Kia has equipped the Carnival with its signature tiger nose grille, which is flanked by projector headlamps.
Kia’s upcoming debut in India has garnered a lot of attention, with hopes raised high by their Seltos SUV. While its launch is scheduled for August 22, the Korean automobile manufacturer is already preparing its next offering.
The Carnival MPV was recently spotted under testing in Chennai which indicates the company is preparing for an early 2020 launch. Though an official announcement hasn’t been made, it can be expected that the MPV will hit the Indian market soon.
Kia has equipped the Carnival with its signature tiger nose grille, which is flanked by projector headlamps. A pair of air dams are placed below the headlamps which house the ‘Ice Cube’ LED fog lamps. The rear bears a minimalistic design with split LED lamps. It has a chrome strip adorning the number plate housing which rounds up the posterior aesthetics.
The Carnival outsizes its closest competitor, the Toyota Innova Crysta, by a considerable amount. It is longer by 380 mm, wider by 155 mm and has a wheelbase of 3,060 mm against Toyota’s 2,750 mm. It only falls short in height by 55 mm, which is not a significant difference.
Kia is expected to equip the Carnivals interiors with a touchscreen infotainment system with phone app connectivity, Kia’s latest UVO connected car tech, powered front seats, ventilated and heated seats, three-zone climate control, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and cruise control, among others. It could also get electric sliding rear doors for easy access in tight spaces.
The Indian-spec Carnival could be powered by a BSVI-compliant 2.2-litre diesel engine which makes 202 PS of maximum power and 440 Nm of peak torque. It could be mated to a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The Carnival available in international markets is equipped with a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine which makes 206 PS and 330 Nm.
Kia should launch the premium MPV in India next year and could place it between the Rs 22-30 lakh bracket (ex-showroom). The Korean manufacturer is also aiming to localize 60 percent of the car’s manufacturing to keep the costs in check.Subscribe to Moneycontrol Pro and gain access to curated markets data, exclusive trading recommendations, independent equity analysis, actionable investment ideas, nuanced takes on macro, corporate and policy actions, practical insights from market gurus and much more.
