Kia Could Showcase All-New Sorento, Carnival in India at Auto Expo 2023: Report

Kia, the South Korean manufacturer, could debut the brand-new Sorento SUV and the next-generation Kia Carnival MPV in India. Both models are reported to be set for the showcase at the upcoming Auto Expo in January 2023 as a part of the manufacturer's lineup.

The fourth-generation Kia Carnival is a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) with a length of 5.1 metres that was initially unveiled in June 2020. The major talking point about the 2023 Kia Carnival will be its completely new exterior appearance. The car has undergone a thorough makeover and now maintains the boxy SUV style that has become synonymous with Kia. It will have Kia's modernised "Tiger Nose" grille with integrated LED headlamps.

The new Kia Carnival will sport powerful wheel arches and a pronounced cutline between the front and back lighting. The Carnival also has large two-tone mirrors and black/chrome side panel moldings. At the back, it will get a skid plate, reflectors, LED taillamps, and a brand-new rear bumper. Additionally, it will have 17- and 19-inch wheel options. 

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Three different engines have been made available for the new Kia Carnival for international markets: a 3.5-litre V6 MPi petrol, a new 2.2-litre Smartstream, and a 3.5-litre GDi V6 Smartstream. The 2.2-litre and 3.5-litre Smartstream motors offer 290bhp with 355Nm and 199bhp with 440Nm, respectively, while the 3.5-litre petrol engine produces 268bhp with 332Nm. The MPV is anticipated to be equipped with the current 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is capable of producing 200bhp and 440Nm if it is introduced in India. It has an 8-speed automatic gearbox that handles transmission duties.

Similar to its exterior, the upcoming Kia Carnival will have an entirely new interior, with two 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment system and the instrument panel, a brand-new dashboard with wood trim, and a dual-tone Beige and Brown colour scheme. An all-new design will also be featured on the centre console. The next-gen Carnival will still come standard with multi-zone climate control, motorised folding back doors, and twin sunroofs. The luxurious MPV will include seating arrangements for 7, 9, and 11.

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At the upcoming Auto Expo, Kia is also anticipated to introduce the 2023 Sorento. The Telluride, the company's luxury SUV, served as inspiration for Kia's complete redesign of the fourth-generation Sorento. The SUV receives larger Tiger Nose black grilles with chrome surrounds on the front in addition to smaller LED headlamps. It also gets a brash front bumper with unusually stacked fog lamps and LED Daytime Running Lights.

A 10.12-inch horizontally placed touchscreen infotainment system will be available inside the upcoming Kia Sorento. The top layer of the layered dashboard will be finished in black, and the lower portion will be done in tan, with a mixture of silver and chrome accents. Controls for the 12.3-inch, entirely digital instrument cluster will be located on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The centre console's climate control area will be surrounded by large vertical AC vents.

The all-new Sorento's powertrain options include a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a choice of 2WD or 4WD, and a 2.2-litre diesel engine with an eight-speed DCT and 4WD option. Once it launches, the SUV may compete in the Rs 20-30 lakh price range with models such as the Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV700.

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