Confirmed: India-spec Kia Carnival MPV to be launched at Auto Expo 2020
Kia Motors has started its successful innings in the country with the Seltos SUV for which it has raked in more than 1 lakh bookings in India. A commendable feat for an all-new manufacturer offering just a single product in the competitive compact SUV segment. The automobile manufacturer's next launch will be the Kia Carnival MPV that will primarily rival the Toyota Innova amongst the other offerings in the country and will be brought through the CKD route. Kia has confirmed on its social channel that the Carnival will be launched at the 2020 Auto Expo, scheduled to take place in February next year. The teaser campaigns for the same have already started on the company's social platforms. Additionally, the Carnival has been listen on the official website as well prospective customers can register their interest.
Considering the premium design and a long list of features paired with modern connectivity options, the Kia Carnival MPV could be positioned above the Toyota Innova Crysta in India. The three features that are being highlighted on the website are the dual panel electric sunroof which will be a segment first and is seen as an optional feature is the much premium Mercedes-Benz V-Class Elite. Next, the Carnival comes with one touch power sliding door and power tailgate, both of which offer convenience paired with a premium touch. The Carnival also gets rear seat entertainment system that should attract the chauffeur driven customers. Further, it gets a three-zone climate control, power-adjustable driver seats, heated and cooled seats for the first row, seven-inch infotainment system with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a seven-inch digital MID, wireless charging, sunblinds for all three rows, rear-parking camera hill-descent control and, front, side and curtain airbags. Internationally, the Carnival comes in seven, eight or 11-seater options.
Powering the Kia Carnival MPV is the 200PS/440Nm 2.2-litre diesel motor that could be paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This is a variation of the same motor that does duty in the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV in India. However, unlike other MPVs like the Toyota Innova and V-Class, the Carnival is front-wheel drive and comes with a monocoque construction. Dimensionally, the Carnival is 1,755mm tall, 1,985mm wide and 5,115mm long. The wheelbase is 3,060mm. This means that the new Kia is larger than the Innova Crysta but smaller than the V-Class.
Earlier this month, Kia announced that it will add an additional 50 touchpoints and services centers by March 2020. Further, Kia launched a new 24-hour real-time mobile service for vehicle maintenance, including service reservation, vehicle diagnosis and payment. Kia Motors has spent $1.1 billion on this facility, it's 15th globally. The unit currently makes the Kia Seltos. The Anantapur facility is one of the most modern of it's kind anywhere in the world, claims Kia. The facility is eco-friendly and puts out zero waste and recycles all the water it uses. The facility is also equipped to handle more models from the brand, including EVs.
Also see: Kia Carnival | First Drive