18 http://www.evoIndia.com | July 2019
ESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER
unveiling the SP2i concept at the
Delhi Auto Expo, Kia have taken the
wraps off their first vehicle for India, the Seltos.
The mid-size SUV will be manufactured here in
India at Kia’s new Anantapur plant and will be
on sale from August 2019. The extremely short
turnaround time from concept to product along
with the setting up of a full-fledged 300,
capacity manufacturing facility, it has to be said,
has been achieved by a significant investment
from Kia in India along with a huge commitment
to being a big player in the fourth largest market
in the world.
The SUV can be had in petrol, turbo-petrol,
and diesel variants mated to four possible
transmission options: an IVT (Kia’s version
of a CVT), a seven-speed DCT, a six-speed
The SP2i’s production version, the Seltos has been
revealed globally right here in IndiaL Kia’s big bet
Above: Styling will be a huge
selling point of the Kia Seltos
automatic and a six-speed manual. Never before
has an SUV in this price range been offered with
such a variety of engines and transmissions. The
bold move, possibly due to the recent increase
in sales of automatic variants across the
country, especially in cities, perfectly underlines
the commitment that Kia motors is making to
India. The Seltos will have three driving modes- Normal, Eco and Sport. No word on the power,
torque and other specifications but with the
option of a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol mated to the
seven-speed DCT available with the GT line
sporty trim, the Seltos could be the first truly
sporty SUV in its segment.
The Seltos, as we have previously hinted at,
is absolutely stunning, and will be available in
eight colours with five two-tone options as
well. Kia’s acclaimed design team has done a
spectacular job of styling the Seltos and it has a
markedly aggressive stance with the signature
Kia ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, LED DRLs and bold
character lines across the sides and the bonnet.