Kia India is all set to unveil its new three-row vehicle on December 16, 2021. While it's unclear if the new model is an MPV or an SUV, we know that it will be based on the same platform as the Kia Seltos. Now, a set of new spy photos of the car have leaked online and based on the badging seen on the car's steering wheel, the new model will be called Kia Carens. Now, we had already suspected that the model will be called Carens. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry's Patent Design and Trademark website, Kia Corporation had registered the name Carens in December 2020, and the company has been granted the trademark.
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Also, the name itself is not new. Kia used to sell a compact MPV named Carens in Korea between 1999 and 2018, however, globally it was more popularly known as Kia Rondo. It is likely that Kia will showcase a pre-production model of the vehicle on December 16, while the production version will be launched in 2022.
Also Read: Kia KY Three Row Vehicle To Be Unveiled In India On December 16
The car gets a leather-wrapped, three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel with the Kia logo at centre Carens badge at the base
As for the car itself, the spy photos show a left-hand-drive model with an automatic shifter lever and a leather-wrapped, three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel. While at the centre we have the new Kia logo, at the base of the middle spoke we see the Carens logo. The fact that the company is testing a left-hand-drive vehicle also indicates that the model will be launched in Korea and other global markets as well.
Also Read: Kia KY Three-Row Model's Interior Partially Revealed In New Spy Images
All test mules of the vehicle we have seen so far are heavily camouflaged, so it's difficult to talk about its design, however, based on what we can see, the vehicle will come with large LED headlights, sporty dual-tone alloy wheels, and LED taillamps. It will also get a pair of roof rails, but they do not look like load-baring ones. As for the cabin, it will come with a large touchscreen unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Kia UVO connected car system, among other creature comforts.
The new Kia vehicle will come with large LED headlights, sporty dual-tone alloy wheels, and LED taillamps
Photo Courtesy: Gaadiwaadi
Powertrain options and other technical details are still unknown, however, we would expect the vehicle to come in both petrol and diesel engine options, with manual and automatic choices for both. Upon launch, it is likely to compete with the Toyota Innova Crysta, Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and the Mahindra XUV700.
Source: Rushlane
