Kia’s new Clavis SUV has been seen testing again in South Korea. Spy shots of the SUV were revealed online, and the interior of the new car can be seen in those pictures. The Clavis is codenamed AY, and it looks like a compact vehicle. The Korean manufacturer is aiming to expand its portfolio in the domestic market further and wants to launch more models like Sonet and Seltos.
The auto giant has not confirmed whether it will launch the new Clavis in India. However, in India, the brand has already filed a patent and registered the name Clavis, which also hints that it is planning to launch this SUV in the country soon. Kia Clavis will then compete with the likes of the Tata Punch, Citroen C3, and Hyundai Exter.
Kia set foot in the Indian automobile market in 2019 with the Seltos. The auto giant later unveiled models like Carens, Carnival, and Sonet. The latest spy images of the camouflaged unit indicate that it will be a sub-4-meter SUV. It will be a robust vehicle meant for daily commuting. It has a footprint like a compact SUV and a new boxer design. It is likely to be a technical sibling of the outgoing Hyundai Exter model.
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It will come equipped with a large glasshouse and slab-sided doors. The images hint that Clavis looks like the larger Soul crossover, which is available on the international market. The test mule is standing on MRF tyres, which also indicates that it is manufactured in India. The test mule of the SUV gets new headlamps positioned vertically, LED DRLs, twin-tone alloy wheels, and different daytime running lamps. The headlamps are distributed into three different chambers, and it gives a jewel-like impression on the reflectors. The rear design appears to be bigger than the Kia EV9 SUV.
Inside the cabin, it features a 360-degree camera system, a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, and cooled seats. It will get safety features like four-wheel disc brakes, six airbags, and possibly Level 1 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Kia Clavis will be unveiled globally by the end of this year, and it will hit the market in early 2025. It is expected to come with many FWD powertrain options incorporating hybrid, ICE, and EV. The Korean auto giant earlier hesitated to make an investment in hybrid powertrains, but given the technology’s recent growth, the company may invest more in this area.
