Billed as being the company's first global small SUV.

Well, that didn’t take too long. Just hours after we posted a couple of speculative renderings of Kia’s forthcoming small SUV, the South Korean brand has now released design sketches of the real thing. Originally previewed in 2018 by the SP concept before evolving to the closer-to-production Signature concept earlier this year, Kia’s city-oriented SUV is inching closer to its world premiere.

The new sketches are far from being groundbreaking since the updated concept already looked just about ready to hit the assembly line. The slender headlights that we’ve been seeing so much of in recent production models will meet the edges of the corporate “tiger nose” grille to give the yet-to-be-named SUV an interesting and youthful look.

The vertical three-point LED bars in the front bumper probably serve as the fog lights as the daytime running lights appear to be integrated into the upper section of the main headlights and are almost as wide as the entire front end. The small SUV seems to be riding on large alloy wheels judging by the chunky tires, but you know how it is with design sketches – they’re usually exaggerated to make the vehicle look better than the real deal.

Kia small SUV teaser

Moving at the back of the SUV, it’s almost a spitting image of the Signature’s derrière, and we’re particularly fond of the large taillights interconnected through a wide chrome bar that goes over the Kia badge. Those dual exhaust tips are probably there only for décor – a trend that can’t die soon enough. There’s a silver underguard to make the vehicle look more rugged, but it’s safe to assume owners will rarely leave the tarmac.

Small but with a big character, the funky SUV might go by the name of “Tusker” if we were to rely on the rumor mill. The debut is scheduled for later this year and Kia says it will be the company’s very first small global SUV. South Korea will be the first market to get the vehicle in the second half of 2019, with other regions to follow shortly. The model is expected to arrive in the U.S., but we’ll just have to wait and see about that.

Source: Kia

The Road To Reveal:

Kia Officially Debuts In India With SP Concept At Auto Expo 2018
Kia Signature Concept Hints At New Global Compact SUV
Kia Tusker Crossover Spied For The Very First Time
Hyundai And Kia Tiny Crossovers Considered For Europe
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Kia reveals first image of new small SUV

  • Kia’s first global small SUV will be revealed in the summer
  • Offers the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package
  • Created for the millennial generation with a sophisticated modern design
  • New small SUV on-sale in Korea later in 2019, with global markets to follow
Kia Motors has today revealed the first image of its new small SUV. Due to be revealed fully in the summer, the new vehicle possesses the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package.
 
With a modern and urbane design, inspired by the 2019 Kia SP Signature Concept, the SUV will stand apart from rivals by matching the unique preferences and needs of the millennial generation. The robust design character of a traditional SUV coexists with sophisticated exterior design details, such as its long hood, a strong, sophisticated character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its strong shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness.
 
The new compact SUV brings a sense of luxury to its exterior design with LED headlamps which extend over the radiator grille. The lamps feature a three-dimensional light graphic and a highly technical diamond pattern at their trailing edges. The design is also echoed in the rear LED lamps.
 
Byung Chul Juh, Head of Kia Styling at Kia Motors Corporation, comments: “We have created a car which stands out everywhere, from the city to the countryside. Its robust yet sporty design will be matched by a wide range of features and technologies that are universally suited to younger buyers in markets around the world. Our new small SUV is a proposition that no other car in its class will match.”
 
By adding a new global small SUV to its line-up, Kia Motors is extending its range of SUVs to fulfill the needs of customers in every region.
 
Kia’s first global small SUV, the new model will go on-sale in Korea in the second half of 2019, with sales in other regions to follow soon after.