Kia Motors hosted the world premiere of its first car for India, the Kia Seltos, today. Folks at Kia Motors say that the Seltos has been manufactured specifically with the Indian customer in mind. Kia will equip the Seltos SUV with Smartstream, the company’s third-generation of powertrains. The Kia Seltos is slated to come to India and global markets from the 4th quarter of 2019. As far as India is concerned, Kia plans to cater to its customers through 265 customer touch points across the country owned by Kia authorized dealer partners, spread across 160 cities.

Commenting on the occasion, Han-Woo Park, CEO & President, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “India is crucial market for Kia Motors overall growth story and will play an important role in expanding our global footprint. India is a diverse country with distinct driving condition across the country and hence it was crucial to introduce a vehicle which is perfect in every sense. We are excited to pursue our India journey with Kia Seltos which is crafted and built keeping in mind the Indian customers and their needs.”

Powertrains

The Seltos will come equipped with BS6 diesel and petrol engines. There’s more good news with Kia also offering a turbo-petrol and diesel guise and will be offered in three automatic transmission options – IVT (Intelligent continuously variable transmission), 7-speed DCT, 6-speed automatic and, along with 6-speed Manual transmission.

Customers will also a choice of three driving modes – ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Sport’. The Eco mode is tuned to maximize vehicle range by using fuel-saving measures, while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximize the dynamic driving feel of the car. Normal mode provides a careful balance between the two. It also comes equipped with multiple grip controls. Drivers can choose from mud, wet and sand mode depending on road condition.

Design Language

With Kia’s emphasis on design excellence, the Seltos’ design language is a collaborative effort of the company’s global design centers. It starts with the distinctive front fascia which features a wide Signature Tiger Nose Grille. The design carries over to the crystal cut alloys, which further enhance the Seltos’s stance. The Seltos will also come with 8 colour combinations and 5 two-tone options.

UVO Connected Car Technology

Keeping with the times, Kia Motors will also equip the Seltos with the global UVO connect. The UVO is an advanced connected car technology which offers a range of convenience and safety features. The UVO boasts 37 smart features under five categories – Navigation, Safety and Security, Vehicle Management, Remote Control, and Convenience. To sweeten the deal further, the UVO facility will be free for the first three years for its users.

Safety Equipment

To provide Seltos customers greater peace of mind, The compact SUV will come equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM and is built on robust structure, which has a high usage of advanced high strength steel (AHSS).

Additionally, the front and rear parking sensors, blind view monitor ensure greater visibility on the road. Working in tandem with the safety tech, the Seltos comes equipped with an array of advanced UVO connected car technology features. The UVO technology can be summoned via a dedicated button on the IRVM.

The IRVM also has dedicated roadside assistance and SOS button that alert the dedicated call center– in case of an emergency.

Furthermore, the Seltos also gets Anti-lock Braking System, a Traction Control System, a Brake-Assist System and Hill-start Assist Control, as well as front and rear parking sensors, for assistance when parking.

One of the many segment-first features also includes the 1st 360-degree camera with Blind View Monitor and driving rearview monitor (DRVM).