Compact SUVs are all the rage aren’t they? It feels like every month a new nameplate is being announced to fill some crossover void in the A- and B- segment. This month, we’re getting a teaser of Kia’s next announcement of this sort.
They’re saying that the company is planning a new global compact SUV this year. They’re going to call it the Seltos, after the Greek myth of Celtos, the son of Hercules that no one really remembers.
According to Kia, the ‘S’ in Seltos is meant to imply ‘speed’ and ‘sportiness’. Big words for a compact SUV, but we’re sure there’s nothing a little turbocharging can’t solve.
The real selling point of the Seltos won’t be its performance, it’ll be it its design. In their press release, Kia hinted at ‘sophisticated exterior design details’, ‘a long hood’, a ‘strong character line’, ‘sharp lines pressed into the bodywork’, a ‘robust shoulder line’, a ‘rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect’ and a tapering glasshouse.
They’re also saying it’ll be quite high tech, with things like a 10.25″ infotainment system, Sound Mood lighting and more.
Expect a full reveal later in June, with sales commencing in Q3 2019. For more, check out the press release below.
Press release:
Kia Motors announced that ‘Seltos’ will be the name of its new global compact SUV. Due to be launched in the summer, the Kia Seltos will bring sophistication and assertiveness to the compact SUV segment. The name of the Kia Seltos is inspired by Greek mythology and the legend of ‘Celtos’, the son of Hercules. Representing the brave and assertive spirit of Celtos, the ‘S’ in the vehicle’s adapted name implies speed and sportiness. The Seltos has been created for the millennial generation, standing apart from its rivals with a combination of sophisticated, sporty design and the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV – all in a compact package. The Seltos offers sophisticated exterior design details, such as its long hood, a strong, character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its robust shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as a rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness. Aimed at youthful, tech-savvy buyers, the cabin is characterized by broad, sweeping shapes and highly technical details. Equipped with a range of technologies to maximize convenience, connectivity and ease of use, the bold design of the cabin incorporates a high-tech 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Sound Mood Lighting. Kia Motors is extending its range of SUVs to fulfill the needs of customers in every market, with the new model bringing many of Kia’s strengths – in design, quality and technology – to the compact SUV segment for the first time. The Kia Seltos will be revealed later this month, with sales in Korea and other regions to follow in the second half of 2019.
