Kia Motors has officially revealed that its upcoming SUV for the Indian market will be called the Seltos. The revelation comes just a couple of days after the SUV was spotted without any camo, bearing the same name. It comes as a surprise as Kia had held a contest last year and the two most popular names to arise from that were the Tusker and the Trailster.
- The production-spec SP2i is expected to look largely similar to the concept.
- Likely to get a set of 1.5-litre BS6 petrol and diesel engines.
- Will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Captur and Maruti S-Cross.
Kia says the name ‘Seltos’ is inspired by Greek mythology and the legend of Celtos, the son of Hercules. And the ‘S’ in the car’s adapted name implies speed, sportiness and strength.
While we will have to wait till June 20 to see how the India-spec Seltos will look, we have a fair idea thanks to the global-spec model which was spied recently. It looks largely similar to the SP Signature, a near-production prototype that Kia had showcased in Korea. However, the Seltos featured front fog lamps, front parking sensors, thicker side cladding and tail lamps with a minor redesign, unlike the SP Signature.
Under the hood, the Seltos is likely to be powered by a set of new 1.5-litre BS6 petrol and diesel engines. These engines are also expected to make way to the next-gen Creta and Verna. Although the global-spec Seltos featured a 4WD badging on the tailgate, the India-spec SUV is not expected to get that since the demand for 4WD SUVs in the country is weak.
After unveiling the Seltos on June 20, Kia is expected to launch the compact SUV by September 2019. Prices are expected to range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 16 lakh (ex-showroom). Once launched, it will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Captur and the Maruti S-Cross.
(Source: www.cardekho.com)