Like plenty of carmakers at the moment, Kia is leaning heavily on the SUV movement, releasing model after model at breakneck pace. Its next offering, a compact B-segment crossover due to be revealed later this year, has been previewed by this, the SP Signature concept in its home market of Korea.
If the SP name sounds familiar, that’s because the Signature is an evolution of the SP Concept shown in India last year. Originally, the production version was supposed to launch the Kia brand in the South Asian country this year as a rival to the Hyundai Creta, but evidently something has changed along the way and the car is now slated to go on sale globally.
The Signature may be a more production-ready preview, but the rugged design stays faithful to the original show car. The beefy front end, with its large, closed-off “tiger nose” grille joined to a slim light strip at the top and larger main lamps below it, is practically identical to the SP. The wraparound windscreen design, contrasting roof, broad two-piece tail lights and fake twin tailpipes are also carried over.
This being less of a flight of fancy than the previous concept, the Signature ditches a few of the fantastical design cues like the distinctive roof-mounted light bar and hidden door handles. Unlike the earlier SP, the Signature does not have a visible interior, but expect the production version to be closer to the latest Kia models like the Rio, ditching the Mercedes-style flatscreen display panel.
Now, doubtless many of you will remember that Kia already has a product in that segment, called the Stonic. That may be true, but the Stonic is more of a Euro-centric vehicle, with a softer, more car-like design. It stands to reason that Kia is following the approach it took for the C-segment market, selling the Ceed in Europe and the Cerato in the rest of the world.
Like the Stonic, the production version is expected to be based on the Rio and should be offered with some of the same engines. These include a 1.25 and 1.4 litre naturally-aspirated petrol engines, a 1.0 litre turbo petrol and a 1.6 litre turbodiesel.
GALLERY: Kia SP Concept
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Hello Proton X70 rear.
Does not look like Proton X70 rear. Btw, this concept is so handsome and tough! Idk why Proton cannot make such Game Changing design like this. Instead, Proton rebadge a China car… 30 years of automotive experience now Game Over and only can rebadge forever.
Who cares? As long as people buy, it is good enough…stop harping on the past 30 years mumbo jumbo lah. They screwed up, they lost money, now they are doing what they need to do. Rebadging is no issue and the best solution for the company now as long as people buy.
Kia and Hyundai just started in 1974 when they released their first car.
Proton started 11 years later in 1985.
But yet, Kia/Hyundai can sell 8 million cars globally whilst Proton can only sell 50,000 cars locally
Time for us to learn what is Kia’s secret. It is just sheer hardwork.
Korea was way behind Malaysia in the 80s. Even Kia was a joke brand in the 90s.
But Koreans decided to work hard to improve their image. Today, they are first world. And Kia also is top global seller. No 1 in USA and No 1 in Australia
Very sad to see our Proton masuk Tong Sampah. After 30 years of automotive experience, Proton still have to rebadge cars and now rebadge China cars while Kia already become a Game Changing brand in the world.
Kia’s hard work is nothing compared to how hard you try to validate yourself with self-liking and self-reply. Imagine you spent all this effort on something useful instead of trolling…
Kia & Hyundai didn’t start 11 years before Proton. The started 30 years before it. Stop the fake history.
even so, where is proton today if not just another rebadging company. wanna go global like kia/hyundai? dream on…
I like Kia cars. They are so sexy. One day I will get the Sportage!
Lets see how this will stack up against the incoming king Proton X50 B-segment SUV.
The real Kimchi Game Changer!! Though, sleek and modern design that suits everyone taste. X70 Game Over…
How much is the suv
won’t do well here because Malaysians are now apparently into China cars.
Ha Ha, another low RV kimchi
Gorgeous look, habislah C-HR and Aruz.
C-HR and Aruz design is a proven Game Changer. X70 design is proven to be Game Over and can masuk parit if activate voice command. So the conclusion is, habislah X70.