Currently, premium B-SUVs in India are available with 17-inch alloy wheels at best. The Kia SP2i will stand out in its segment with 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels wrapped in 205/65 R18 tyres, as per a new report from Autocar India.
With eyes set on India’s burgeoning youth as the main target market, Kia Motors aims to offer the SP2i with a very sporty design and features that are of particular interest to young customers. The latter, in addition to 18-inch alloy wheels, may include head-up display, fully digital instrument cluster, on-board Wi-Fi, wireless charger and 360-degree camera as well. Reports speak of ventilated front seats with electric adjustment for the driver seat and ambient lighting package as well.
Kia has built the SP2i on an upgraded version of the platform that underpins the Hyundai Creta - the current segment leader. The company plans to sell it in both emerging and developed markets, as a product positioned above the Stonic in some. In India, the plan is to offer a standard variant with 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engines and a performance variant with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The latter is likely to go on sale only at a later stage, though.
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Kia will produce the SP2i in multiple plants around the world. In India, its first-ever manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh will roll out the premium B-SUV, where trial production has started. Initially, the company will produce it for only domestic sales. Prices will fall in the range of INR 9-16 lakh (ex-showroom), Manohar Bhat, Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia Motors India, had said.
[News Source: autocarindia.com]
[Image Source: news.mt.co.kr]
