Kia’s future product plans have been laid bare during a European slide show presentation and confirmed by sources close to Kia specialist blog, Kia-world.net.
2017 has already seen the launch of the all-new Rio but there are several new entries on the way this year. The Stinger is the most obvious and headline-grabbing arrival. With rear-wheel drive and 0-100km/h performance of 4.9 seconds in the GT, it will keep the affordable performance sedan segment alive as the Holden Commodore SS says goodbye.
A facelift for the Sorento SUV should keep it relevant against revised Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-9, while the European Cee’d (same platform as Hyundai i30) is due for renewal either at the end of this year or start of next, with 2017 Frankfurt or 2018 Geneva slated as potential reveal venues.
A pumped-up crossover variant called ‘Xcee’d’ is said to be on the way too. It’s unknown if Kia Australia has any interest in this car, but previously, we have received the pro_cee’d GT hot hatch. Its sporty Cee’d SW wagon iteration will come in 2018.
A new ‘Stonic’ small SUV will fill a gap in the current range when it starts production in July, no doubt related to the Hyundai Kona, while the Niro hybrid SUV is said to be getting a plug-in variant.
Most interestingly, Kia plans to launch two new electric vehicles, in addition to the Soul EV it currently sells overseas. These are allegedly a fully electric Niro and Stonic. Further out, a replacement for the Cerato sedan is due late 2018.
We will bring you more details regarding if and when these vehicles hit local shores. Stay tuned to PerformanceDrive.
