017 New York International Auto Show and if launched in India, will rival the Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. The company is considering high localization on the Rio to keep a check on the costs. That said, there is still uncertainty as to the Rio nameplate will bear the sedan form factor or that of a premium hatchback as Kia also sells the Rio hatchback in Australia. If feasible, the carmaker could offer both.
Kia Sportage
Nothing excites Indian car buyers like an SUV does! Kia Sportage is just that, a full-fledged SUV. A rival to the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass and Mahindra XUV500, the vehicle is offered with both petrol and diesel engines in the international markets. Engine options include a 153 HP 2.0-litre petrol and 181 HP 2.4-litre petrol engine. The diesel engine is a 2.0-litre unit which produces 182 HP of power and 402 NM of torque.
Kia Niro Hybrid
The Niro or Niro HUV (Hybrid Utility Vehicle) as the company calls it, is a crossover that is unlikely to be launched here courtesy its hybrid nature and the higher rates of taxes under the GST. HID projector headlights with LED DRLs, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED combination tail-lights and company’s signature Tiger Nose grille are some of the features in the international-spec Kia Niro. In the European market, the Kia Niro is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol motor and a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. The petrol mill produces 104 HP and 147 Nm while the electric motor contributes an additional 43 HP.
Kia Stonic
The Stonic is a modern crossover measuring just over 4 meters. The Stonic in the UK markets is available with a 1.6-litre diesel, 1.4-litre and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engines. 17-inch alloy wheels, projector headlights with LED DRLs, projector fog lights, LED combination tail-lights and 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are some of the features on offer.
Kia Picanto GT
Picanto is a small hatchback like the Hyundai Grand i10 that sits below the Rio hatchback. The hatchback shares almost everything with the Grand i10, right from the platform to the engines. The hatchback gets the signature Tiger Nose grille up front flanked by the large headlights on either side. A touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car and Android Auto connectivity is offered in the international markets. The company is likely to launch the hatchback in India.
Kia Sorento
The Sorento is a 7-seater SUV, much like the Hyundai Santa-Fe. The third-gen Sorento in the GT-Line trim was recently spied testing in India. The SUV gets features like all-LED lighting, 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, all-black interior and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple Car and Android Auto connectivity. If launched in India, the SUV will go against the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and the Skoda Kodiaq.
Kia SP Concept
The Kia SP Concept makes its world debut at the 2018 Auto Expo. The Made-for-India SUV will be inspired by Indian heritage and is expected to go into production and on sale by 2019. The SP Concept showcases its radical styling, sporty stance along with DRLs and positioning lamps that blend into the signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille. Other usual concept-esque bits such as handle-less doors, mighty big alloys with thin rubber, ultra-high ground clearance and LED lights adorn the Kia SP. The SUV is likely to be based on a new platform that will also underpin the all-new Creta which is due in 2020. Engine options and transmissions are also likely to be shared with the new Creta.
Kia Cerato
The Cerato looks a promising D-segment sedan for India but Indians’ increased affiliation towards SUVs in the Rs. 12-20 lakhs space will make Kia think twice before launching the Cerato here. A rival to the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis, Volkswagen Jetta and the Skoda Octavia, the Cerato has the usual Kia design elements portrayed in a more premium and sophisticated manner. Globally, the sedan draws power from a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 152 PS of power and 192 Nm of torque. The powertrain comes paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Kia Cadenza
The Cadenza is an executive sedan drawing power from a 3.3-litre petrol motor that churns out 284 PS of power and 336 Nm of torque. The sedan gets features like 19-inch alloys, full-LED lighting, automatic headlights and wipers, quilted Nappa leather upholstery, heated and cooled seats, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and multiple airbags.
Kia Carnival
The Carnival is an 8-seater family MPV and gets features like LED headlamps, LED tail-lights, leather seats, rear AC vents, ventilated and heated front seats and sliding and reclining second-row seats. Safety is taken care by ABS, ESC, 360-degrees camera, front and rear parking sensors, multiple airbags and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The MPV is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that puts out 202 PS of power and 440 Nm of torque.
Kia Cee’d GT
The Cee’d GT is a performance hatchback and just the GT moniker tells it. It gets graphite finished 18-inch alloys, GT badges at the front and rear, panoramic sunroof, auto headlamps and wipers and an-all black interior with leather upholstery. Powering the hot hatch is a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which produces 204 PS of power and 264 Nm of torque.
Kia Mohave
Kia Mohave is an SUV that sits above the Sorento in the carmaker’s line-up. The SUV measures 4930 mm in length, 1915 mm in width and 1810 mm in height. Wheelbase is rated at 2896 mm. The 7-seater SUV comes powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor that belts out 255 PS of power and 550 Nm of torque. The SUV almost weighs 3 tonnes and top speed is rated at 190 km/hr.
Kia Optima
The Optima is a plug-in hybrid car that uses a 2.0-litre GDI engine Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. The engine alone produces 205 PS of power while the motor makes an additional 67 PS. The sedan measures 4855 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2805 mm.
Kia Soul EV
The Soul EV is Kia’s first fully electric car. The car features eye-catching technological improvements both inside and out. The car comes powered by a Lithium ION battery and an AC motor. The EV takes 5 hours and 40 minutes for a full charge (on AC) and has a range of 250 kms (NEDC).
Kia Stinger GT
We’ve saved the best for the last. The Stinger is a sports sedan and a grand tourer. Feature highlights include Tiger Nose front grille, all-LED lighting, sloping roofline, sharp-looking alloy wheels, quad exhaust pipes and an aircraft-inspired interior with 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Powering the Stinger GT is a 3.3-litre Twin Turbo V6 petrol motor which belts out 370 PS of power and a whopping 509 Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power the rear wheels. The Stinger is a niche product in Kia’s line-up.
