November 27, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors, the nation’s second largest carmaker, has unveiled Stonic compact SUV in the European market, with plans to sell 70,000 vehicles a year. 

“We plan to sell about 70,000 units of Stonic in Europe next year,” Kia Vice Chairman Lee Hyoun-keun told reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Sept. 12 (local time). “We developed Stonic targeting the European market, while Hyundai’s Kona SUV is aimed at the global market,” he said. 

Kia’s subcompact SUV will go on sale end of this month in Germany first, and then roll out in other countries in the region. Its bigger corporate sibling Hyundai’s Kona compact will hit the region next month. 

Kia Motors Stonic compact SUV makes European debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Related article:
Kia has no plans to release Stonic in US


Stonic comes with three different gasoline engines, a 1.0-liter turbo, 1.25-liter and 1.4-liter, and a 1.6-liter diesel engine, in Europe, unlike Korea where it is offering 1.6-liter diesel engine since its debut in July. The gasoline version will arrive before the year-end in Korea, according to the carmaker. 

At the bi-annual motor show, Kia also unveiled its new hot hatch Proceed Concept, which previews Kia’s next-generation Cee’d hatchback that is only available in European markets.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)