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One year after introducing the SP Concept at the Delhi Auto Show in India last year, Kia now presents the SP Signature version at the 2019 Seoul Auto Show. Both preview the South Korean automaker’s upcoming compact SUV that was originally slated to go on sale in India only but will now be sold globally, including in the U.S. The production model will be assembled in India, and it might make its world debut in production form as early as next month when the New York Auto Show kicks off.
The market is still crazy about crossovers and SUVs of almost any kind, and every manufacturer wants a piece of the action. Kia is becoming stronger and stronger in some regions of the world like Asia and the Middle East, but the company would like to grow its global footprint. One step in that direction might just be this new compact crossover SUV, rumored to be called ’Tusker’ once it hits production, although it might be sold under other monikers too (like Trazor or the SP2i). It will most likely be powered by a 1.5-liter, four-pot, some markets getting the option of a diesel unit. The engine will probably be mated to an automatic transmission although a manual isn’t off the table right now. Kia’s new vehicle will rival the Hyundai Creta (also known as the ix25) in India, a model we never got in the U.S. because it was deemed as too conservative as we were offered the Hyundai Kona.
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