Kia Syros unveil live: What are the segment first features?
Kia Syros will come in first-in-segment features such as streamline door handles, first and second-row ventilated seats, OTA updates and Kia Connect Diagnosis.
Kia Syros unveil live: What are the engine options?
Kia Syros will be powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine that we have seen on other Kia and Hyundai models. It puts out 118 bhp and 172 Nm. It will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. There will also be a1.5-litre diesel engine. It puts out 113 bhp and 250 Nm. The gearbox on duty will be a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed torque converter automatic unit.
Kia Syros unveil live: Here are few features of the new SUV
Kia Syros will be equipped with Harmon Kardon sound system. There would be eight speakers on offer. There would be a wireless charger, remote window ventilation and call centre assisted navigation.
Kia Syros unveil live: How big is display?
The Syros boasts a display size of 30 inches. Kia calls it ‘Trinity Panoramic Display Panel’. There is a touchscreen infotainment system, HVAC controls and a digital instrument cluster. There are hard buttons for the climate control as well as media.
Kia Syros unveil live: Unveiled!
Here’s your first look at the Kia Syros. It will come with few segment first features, a modern dashboard and a tall-boy like profile. The design is mostly inspired by the EV9 electric SUV.
Kia Syros unveil live: How’s the safety?
Kia says that they have given special attention to the safety of the Syros. It comes with reinforced K1 platform. There is Level 2 ADAS which includes Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Blind View Monitor and Smart Cruise Control
Kia Syros unveil live: Interior design
The interior of the Syros is one of the major highlights. It looks modern, sharp yet clean. There is a new steering wheel on offer along with a digital driver’s display and a touchscreen infotainment system. The AC vents are slim and run throughout the width of the dashboard.
A look at the interior of the Kia Syros.
Kia Syros unveil live: Exterior design
The exterior of the Kia Syros is inspired by the EV9 which is the flagship electric SUV for the brand. It gets vertical LED Daytime Running Lamps, projector headlamps and a flat bonnet. The roof line is also quite high which should help with the headroom. At the rear, there are vertical LED tail lamps.
Here’s a look at the exterior of the Kia Syros.
Kia Syros unveil live: What are the five core aspects of the Syros?
Kia says that the Syros has been developed while keeping five core aspects in mind. These are space and comfort, smooth and stable ride, sporty performance, superior active and passive safety and seamless connectivity.
Kia Syros unveil live: How many vehicles has Kia sold in India?
Till now, Kia has sold over 1.2 million cars in the Indian market. The brand currently sells the Carnival, Seltos, Sonet, Carens, EV9 and the EV6 in the Indian market.
Kia Syros unveil live: A quick recap
Kia Syros will be produced at manufacturer’s Anantapur manufacturing plant that has a capacity of 300,000 units. Till date, Kia India has dispatched over 6.3 lakh vehicles which includes 5 lakh domestic sales and over 1.5 lakh exports. It is expected that the Syros will be priced between ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. The Syros will be positioned between the Sonet and the Seltos.
Kia Syros unveil live: More information about Kia’s Anantapur manufacturing plant
Kia commenced mass production in August 2019 and has an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 units. Kia India has completed over 6.3 lakh dispatches from its Anantapur plant, including 5 lakh domestic sales and over 1.5 lakh exports.
Kia Syros unveil live: Where will Kia manufacture the Syros?
Kia Syros will be manufactured at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India. This manufacturing plant is already producing vehicles like Seltos, Sonet and Carens.
Kia Syros unveil live: What will be the expected price of the Syros?
Because the Kia Syros will sit between the Sonet and the Seltos, it is expected that the prices will start around ₹10 lakh and go up to ₹15 lakh. These will be ex-showroom prices.
Kia Syros unveil live: Where will the Syros sit in the Kia’s lineup?
The Syros will be positioned between the Sonet and the Seltos in Kia’s lineup. Because the vehicle has not yet been unveiled, we do not know the dimensions and how much space the new sub-4 metre compact SUV will offer.
Kia Syros unveil live: Your quick recap
Kia Syros will be unveiled at an event in Delhi and Team HT Auto is at ground zero to bring you the very latest. Syros is an SUV which will be positioned between Sonet and Seltos, and draws design inspiration from the EV9. It will be more premium than Sonet while packing in both petrol and diesel engine options.
Kia Syros unveil live: What does the name ‘Syros’ mean?
Did you know that the name ‘Seltos’ is inspired from Greek mythology where the son of Hercules and Celtine was called Celtos? Or that the name ‘Sonet’ is a reference to sonnet which is what a particular 14-line poem is referred to as. So what does Syros mean? Well, Kia Syros name is once again a throwback to Greece and is also the name of a hilly island in the Aegean Sea. The name is derived from ancient Phoenician words ‘sour’ or ‘osoura’ which mean ‘rocky’. Well, Kia would be hoping the Syros unveil and its eventual price launch will make the going for rivals rocky.
Kia Syros will be the company’s first car to be based on its Design 2.0 philosophy under its Kia 2.0 strategy. It can be gauged from the numerous teaser images released so far that the Kia Syros will sport an exterior design language that is inspired from the EV9. Is there a hint of an RV-ish cue too? Perhaps. But vertical LED DRLs, chunky front bumper and wrap-around L-shaped LED taillights are confirmed from the teasers already.
Teaser images of Kia Syros have so far revealed that the model will have a squarish profile with L-shaped LED tailights.
Kia Syros unveil live: Will Sonet sales get hit?
Syros will eventually be launched as a more premium offering than Sonet. But does that mean Sonet’s fortunes may be impacted. The model has been a solid perfomer for the Koreans in India desptite the mile-long list of rivals it has to compete against. First launched in September of 2020, Kia sold 4.50 lakh units of Sonet till end of August this year. Of this, 3.57 lakh units were sold in the domestic Indian market while the rest were exported.
Kia Syros unveil live: Categorisation of SUVs in India
Everybody seems to want an SUV. Everybody seems to want to sell an SUV. There is no universally-accepted definition of an SUV but traditionally, any vehicle with off-road capabilities – usually with a body-on-frame design – was termed an SUV. Not anymore and not in India anyway. In our country, cars from an S-Presso, Magnite, Kiger, Fronx, Exter, Punch and even the bigger Brezza, Venue, Sonet, Creta, Grand Vitara, Seltos and Hector – among many, many others – are referred to as SUVs. Now you can have micro SUVs, crossover SUVs, sub-compact SUVs, compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs etc.
While rugged SUVs still claim to be the most authentic manifestation of the body style, no particular design language can claim patent on the term.
Kia Syros unveil live: What features can be expected?
Kia appears determined to play the SUV game stronger still. The Syros is likely to create a segment of its own while banking on its SUV body type to strike a chord with Indians. Expect it to be more premium, especially in the cabin, than the Sonet which is a fairly well-kitted car in its own right. Expect a dual-screen setup with a touchscreen infotainment system and a digital driver’s display, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof and 360-degree camera. But while even these premium features have become fairly common in mass-market vehicles, the Syros could pack in ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance System.
Kia has taken big strides since making its India debut back in 2019. It is still one of the newest car brands in the country and despite the Covid years, the Koreans have emerged as one of the leading players in the Indian passenger vehicle space. The company has its manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh from where it rolled out its first-ever India model – Seltos. This was followed by the launch of Carnival, Sonet and EV6 premium electric car. The Carnival was taken off shelves only to be brought back earlier this year in a single, fully-loaded version. But while Carnival and EV6 aren’t number grabbers in terms of sales, the Sonet and Seltos have both fared strong despite fierce competition in the sub-compact and mid-size SUV spaces, respectively.
Kia Syros unveil live: A very good morning from a fogged-out Thursday morning here in Delhi
It is cold. It is foggy and it sure is very polluted here in the national capital. But it promises to be hot ‘n’ happening over at the Kia camp where the company is all set to unveil its third SUV for the Indian market. The Kia Syros will make its global debut here and will join the ranks of Kia Sonet and Kia Seltos. You have seen the teaser images, you have read about the expected features but it is now time for the car in the flesh. Stay tuned to HT Auto for the rolling coverage from ground zero.
