Kia has revealed the new mid-size SUV Seltos in a global premiere and now according to a media report, the brand is gearing up to launch another product in India which will strengthen the company’s portfolio to build a better brand image and will show the company’s commitment in the Indian market. The next Kia could be a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga rival, an MPV based on the Seltos platform.
If sources are to be believed, the Seltos platform which also underpins the next-generation Hyundai Creta will be used to make a 7-seater MPV. The Creta is likely to get the generation update within a year and is also expected to sport a 7-seater version. The brand also comprehends an export potential of the 7-seater MPV in the ASEAN markets where they are pretty popular. Kia has a brand new state of the art plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh and the MPV is likely to be produced in the same facility, alongside the Seltos.
The Kia Seltos has been revealed with three engine options and four transmission options. The brand is yet to announce the variants and how the engine-gearbox combinations will work out. The MPV is also expected to follow suit and come in both petrol and diesel variants with multiple gearbox options.
Besides the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, the new MPV will also have to prove its value quotient against bigger competition such as the Mahindra Marrazo and the ace in the MPV space, the Toyota Innova. If the new MPV is launched it will sit below the Kia Carens in the brand’s portfolio.