The upcoming new Kia Stonic compact SUV has been
previewed for the first time. That model won’t
appear until sometime around 2019.
This new offering is
expected to be offered only with tiny engines in the neighbourhood of a
1.0-litre capacity, and that’s not what Kia wants for its push to tackle the
popular Mazda CX-3.
While the Kona will make its first global appearance
next week, a date for the Stonic’s unveiling is still to be announced. Kia has
confirmed its overseas launch will occur in the second half of 2017, however,
suggesting a first proper look will not be far off.
If you’d thought it might be of
Slavic origin, think again. According to Kia, it is a portmanteau of the words
‘speedy’ and ‘tonic’. Kia says this is a reference to “the first and last note
in the musical scale”. Too bad the catchier ‘Niro’ name has already been taken
by the company’s comparatively dull hybrid SUV.
Full details are still to come, but Kia promises
a relatively low centre of gravity, which should help to make the Stonic one of
the more dynamic drivers in the class. On the styling front, these sketches
suggest the Stonic will deliver more of the same sporting lines that have
brought Kia to the attention of buyers in recent years, taking cues from the
Optima sedan, Stinger liftback and mid-sized Sportage SUV.
