At the end of last month, Overdrive reported that the production Kia SP Concept’s launch would take place earlier than planned, in May 2019. Now, Autocar India says that the premium B-SUV will cost between INR 10-16 lakh.
Kia is sticking to its statement that the SP Concept will evolve into a production SUV in the second half of 2019. However, Overdrive’s sources claim that the company has advanced the launch.
Just days after the concept debuted, it was said that the company might fast-track the launch. In September, a report said that it has advanced the launch from August 2019 to April 2019.
As for the pricing, Manohar Bhat, Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia Motors India, has confirmed the latest development. He has said that these are ex-showroom prices, indirectly suggesting that the SP Concept will cost more than its arch-rival Hyundai Creta. The premium B-SUV segment includes the Renault Captur too but selling well below 500 units a month, it’s not really much of a competitor.
The Kia SP Concept will sit on the same platform that will form the basis for the next-gen Hyundai Creta. Its engine options could include a 118 hp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit and a 115 hp 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel unit. The availability of an AWD system is unlikely. A three-row version is possible, and it may follow later, Han-Woo Park, President, Kia, has suggested.
Also Read: Kia considering six models for launch in India by mid-2022
The Kia SP’s production will take place at the company’s first Indian plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, where work is running ahead of schedule.
[News Source 1: overdrive.in]
[News Source 2: autocarindia.com]
[Image Source: news.mt.co.kr]
