[xingamazon]

Spotted this vehicle in Velachery Road, Chennai.
I am guessing it must be someone testing the vehicle meant for Export. As it had left hand drive.
It was the size of Beat/ Etios, I initially thought it must be Beat, then noticed the manufacturer sign blocked.

I am guessing it must be vehicle manufactured by Nissan will let the gurus tell decide. Looking at the build dont think it is a Ford/ Renault vehicle.
I am loading pics I took today morning.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by xingamazon

Spotted this vehicle in Velachery Road, Chennai.
I am guessing it must be someone testing the vehicle meant for Export. As it had right hand drive.
It was the size of Beat/ Etios, I initially thought it must be Beat, then noticed the manufacturer sign blocked.

I am guessing it must be vehicle manufactured by Nissan will let the gurus tell decide. Looking at the build dont think it is a Ford/ Renault vehicle.
I am loading pics I took today morning.

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Excellent scoop xingamazon. These are the clearest pics yet of the Kia Picanto.

I quite like how this car looks.

[georgev]

KIA and Hyundai has the same products side by side with different skins. I hope they bring the Sportage in India with a Diesel engine, fingers crossed.KIA's new lineup is so stylish, it will stun you ...

[mohandasnikhil]

The car seems to be a left hand drive model! Not very sure it will get launched in India

[muni]

I have seen this car in vietnam where it is sold as Kia -Morning and the car looks stunning from all angles for a small car. Though there is a bit of fluidic design cues like the hyundai cars, it is a bit toned down and neatly done.

some pics to give you an overall look and feel.

[VANOS]

Another scoop. I don't know what car this is. But testing on Indian roads. In Chennai.















Mods : sorry did not know where else to put this up. Please feel free to move this to where ever you see fit.

[vb-saan]

Interesting to see Kia in India. If they have India plans, the Picanto can be the right launchpad.

Even though Kia cars are pretty aligned with Hyundai in the product portfolio, I personally find them much more pleasing with their modern yet conservative design lines.

[anekho]

Some more photos of the Picanto being tested in Chennai, from IAB's flickr page: Kia Picanto spied in Chennai - a set on Flickr

Looks very nice.

[Mpower]

The car is a platform twin of the i-10 but it has superb interiors compared to the crappy i-10.

My feeling is that it may be made on the same line for exports and not for India launch. Of course, that still does not explain why they would want to test it.

[Skyline GT-R]

Could Hyundai be going the Maruti way by offering cars within same segment with same engine just to offer more choice to the customer?

[abhi1309]

They could just badge it as another Hyundai and launch it in the market. Another small car in the portfolio and another 5k to 8k units sold on the same platform as the i10 or maybe more.

Why would they go through the ruckus of launching another brand from scratch in this competitive market, that too KIA

[mzoheb]

Originally Posted by xingamazon

Spotted this vehicle in Velachery Road, Chennai.
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Attachment 880920

Good Scoop...
Kia, is planning to enter in Indian market soon. Kia is one of the largest car maker in the world. Its cars produced in 14 plants that too located in major markets like the Germany, Australia, China and US.

Kia feels that the Indian auto market is promising these years than 4 years back when it attempted to enter but withdrew the plan. In order to understand the Indian auto market intensely, the South Korean maker has given this job to a global consultancy to conduct product clinics so as to test its cars on Indian roads. Lets wait and watch

[born2drive]

Originally Posted by mzoheb

Good Scoop...
Kia, is planning to enter in Indian market soon. Kia is one of the largest car maker in the world. Its cars produced in 14 plants that too located in major markets like the Germany, Australia, China and US.

Kia feels that the Indian auto market is promising these years than 4 years back when it attempted to enter but withdrew the plan. In order to understand the Indian auto market intensely, the South Korean maker has given this job to a global consultancy to conduct product clinics so as to test its cars on Indian roads. Lets wait and watch

This is a very useful insight considering the extensive test drives .If they did not have any plans to launch, they wouldn't have done it here .Considering the twelve Asian facilities , they can do this in any of those countries...

So i think they are very much into India and 'Picanto' is the right pick with 1.2 MPI engine which churns out 87ps @6000 rpm. In addition with a better interior will do the job in India reducing some substantial market share of of i10 and ritz .

The key would be the A.S.S as Maruti and Hyundai have the best network in place.

Since they have models like pro 'ceed (1.6 diesel and 2.0 ltr petrol),cerato and soul, KIA would be a highly potential prospect.


I would like to see Creed in india as not many of these kinds are there in the market...(in roads I see only old fiat adventure and TATA estate...)

Reference:-http://www.kiamotors.com

[guptad42]

Originally Posted by abhi1309

They could just badge it as another Hyundai and launch it in the market. Another small car in the portfolio and another 5k to 8k units sold on the same platform as the i10 or maybe more.

Why would they go through the ruckus of launching another brand from scratch in this competitive market, that too KIA

In most markets where Hyundai also has Kia part of the family present, they position Kia at lower price points, allowing them to do a two-pronged pincer move on the competition. Kia cars are often cheaper with more equipment than similar Hyundai models. Styling is similar, but softer - probably to appeal to a more conservative buyer. This will be the right thing to do against Maruti Suzuki in India - a well specified small car with great interiors and style, value priced. A bit of VW Vento V/s Skoda Rapid, but at the mass end of the market.

[abhi1309]

Originally Posted by guptad42

In most markets where Hyundai also has Kia part of the family present, they position Kia at lower price points, allowing them to do a two-pronged pincer move on the competition. Kia cars are often cheaper with more equipment than similar Hyundai models. Styling is similar, but softer - probably to appeal to a more conservative buyer. This will be the right thing to do against Maruti Suzuki in India - a well specified small car with great interiors and style, value priced. A bit of VW Vento V/s Skoda Rapid, but at the mass end of the market.

Good info on KIA, didn't know much about the market positioning of both these brands. Thanks.