Tag Archives: Kia’s

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Car News That Mattered This Week (Nov 27 – Dec 1): New Launches And Unveils, Spy Shots And Teasers, And More


The new-generation Duster breaks cover last week, while we also got update on Kia’s facelifted subcompact SUV

The past week brought a key international reveal and special edition launches. Kia also confirmed the debut date of the facelifted Sonet, and we also got to see spy shots of two upcoming Mahindra SUVs. Here’s all the important headlines of the week.

Kia Sonet Facelift Debut Confirmed

Kia Sonet facelift teased

The Kia Sonet, which was first introduced in 2020, is now set for an update. In recent months, a number of test mules of the Sonet facelift were spotted undergoing testing. Kia has teased the Sonet facelift for the first time while also confirming when it will be debuted in India.

Maruti Jimny Gets A Big Price Cut

Maruti Jimny Thunder Edition

The Maruti Jimny has received a big price cut across the range but for a limited time, with the introduction of a special ‘Thunder Edition.’ The Thunder Edition is basically an accessory kit for the Jimny which adds styling details for both the exterior and interior.

Third-gen Renault Duster Breaks Cover

New Renault Duster

The third-generation Renault Duster made its global debut last week, under Renault’s budget-oriented brand, Dacia. The generational update also brings a host of new powertrain options with the Duster, including mild hybrid, strong hybrid, and LPG. We have also compared the new Duster with the India-spec Renault Duster which was sold here.

New Editions Of Skoda Kushaq & Slavia

Skoda Kushaq and Slavia Elegance Edition

The Skoda Kushaq and Skoda Slavia have got new special editions, namely ‘Elegance’ edition. Skoda is offering these new editions in a distinct Deep Black exterior shade and they get exterior and interior add-ons, although at a premium.

Maruti Announces A Price Hike For 2024

Suzuki logo

Get ready to spend more on Maruti cars as the automaker has announced a price hike across the range effective from January 2024. The price increase will vary for different models and variants.

Hyundai Exter & Ioniq 5 Milestones

Hyundai Exter

The Hyundai Exter and Hyundai Ioniq 5 recently achieved significant milestones. While the Exter surpassed a lakh bookings, while the Ioniq 5 crossed the 1,000-unit sales mark within a year of launch in India.

SAIC & JSW Join Forces

JSW & SAIC JV

MG Motor’s parent company, SAIC, has announced a joint venture with the JSW (Jindal South West) Group to oversee and expand the carmaker’s operations in India. This partnership aims to enhance charging infrastructure, increase production capacity, and introduce new connected EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Production-spec Tesla Cybertruck Revealed

Tesla Cybertruck 2024 front

Finally, after a wait of 4 years, Tesla has revealed the production-spec version of the Cybertruck. The EV maker recently held a mega delivery event, and the first 10 customers received their Cybertruck deliveries. Tesla’s electric pickup offers three powertrain options, including an all-wheel-drive version.

Spy Shots Last Week

5 door Mahindra Thar spied again

Last week, spy shots of two upcoming Mahindra SUVs surfaced online. One was the Mahindra Thar 5-door, which was spied again (this time in a production-ready form), while the other was the Mahindra XUV400 EV facelift, seen testing for the first time.

Motorsport

Kia Requests Dealers to Not Increase Prices for EV9

Kia, the South Korean automaker, is set to launch its first electric seven-seater in the United States by the end of this year. Interested customers can already reserve the vehicle for $56,395 (including $1,495 shipping) for the base EV9 Light. In an effort to protect its customers from price markups, Kia has reportedly asked its dealers to maintain the prices at the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.

According to a letter obtained by CarsDirect and sent by Kia to its dealers in the United States, the company politely requests the retailers to prioritize the customers of the EV9. The letter states, “The EV9 customer is an important new owner to the Kia brand, and price transparency will be paramount as part of their purchase experience. We ask dealers to retail the EV9 without mark-up over the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price.”


Featured

New Kia Carnival Exterior Unveiled, India Launch Expected In 2024


The new Kia Carnival gets a sharper fascia and vertically stacked LED headlights, aligning it with Kia’s latest design language

2024 Kia Carnival

  • Kia debuted the fourth-generation Carnival at the Auto Expo 2023.

  • Other exterior updates include new alloy wheel design and redone LED taillights.

  • Interior updates could apply to a new dashboard design and displays.

  • To be offered with 3 powertrains: petrol, diesel and hybrid; now gets a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid to the mix as well.

  • India launch expected by 2024; prices could start at Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom).

We got our first look at the fourth-generation Kia Carnival at Auto Expo 2023. The luxury MPV has now been given a refresh and the exterior design has been unveiled. Its styling updates are in line with Kia’s latest design philosophy ‘Opposites United.’

Sharper Looks

The facelifted Kia Carnival now sports a sharper fascia, dominated by the vertically stacked 4-piece LED headlights, crisp LED DRLs, and a bigger and redesigned grille. Kia has even tweaked the front bumper and fog lamps tucked into its corners, while still featuring horizontal slats in the air dam and the radar for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

2024 Kia Carnival side

If there’s one angle where you will see the least revisions to the design, it’s the sides. It does get a fresh design for the alloy wheels. At the back, it has a refreshed tailgate, slimmer and redesigned LED taillights, and a tweaked bumper with a silver skid plate.

Kia also revealed the new Carnival in a design-differentiated Gravity trim in a dark grey shade, black ORVMs and dapper alloy wheels, and a different grille design also blacked out.

  • Check if you have any pending traffic challans here.

To Get An Updated Cabin As Well

Kia Carnival cabinCurrent Kia Carnival’s cabin image used for reference

Kia hasn’t revealed the facelifted Carnival’s interior just yet. That said, the carmaker will give the MPV updates on the inside as well, which might pertain to its screens, dashboard and rear seat comfort. It will continue to be offered with multiple seating configurations.

What Does It Get Under The Hood?

The new Carnival will come with three powertrain options globally: petrol, diesel and hybrid. Kia has also announced the addition of a new 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid to the mix. We expect the India-spec premium MPV to get a petrol engine unlike the previous version that was only offered with a diesel engine.

Also Read: New Google Maps Update Will Help You Plan Your Trips In A Better Way

India Arrival And Price

2024 Kia Carnival rear

While Kia hasn’t confirmed the launch plans of the new Carnival in India, we do believe it could be on its way here sometime by 2024, at a starting price of around Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom). It won’t have any direct rival in our market but it will serve as a premium alternative to the Toyota Innova Hycross. Globally, Kia is set to reveal more details about the 2024 Carnival in November 2023.

Also See: Kia Sonet Facelift Exterior Design Spied Undisguised As Images Surface Online

Featured

Kia Reveals The Specifications Of EV5 Along With The Showcase Of Two New Concepts


Kia’s upcoming electric sedan and compact SUV showcased as concepts

Kia EV5

  • The EV5 was unveiled this year in August.

  • It takes design inspiration from the EV9 SUV.

  • Gets two battery pack options with three different powertrains.

  • Features dual-integrated 12.3-inch displays, vehicle-2-load and ADAS technology.

  • EV5 can be launched in India by 2025 at an expected price of Rs 55 lakh (ex-showroom).

On the occasion of Kia’s EV Day in Korea, the carmaker has revealed the specifications of the EV5 mid-size electric SUV, which made its global debut this year in August. Along with the details of the EV5, Kia has also unveiled two concept EVs: EV3 compact SUV and EV4 sedan, both of which will be launched in the coming years. But before we get to know these concepts, let’s see what the EV5 has to offer:

Multiple Powertrain Options

Parameters

Standard

Long Range

Long Range AWD

Battery Pack

64kWh

88kWh

88kWh

Power

217PS

217PS

217PS (front), 95PS (rear)

Range (estimated)

530km

720km

650km

Kia offers the EV5 with two battery packs and three powertrain options: Standard, Long Range and Long Range AWD. The Standard version gets a 64kWh battery pack with a 217PS electric motor and an expected range of 530km. The Long Range version has an 88kWh battery pack with the same 217PS electric motor and a range of 720km. Lastly, the Long Range AWD packs the same 88kWh battery pack with a dual-motor setup (217PS front and 95PS rear) and Kia has estimated a driving range of 650km. The EV5 can be charged from 30 to 100 percent in 27 minutes with a superfast DC charger.

Modern List Of Features

Kia EV5 Cabin

Kia has equipped the electric SUV with a dual-integrated 12.3-inch display setup (touchscreen information and digital driver’s display). It also gets a 5-inch climate control panel, three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G).

Kia EV5

In terms of safety, it has seven airbags and a suite of ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) features including lane keep assist, lane departure warning, parking assist, adaptive cruise control and auto emergency braking.

Also Read: Kia Seltos And Kia Carens’s Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 30,000

Now let’s have a look at the concepts that were revealed.

Kia EV4

This futuristic-looking EV looks minimalistic and similar to the Kia EV6 from the front. It has a sleek grille and Kia’s tiger nose headlight setup. It gets a flat profile with sharp lines, an extended rear end and triangular alloy wheels which look like something from a sci-fi movie. The rear profile carries the same minimalist look with its straight lines and a flat body.

Kia EV4 Cabin

Inside, it has a simple cabin and you can easily tell that it is a concept. The cabin gets bright colours, a rectangular steering wheel and a dual-integrated display setup. To make it even more minimalist, Kia has put plain white seats with a flat centre console in the middle.

Kia EV3

The EV3 carries the same design language as the EV4. The minimalism can be seen in the electric SUV’s overall design. Its front profile has the same design elements as the EV4 but looks more upright. The profile has wheel arches, door cladding and stylish alloy wheels. At the rear, the EV3 has a flat body, large headlamp setups and a massive skid plate.

Kia EV3 Cabin

The cabin is similar to the EV4 as well. It gets the same dashboard, steering wheel and display setup, but the centre console gets a layered design and the cabin has a grey and green colour scheme.

Also Read: VinFast Planning To Enter Indian Market, Get To Know The Brand And Its Cars

The battery pack and motor details of these concepts are not out but Kia could reveal their specifications once these EVs are production-ready.

Launch Timelines

The EV5 will be launched this year in the international market and should make it to Indian shores by 2025. The EV3 and EV4 will enter the market from 2024 onwards and if Kia plans to launch them in India, they can enter our market by 2026.

Cars

Kia EV6 GT: A Stunning Car with a Competitive Price, but Does It Live Up to the Hype?

The increase in power in the Kia EV6 GT is truly remarkable. The previous flagship model, the GT-Line e-AWD trim, boasted an impressive 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. These figures alone are enough to impress, especially when compared to a Porsche 718 Cayman which only has 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, albeit with less weight to carry.

However, Kia takes it a step further with the EV6 GT, ramping up the power to 576 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque. To put this into perspective, this is 142 more horses than a Cayenne Turbo and almost as much torque as a Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid. It’s worth noting that the Porsche SUV is around 900 pounds heavier than the smaller Kia model.

GT seat insertChris Davies/SlashGear

Consequently, the EV6 GT accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.4 seconds. Kia proudly points out that this is faster than renowned sports cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT, the McLaren 570S, and the Ferrari California T.

Cars

This Kia Cabin Feature Is Ingenious and Other Automakers Should Imitate

Kia has developed a clever approach for its USB ports, positioning them just behind the side bolsters of the front seats. This strategy offers several advantages. Firstly, it eliminates the need to search low down for the USB ports, which can be particularly challenging if someone is sitting in the middle seat of the second row. It also eliminates the hassle of navigating a cable between knees when connecting devices.

If there are no passengers in the back of the car, the USB ports in the seats become even more easily accessible for those in the front. There is no need to climb halfway into the rear or search blindly for a USB port. For example, in the Niro Hybrid, the front seat occupants can effortlessly access a total of five USB ports, with a mix of USB-A and USB-C options. This ample connectivity should be sufficient to keep most devices charged.

While it’s not a definitive reason to purchase a Kia, the automotive industry is highly competitive. Paying attention to small details like this can significantly enhance the overall experience of owning a vehicle. These thoughtful features are worth celebrating, especially if they contribute to a more enjoyable journey without the age-old question of “are we there yet?”