Korean manufacturer plots entry into hotly contested market segment populated by the likes of the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and Renault CapturKia will introduce a mainstream B-segment crossover to complement its quirkier Soul offering.
UK boss Paul Philpott revealed that the new model, and a Kia sports car of some kind, would fill the remaining gaps in the manufacturer’s line-up.
After these introductions, the only fresh models likely to be introduced will be extensions to existing ranges.
The small crossover, which will compete with the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008, has yet be cemented into the Kia product plan, but should appear within two to four years.
It will significantly strengthen Kia’s existing SUV offerings, which comprise the big-selling Sportage and the flagship Sorento.
A new Sportage will appear at the end of 2015, with the promise of a higher-quality interior finish and improved dynamics in particular to tackle the less-competitive aspects of today’s model, says Philpott.
The UK arm of Kia has had some influence over the design of the next Sportage. This is partly because Britain is Kia’s largest European market, and partly because this SUV has been instrumental in building sales and the brand’s reputation for style and desirability, with its 27 per cent share of total Kia sales.
The new Sportage is being designed at the company’s Frankfurt facilities.
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