Kia Seltos: midsize SUV with giant ambition

Kia Motors India has labelled its first car for the India as the Seltos. Based on the SP2i concept shown at the 2018 Auto Expo, the Korean carmaker claims the Kia Seltos will bring sophistication and never seen before attention to details and design in the midsize SUV segment.

The name ‘Seltos’ is inspired by Greek mythology and the legend of ‘Celtos’ the son of Hercules. According to Kiga, "Representing the brave and assertive spirit of Celtus, the ‘S’ in the car’s adapted name implies speed, sportiness and strength."

Targeted at "young-at-heart people who like to take risks, embrace the outdoors, take on challenges and never back down", the Kia Seltos combines the practicality of a mdsize SUV with the capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package.

The Seltos offers sophisticated exterior design with distinctive details, such as its long hood, a strong character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its robust shoulder line matched with a glasshouse tapered towards the rear of the car lends the Seltos a very distinctive and refined identity.

“The Seltos is all set to redefine the mid-SUV car segment with its eye-catching looks, exclusive segment first features and athletic design. We have spent a lot of time in perfecting our car to suit the taste of the Indian customers and I am glad that this originally India intended car is so perfect that it compelled us to make the Seltos available globally. The car looks absolutely stunning and very closely matches the SP concept we showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. I am confident that Kia Seltos would be an outright favorite when it hits the roads in the next few months,” said Manohar Bhat, Head - Marketing and Sales, Kia Motors India.

Aimed at the new age and tech-savvy buyer, the cabin is characterised by broad, sweeping lines and sophisticated detailing. The Seltos, as per Kia Motors India, comes equipped with a range of connected technologies to maximise convenience, comfort and ease of use.

Equipment on offer with the Kia Seltos is likely to include a large touchscreen infotainment system, a 360-degree camera, wireless charging and in-car Wi-Fi. A head-up display and an ambient lighting package will also likely be on offer on the top-spec variant.

At launch, the Kia Seltos’ engine options are expected to include a 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel.The engines are likely to be BS6-ready but could be BS4-compliant at launch;both will be available with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions. Kia is even working on a sportier variant of the Seltos that features a 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox; it also getspaddleshifters.

At launch, in the months following its global premiere on June 20, the Kia Seltos is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 10-16 lakh (ex-showroom). At that price point, the Seltos will rival the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Renault Captur, Tata Harrier, and even the lower variants of the Jeep Compass and the upcoming MG Hector.

(Inputs from Amaan Ahmed)

Also read: Kia Seltos SUV: What to expect

New Kia Seltos teaser confirms design and equipment details

Kia Motors India wraps up four-car, 26-city roadshow​