Korean automaker, Kia Motors will officially launch its first product in India in the second half of 2019. The company will first launch the Kia SP Concept based SUV. As a reminder, Kia had showcased the SP concept at the 2018 Delhi Auto Expo. A new video reveals that the local road testing of the production Kia SP has been started. The company hasn't finalised the name for this SUV, and media reports claim that the product unveil and name announcement could happen in April 2019. Another media reports suggest that the SP Concept based SUV could be called Kia Trazor; however, Kia is yet to make an official announcement.
It is visible in the video that the front styling of the SUV remains true to its concept. The SUV gets an upright signature Kia's tiger nose grille, a wide air-intake, and sleeker LED headlamps. The side profile of the SUV looks relatively toned down than that of the SP Concept. It features squarish flared wheel arches, smaller five-spoke alloy wheels, ORVMs with integrated blinkers and a rising beltline.
The Kia SP based SUV is based on the modified Creta's platform, which will also underpin the next-gen Hyundai Creta. This platform is flexible enough to accommodate 7-seat SUV. Similar to the next-gen Creta (which will be offered in 5 & 7 seat options), the Kia SP based SUV could also receive a 7-seat model on a later stage.
It is expected that the production Kia SP SUV will receive a newly developed 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine. This engine will also power the Hyundai Verna, Hyundai's new compact SUV and the next-gen Creta. This engine is likely to produce over 115bhp of power. The petrol version is likely to feature a new 1.0-litre T-GDT turbo unit that will produce 118bhp of power.
The Kia SP will be produced at the brand's new production facility at Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh. Trial production of the SUV is expected to commence in early 2019. In terms of pricing, the new model will be positioned above the Hyundai Creta. It will rival the likes of Tata Harrier, Hyundai Creta and the Nissan Kicks. The SUV could be priced in the range of Rs 11 lakh to Rs 16 lakh.
