Kia 'Stonic' compact SUV to be revealed at IAA 2017 - Report

Will be the Kia KX3's European cousin.

Kia Motors has filed a trademark application for the name 'Kia Stonic' at the USPTO towards the end of last year. According to the trademark filing, the name is for a new passenger car.

A report from KIA-World.net says that the Kia Stonic could be a small SUV sitting in the B-segment. Citing South Korean sources, the KIA-focused publication says that the new small SUV has been in the works at the company's R&D centre in South Korea for a long time. The purported Kia B-SUV is developed alongside the upcoming Hyundai B-SUV for Europe, North America, as well as Australia.

The Hyundai i20-based Hyundai B-SUV will reportedly be unveiled in South Korea in July, while the Kia Stonic is rumoured to debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA 2017) in September. Both sub-compact SUVs, will share underpinnings and powertrain technology. The exterior and interior, as seen with various other Hyundai-Kia sister models, will significantly differ. The Kia Stonic is expected to have cues borrowed from the Kia Provo concept that was presented in 2013, while the Hyundai B-SUV will seek the inspiration of the Hyundai Intrado concept.

Also Read: Kia Stinger unveiled at NAIAS 2017

The base Kia Stonic will be powered by the 1.4-litre T-GDI engine, while the range-topping Kia Stonic will have the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine. There will be a diesel option in Europe - the 1.6-litre CRDi engine. Further details of the vehicle are awaited.

[Source - Kia-World.net]