A new spy shot of the Kia SP Concept-based SUV
(SP2i) captured in South Korea has surfaced online, courtesy SHM Studio. Kia
Motors India has confirmed that its first manufacturing facility, situated at
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, will be ready in early 2019. Soon, after that, the
company should introduce this SUV as their first model for the Indian car
market.
Until October, the company had maintained that the
new model would be launched in the second half of 2019, but the latest official
confirmation is in line with a previous report that talked of advancement in
the rollout of the Kia SP2i. Another report from earlier this month cites
Manohar Bhat, Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia Motors as saying that the
trial production of the new SUV would start in early 2019.
A spy video from Korea has revealed a high
similarity between the designs of the Kia SP2i and the SP Concept that was
displayed at the Auto Expo 2018. That said, the greenhouse of the production
version won't be as sleek, and the front-end will carry a toned-down iteration
of the concept's 'Tiger' nose. Furthermore, another video, which surfaced in
November 2018, reveals that the local road testing of the production-spec
vehicle has commenced.
The new model will be powered by turbocharged petrol
and diesel engines that will displace 1.5-litre and 1.0-litre, respectively.
While the former will output 115 hp, the latter will produce 118 hp. Both the
motors will be manufactured locally.
The Kia SP2i will share its platform with the
next-gen Hyundai Creta. The architecture will be capable of supporting a
seven-seater, and hence, Kia Motors India could come up with a three-row
version in case it enjoys a high demand for its first launch.
