As we advanced at the end of last year, 2017 represents for Kia its biggest product offensive ever. In addition to the arrival on the market of the hybrid Niro and the update to the Carens minivan, Kia introduced in the first half of the year the new generations of the Picanto city car and the Rio utility vehicle.
As predicted, the list of new features follows a new B-segment SUV, whose name has not yet been confirmed – until now. Its name is Kia Stonic and it will reach European markets (including Portugal) this year.
The name “Stonic” combines the words “Speedy” and “Tonic” in a reference to two terms used in musical scales.
Inspired by the form and function of the larger SUVs in the range, according to Kia this will be the brand's most customizable model ever, both inside and out. The drawings you can see below, revealed by Kia, anticipate the production model.
The flowing roof line along the bodywork, together with the dark colored roof bars with an original design, mark the youthful and sporty profile, as do the LED optics at the front and rear. It is a deliberately European model: "clear horizontal lines, compact dimensions and a low center of gravity".
The cabin, on the other hand, reflects the exterior appearance, with “straight lines, smooth surfaces and geometric shapes”. Once again, technology and ergonomics were at the heart of the concerns of Kia's designers, which is reflected in the interior solutions.
Kia Stonic's worldwide performance is expected to take place over the summer, with the Frankfurt hall, taking place in September, the most likely venue for its public performance.