Here is What Kia Motors is Planning For The Indian Market – Part 2

Here is What Kia Motors is Planning For The Indian Market
Kia Motors to bring in its various products in the Indian Market in 2020.
Here is What Kia Motors is Planning For The Indian Market
Kia Motors to bring in its various products in the Indian Market in 2020.

Compact SUV QYI

The latest offering from Kia Motors for the Indian market is a sub-4-metre SUV called the QYI. Set to arrive in 2020, QYI will be the third offering from the South Korean automaker and has been recently spotted testing on Delhi roads. Though all test vehicles are dressed in an abstract camouflage wrap, as is a standard automobile-manufacturer procedure, the QYI was identified because of its prominent Kia genome. It is said to have been inspired by the company’s flagship SUV Stonic and carries the latter’s facial features and roofline. The QYI will share its powertrain with the Hyundai Venue and the Seltos. Engine options on the QYI will include a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor. Though it is being placed by Kia to rival the likes of the Venue in the sub-4-metre segment, pricing will be a little higher than the Hyundai.

The spotted test vehicle has hinted at a pair of large fog-lamps placed just below the headlamps. The headlamps have a swept-back wraparound design and are connected by a mesh grille. The hood seam sports a small ‘blip’ at the exact centre of its nose-line and hints a Tiger-nosed grille. Though the QYI is said to have taken its design cues from the larger SUV Stonic, its rear would be differently-styled than the latter, which is also a bit longer than the overall length of the discussed 4-metre segment.

In addition to the platform, the Kia QYI will also be sharing its BSVI compliant, turbocharged petrol powertrain with the Hyundai Venue. The diesel variant – a 1.5-litre turbocharged motor – will likely come from the Seltos. The transmission may include a six-speed manual and a dual-clutch automatic arrangement.

The QYI can be expected to be showcased at the upcoming 2020 Auto Expo, although it would not go on sale till the end of the third FQ of the year. Some of the primary rivals of the QYI are expected to be the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and the Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

Optima premium sedan

Apart from the QYI, Kia Motors also has big plans for its international best-seller, the Optima sedan. The latest restyled version of the company’s flagship sedan in its fifth avatar gets a fastback-styled roofline that gives it the stance of a coupe. It is expected to get a wholly restyled interior with a plethora of gadgetry and features. Powertrain options are also a novelty in this upgraded version of Kia’s popular sedan. Besides, the company had also teased a sketch of its K5 sedan a few months ago.

K5 premium sedan

Primary design features of the K5 sedan include an aggressive front fascia, the signature tiger-nose grille and a pair of very thin and sleek headlights with DRLs. A thin chrome-strip begins from the A-pillar, travels back, wraps around the rear end and gets back to the A-pillar on the other side. The rear is just as aggressively styled as the front, but details are a bit ‘sketchy’. Height of the K5 is 20mm shorter than its previous counterpart but is overall longer and broader than the latter. The wheelbase of the K5 is also 45mm more than the previous version.

The interior is designed to look extra-spacious with the latest in technological offerings adorning its centre-dash. A 10.25-inch touchscreen panel and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster will form the entertainment and info package. In addition to this, mood lighting, ambient lighting in door panels, wireless mobile phone charging, a 12-speaker Bose audio unit, and electrically operated front seats will also be provided.

The K5 will be powered by the Smartstream petrol powertrain with an All-wheel-drive option. The 1.6-litre variant produces 180 PS and 265 Nm of torque. There is a 2.0-litre MPI variant with a 152 PS and 192 Nm output, a 2.0 litre one with continuously variable valve lift producing 160 PS and 196 Nm, and a 2.5-litre GDi variant with 194 PS and 246 Nm. The GT variant of the K5 gets a 2.5-litre turbocharged motor and is capable of producing 290 PS and 422 Nm. With these numbers, it does zero to a hundred in just 6.6 seconds. Hybrid powertrains are not scheduled for immediate launch but are being considered for future offerings. Transmission options are six-speed and eight-speed automatic units, and the 2.5-litre T-GDi will most probably be getting a new eight-speed DCT.

Other features in the K5 include voice recognition, an eight-inch heads-up-display, lane following assist and nine airbags. It will also be the first Kia sedan to come equipped with the Remote Smart Parking assist technology.

The Optima is scheduled to go on sale by the second FQ in 2020 and can surely be seen at the upcoming Auto Expo in February.

In addition to the QYI and Optima, Kia also plans to bring its popular MPV-Carnival to the Indian market.

Related Link:

Kia Motors’ Plans for the Indian Market – Part 1