Kia Seltos is the official name of SP2i, Kia’s first car in India

-    Kia Motors has officially christened the SP2i Concept as the Seltos.

-    The name Seltos is derived from the Greek mythology and legend of Celtos

-     World premiere in India on 20th June and will be launched in the second half of 2019.

Kia Motors marked their Indian debut showcasing the handsome looking SP Concept at the 2018 Auto Expo. Now, the Korean carmaker has officially christened the production-ready version of the SP2i (India-specific model) as the ‘Seltos’. The new SUV – which will be the first Kia vehicle in India – will break cover on 20th June with the launch slated to take place in the second half of 2019. 

The name Seltos is inspired by Greek mythology and the legend of ‘Celtos’ the son of Hercules. Representing the brave and assertive spirit of Celtus, the ‘S’ in the car’s name implies speed, sportiness and strength, says the carmaker. We have already seen the Seltos is the production guise recently, possibly during its TVC/advertisement shoot.

We know now that the Seltos carries forward the design and exterior styling from the SP2i Signature from the 2019 Seoul Motor Show. The highlights of this SUV in terms of design is its sharp shoulder line, long and squared-off hood, Kia’s characteristic tiger nose grille as well as stylish alloy wheels. It has a similar silhouette as the Creta, albeit with a modern appeal. The wrap-around taillights are also akin to the Creta but they get a chrome strip running across the tailgate connecting the two lights.  

We have seen the interior of the Seltos which was teased in design sketches. The cabin of the SP2i, according to Kia, is designed for tech-savvy, young-at-heart buyers who wish to make a bold statement. The highlight of the interior is the floating 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, personalized ambient lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, electronic parking brake, and passenger grab handle. In terms of features, the Seltos will come with all the bells and whistles, and some more. As far as powertrain is concerned, the SP2i is expected to get a newly-developed 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel engines that will be available across manual and automatic gearbox options.

When it hit the streets, the Kia Seltos will take on the likes of the Renault Duster, Nissan Kicks, Honda BR-V and its own sibling, the Hyundai Creta. It will be manufactured at Kia’s new facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh from where it will be also be exported to international markets.