Kia SP Concept Likely To Be Called Seltos, Not Tusker in Indian Market

• Published On: 28 June 2019
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Kia SP concept likely to launch under Seltos name in India.

It was at the 2018 Auto Expo that amid much fanfare South Korean car maker Kia Motors showcased the SP Concept. The brand stated that it was this concept whose production version will be the brand’s first car in the Indian market. Much recently, the brand also released a few sketches of the interior and the exteriors of the upcoming SUV and there were hopes that the upcoming SUV from the brand will be launched by the name of Tusker in the Indian market. This SUV from the brand will not only be sold in the Indian market but will also make its way to the global markets. The launch of the car is scheduled to take place on 20 June, but before that the name and design of the car have been leaked online.

The leaked photos of the car reveal the name Seltos. Apart from the name, the leaked photos also reveal the entire exteriors of the car. Upon launch the Seltos will be placed in the compact SUV segment and will lock horns with SUVs like the Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta, and Nissan Kicks in the Indian market. However, it still remains unconfirmed whether the brand will launch the SUV in the Indian market under the same name of Seltos. Often carmakers use different names for cars in the Indian and foreign markets.

As far as the similarities between Seltos and the sketches released by the brand a few weeks ago are concerned, they are many. The headlamp setup of the upcoming SUV is again something that has been trending in the car market as of now and we can see that there are sharp headlamps present on the SUV along with a LED DRLs underneath. The fog lamps are placed in the lower part of the bumper and there is also the signature Tiger nose grille present at the front, just like the sketches. Overall, the front of the SUV carries a very imposing look that is bound to turn head on the roads.

Talking of the side profile of the upcoming Seltos we can see that the brand has gone for a floating roof effect here with the window line of the car curving upward to meet the roofline at the C-Pillar. The shoulder line of the SUV at the sides also adds butch looks to it and runs along the entire length of the SUV. The alloys on the SUV also increase the premium quotient of the car by several notches and the wheel arches have black cladding at the edges.

Moving on to the rear of the Seltos one finds that the SUV has gone for a look that is very reminscient of the Range Rover’s model line-up, not very unique, but certainly a good touch. There is a huge chrome bar present at the center rear and the LED tail lights are wraparound units. The exhaust openings are integrated in the bumper and there is also a silver skid plate present at the lower end of the bumper.

As far as the under the hood department is concerned, there are chances Kia will fit their first car in India with a 1.4L turbocharged petrol engine rated to deliver around 140 Bhp. While the diesel option, it could be either a 1.6L or 1.4L turbocharged engine. The South Korean brand plans on launching one car every six months, and a more powerful version of their first vehicle is also on cards. The transmission duties may be handled by a 6 speed manual gearbox and a torque converter automatic gearbox.