Four New Kia Cars Launching In India: Details

2024 has been a dry spell for the manufacturer, with the Sonet facelift being the only noteworthy launch so far. However, this is expected to change with the launch of two new products in early October. Kia India has clear plans to refresh its domestic portfolio and introduce new products- all aimed at capturing larger market shares. Here are four Kia cars launching in India in the coming months:

New Kia Carnival

A lot of buzz has been around the potential comeback of the Kia Carnival in its all-new avatar. Recently, Kia India has sent out an invite for the launch of two all-new products on October 3, 2024. One of those will be the new generation Carnival MPV (KA4). It will have major deviations from the third generation that was on sale here until last year.  It will have an all-new design, more features and a more modern cabin. The new MPV will be brought via CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route.

 

The upcoming Carnival’s exterior will have significant updates like a new front grille, L-shaped DRLs, vertically stacked LED headlights, and redesigned front and rear bumpers. It will ride on a set of new 19-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, the new Carnival will feature connected LED taillights and a refreshed design, aligning with the manufacturer’s current design ethos.

On the inside, the new-gen Carnival has been completely revamped. Features like dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, a head-up display (HUD), a 360-degree camera, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are to be expected. These will enhance cabin livability, and comfort and elevate the ride experience at large.

The new Kia Carnival will be based on a new N3 platform. It will retain the previous car’s 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, which generates 200 bhp and 440 Nm. Like its predecessor, the new MPV could also offer multiple seating layouts and variants. It could be priced at around 40 lakh, ex-showroom.

Kia EV9

The second launch of October 3rd, will be the production-spec EV9. It will slot in as Kia’s new flagship and the manufacturer’s second all-electric offering in India. The EV9, particularly the GT-line AWD variant, is designed to impress with its bold presence and comprehensive features. The design includes sportier bumpers, 21-inch GT-line wheels, and multiple GT-line badges.

The interior will have luxury and tech in abundance. Expect all-electric seats with a lounge function for the second row, multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), auto parking, connected car tech and more.

The GT-line AWD variant will have a 100kWh battery pack and dual motors, delivering a combined output of 379 bhp and 700 Nm. It will deliver a claimed range of 445 km. The EV9 will be able to do the 0-100 kmph sprint in just 5.3 seconds and have a top speed of 200 kmph. Given its extensive list of features, breathtaking performance, hooking design and CBU genes, the EV9 AWD GT-line is expected to be priced in the 1-1.2 crore bracket.

Carens Facelift

Kia launched the Carens- MPV based on the Seltos platform, in India in 2022. The vehicle is expected to get a facelift soon, test mules of which were recently spotted testing in Manali. The overall silhouette will have minimal changes. The front and rear panels will be new. Significant changes are also expected on the connected LED tail lamps and alloys.

The overall design and layout of the cabin will remain untouched. The facelift will get a new set of screens for the infotainment and instrumentation, and wireless smartphone connectivity. It could also see the addition of other new features, the details of which are unknown at the moment.

No mechanical changes are expected on the upcoming Carens. It will likely retain the 1.5-litre NA petrol, 1.5-litre turbo petrol, and 1.5-litre diesel engines of the outgoing model. The vehicle will be available with 6MT, 6iMT, 6AT and 7DCT transmissions. Carens prices are expected to go up with the launch of the facelift.

 

Kia Syros (Clavis)

Kia has trademarked the ‘Syros’ name in India. It is expected to be used on an upcoming sub-4m SUV that is expected to be a more premium version of the Sonet- in other words, it could be the India-spec Clavis. Test mules have already been spotted on test. Spy shots suggest the production version to get more features and a better cabin design than the Sonet. There will be a dual-tone flat-bottom steering wheel with integrated controls (including a scroll wheel for volume adjustment)

Expected features include a panoramic sunroof, auto climate control, ventilated and powered front seats, Bose audio, selectable drive modes, leatherette seats, and a comprehensive ADAS suite. Like the Sonet, the Syros will get the familiar 1.2-litre NA petrol, 1.0-litre turbo petrol, and 1.5-litre diesel engines. 7DCT, 6MT, 6iMT and 6AT gearboxes will be available. Rumour also has it that Kia could also introduce a Syros-based EV in the future.