The Kia KY, only a codename, is a new product Kia is working on for a new segment in the Indian market.
Contents
Tailor Made For Indian Market
Though the automaker has not divulged details on what category the car would cater to, they have confirmed their interest in entering the SUV and MPV market.
Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and head of Marketing & Sales, Kia India, spoke about the Indian market being centred around families and how 6 and 7-seater vehicles fulfil their specific needs.
Such consumers require flexibility and one such example is provided where the last row can be folded down to make extra room.
Other manufacturers are also capitalising on this emerging trend and Kia is evaluating the same.
Kia’s New MPV
It is likely to be a 3-row 7-seater MPV to be positioned below the Carnival to rival the likes of Toyota Innova Crysta, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and the Hyundai Alcazar.
It is expected to be in direct competition with the Mahindra Marazzo
It has been spotted on tests in South Korea, however completely camouflaged.
An artist has managed to create a rendered image of what the vehicle could possibly look like, going by the features given away despite being under cover.
Like a typical MPV, the KY has a bold and boxy design which is smaller than the Carnival.
It will be built on the Seltos platform.
Lengthwise, the car stretches at 4.5 metres, slightly wider than the Seltos.
Exterior Features
It shares a host of features with the Seltos too, such as the design of the bonnet which is flat, the front doors, and raked A-pillars.
The Kia trademark Tiger nose grille shapes a striking design for the headlamps which are split in half.
It has sprinklings of chrome to add blingy specks of design.
LED Daytime Running Lights adorn the upper half of the headlamps.
It comes with MRF Wanderer rubber-made 16-inch alloy wheels.
Probable Interior Features
Other standard Kia features include
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- UVO Connect i.e. Kia’s own car solution which supports voice-activated functions
- Steering mounted controls
- Panoramic sunroof
- Wireless charging facility
- Cruise control
- Automatic climate control
- Ambient lighting
- Ventilated seats, etc
Safety features include
- Connected-car tech
- Air purifier which boasts of ‘virus and bacteria’ protection
- 360-degree camera
- Blind spot monitor
- Multiple airbags
- 360-degree camera
- Head-up display
Powertrain, Launch, Price?
The KY can be expected to be launched globally this year, but the Indian launch could be a little further away (early 2022-ish).
Price-wise it is expected to be cheaper than the Carnival. It is worth considering that it is set to compete directly with the Mahindra Marazzo which is priced between Rs. 11.64 lakh and Rs. 13.79 lakh.
It will in all probability be powered by 1.5 litre diesel and petrol engines, with the power output and torque figures resembling that of the Seltos.
To be precise, the Seltos figures for the petrol variant are 115 PS power output and peak torque of 144 Nm.
For the diesel version the figures are 115 PS and 250 Nm of torque.
Top 6 Changes In New Kia Seltos 2021 You Should Know Before Buying