Kia’s new SUV, so far codenamed the SP, was recently spied shooting for upcoming commercials. The car was seen wearing the name Seltos, indicative of geography-specific nomenclature at launch.
While not much of the interior could be spied upon, the exterior of the car is well documented. The design is very much akin to sketches released by Kia, and the concept showcased in the Seoul motor show earlier this year.
The boxy front end and the upright rear impart and imposing presence to the car. Up front, the headlamp unit is a complex cluster made of a primary unit that houses the LED segments of the main cluster along with blinkers; and a secondary unit that houses the DRLs. The front grille is Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ style that encases a laterally elongated honeycomb mesh-like structure. The air dam in the bumper is an extensive unit, flanked by 3-bulbed fog lamps at the ends.
The rear is relatively upright and features a chrome garnish overlining the license plate while bridging the gap between the two tail lamps. The rear blinkers are integrated into this garnish strip. The rear bumper wears heavy body cladding, which is broken by the dual chromed exhaust tips and the faux skid plate. The roof is contrast coloured and features roof rails with a shark fin antenna. The interior could not be spied upon, but glances have confirmed the black and brown that was seen in sketches.
The car sits on 18-inch wheels with 225/45 section tyres. The rims are diamond cut alloys and feature a particularly nice red coloured embellishment around the Kia badging.
The car has been badged Seltos, but given that Kia had conducted polls to select a car name, it is likely to bear the Trailster moniker. It will have 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines to choose from when it goes on sale. The expected price range is from INR 10-16 lakh rupees, and the car; poised to compete against the likes of Nissan Kicks, Renault Captur and Tata Harrier.
