[CEF_Beasts]

Kia Motors will unveil a three-row Sonet SUV on April 8, 2021. The model is expected to go on sale in Indonesia first.

Will be Made-in-India and launched in the Indonesian market.

The Sonet sold in Indonesia measures 4,120mm which is a tad longer than the one sold in India (3,995mm). Both versions are built at Kia's Anantapur plant in Andhra Pradesh.

No news of an India launch yet.

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...s-month-420398

[vigneshkumar31]

The SE Asian Sonet is longer than the Indian version.
They plan to just cram in two more seats and call it a seven seater.
Might not be a generous 7 seater.

[pacman2881]

It makes less sense to launch it in India. They anyway lose the excise benefit with 4.12m length creating a larger price gap above current Sonet. They can't justify the price difference for what is potentially a cramped 3rd row unless they cram in kids seat within 4m.
As Hyundai is already testing the Alcazar, it makes more sense to have a 3 row Seltos where they can mint money.

[CEF_Beasts]

Seven-seater Kia codenamed KY, has been spotted in South Korea. Based on the Sonet but expected be a 4.5m long MPV.



Kia Motors has begun work on its next product for India, an all-new MPV. The Kia KY will be the Korean brand’s second MPV in India after the Carnival, which sits at the premium end of the segment.

A first set of spy shots that have surfaced online give us a rough idea of what to expect from Kia's upcoming three-row vehicle. While the test mule seen in Korea is still heavily covered,itconfirms that the vehicle will have a proper three-row MPV silhouette.

This new MPV, as reported by us earlier, will share its platform with the Sonet and will be around 4.5m in length and have adequate space for all three rows, similar to the Mahindra Marazzo.Thiswill help position it right between the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta in the Indian market.

The vehicle seen in these spy shots does give out some hints on what to expect on the styling front. Ithas wraparound headlamps with LED DRLs positioned above, similar to the ones seen on the Sonet. A wide ‘Tiger nose’grille and other sharp styling features, with a mix of chrome bits, can be expected.

Additionally, we can confirm that the model will come with 16-inch wheels and get MRF Wanderer tyres, similar to the Seltos.

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...r-india-420397

[CEF_Beasts]

Some more spyshots of the Kia ‘KY’

[Venkatesh]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

Seven-seater Kia codenamed KY, has been spotted in South Korea. Based on the Sonet but expected be a 4.5m long MPV.

Attachment 2139854

Kia Motors has begun work on its next product for India, an all-new MPV. The Kia KY will be the Korean brand’s second MPV in India after the Carnival, which sits at the premium end of the segment.





https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...r-india-420397

I think Autocar India reported that new Kia MPV codenamed KY will be based on Seltos platform and not Sonet (may be they mistook the Sonet for Seltos in this new article ) way back in December 2020 as a Ertiga and Marazzo rival and slots below Carnival in Kia Lineup. Source

Here is the thread discussion on the same Link

[TusharK]

According to a media report, Kia is gearing up to reveal a 7 seat version of the Sonet on April 8, 2021.



Unlike the 5 seat version that is currently on sale, the 7 seater Sonet will have three rows of seats. It will be based on the Indonesian version, which is slightly longer (4,120 mm) as compared to the sub-4 meter version sold in India.

Powering the 7 seater Sonet will be a 1.5-litre petrol engine similar to its 5-seat counterpart. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The 7 seater Sonet will be manufactured at Kia's Anantapur facility. Initially, it is expected to go on sale in the Indonesian market. There is no word yet on whether we will get this crossover in India.

Source: Moladin

Link to Team-BHP News

[VKumar]

It doesn't take a lot of effort in getting to the pulse of the market. Hyundai/Kia is doing it quite well too.

Although they are launching it in Indonesia, but making sure that the news is spread in India too, is a nice way to gauge the response of people on the news itself. Market research teams will take care of the next part quite well.

Hyundai has very well identified a gap in market, and rushed in to fill it with the Alcazar. Sonet-7 can be the another one, to sit against the Ertiga/XL6 at the table, being the more pleasing/SUVish option, of course, more focused towards the white plate market; that still ignores Ertiga by clearly calling it a yellow plate product.

With right set of engines, Hyundai can have something for everyone who is looking for an SUV or a people mover, all the way from 10 to 20 lac, and that's going to be their strength in the coming days.

I am sure this is coming to India too. And with this also in place, you will have the customer spoiled for choice under the Hyundai/Kia roof. Just tell what you want (Other than safety) , and Hyundai/Kia will deliver that. Performance, FE, seating felxibility, refinement, premium interiors, features - just stand up and write it on the paper, Hyundai/Kia will deliver, if not under this roof, then under that roof.

"If you don't cannibalize yourself, your competitors happily will" - Steve Jobs

With this kind of product placement, Hyundai is making sure that no matter what route the money comes from, it reaches their head office in Seoul itself!

Remember, back in 2017, Mr. Y. K. Koo said this:

Maruti’s dominance in the local market has prompted Koo to seek a different identity for his company, one that focuses on a “modern, premium, innovative, trendsetter and game-changer" brand.

They are indeed working on these lines itself. They have in fact become the trend setter and game changer, particularly where Creta stands today!

Quote Source: Hyundai seeks own space amid Maruti Suzuki’s onslaught

[pk1972]

Excellent thinking on the part of Hyundai - Kia. This, along with Alcazar, could open up the market between Ertiga to Innova Cyrsta for people who need 7 seats and creature comforts.

Way to go Hyundai-Kia

[rahulskumar]

Toyota will be hit quite significantly if Kia, Hyundai and Tata bring in more options for 7/8 seater. Toyota's exorbitant pricing along with an upward price correction every 6 months has surely dug her own grave.

[padmrajravi]

Hyundai-Kia is taking it head on with Suzuki-Toyota. This is aimed directly at the Ertiga and XL6. Alcazar, even though smaller compared to Crysta, will take a lot of customers from it. What's left is the Fortuner. I am sure there is a plan for that too. I am eagerly looking forward to that Fortuner competitor from Hyundai-Kia.

Toyota's weakness is the lack of features. They cover it through their unmatched reliability. Hyundai's quality is inferior to Toyota, but better than other players in the market. It is a good win-win for the customers. Compromise a bit on quality and get all the modern features.

[tsr_83]

Expecting 7 seater Sonet for India can add feathers to the wings that is getting loaded with many competing vehicles - TATA Safari, Hyundai Alcazar, Mahindra XUV500 and Scorpio. For India, expecting it to be >4500mm+ in length to accommodate the 3rd row passengers.

Kia can position Seltos as potential 7 Seater as its 5-seater version has already competing with Creta 5 seater - you will find very thin difference in spec/performance. I'm eagerly waiting for next 3-6 months for the test drive days before i land on booking. Welcoming Kia to my list happily if it happens.

[yd_gli]

7 seaters seem to be becoming a fad. I fear that OEMs in a rush to meet this fad will go down the extended hatchback jugaad route we saw a decade ago with products like the Dzire, Ameo, Amaze, Indigo. The 7 seater will only be in name. The last row will crammed in at the expense of leg room/boot space and will be strictly children only. All the while the OEMs will run laughing to the bank at yet another con game on the Indian customer.

Why cannot OEMs bring in their global 7 seaters for the Indian market is beyond me. The Sonet is hardly a vehicle that can look and function as a 7 seater. More jugaad for the third world.

[vsrivatsa]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

I think Autocar India reported that new Kia MPV codenamed KY will be based on Seltos platform and not Sonet (may be they mistook the Sonet for Seltos in this new article ) way back in December

I think it does not make a difference, based on the Platforms thread we have on Team-BHP, Sonet and Seltos are both built on the Hyundai-Kia K2 platform. When they call it Sonet based, it means the smaller one I think and will not be as big as the Alcazar (7 seater Creta).

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

It is a good win-win for the customers. Compromise a bit on quality and get all the modern features.

It maybe a compromise on Safety as well as we have seen in the case of the Kia Seltos but then, the Ertiga is 3 star rated as well...

[giri1.8]

Originally Posted by vsrivatsa

It maybe a compromise on Safety as well as we have seen in the case of the Kia Seltos but then, the Ertiga is 3 star rated as well...

Sadly, Marazzo is the only car with 3+ stars and seven seats. Rest of them are untested.