Overdrive reader Sudharsan Selvaraj has spotted the Kia Venga hatchback in Chennai.
Overdrive reader Sudharsan Selvaraj has spotted the Kia Venga hatchback in Chennai. Although the car is sold in right-hand drive markets, the test car was a left-hand drive car. Kia will be entering the Indian market by the end of the decade and the Venga could be one of the first cars launched. Since the Korean company is coming only in 2019, do not expect this hatchback to be launched anytime soon. The Venga is also due for a replacement soon. Kia could be testing only the components and the platform, and not the car itself to see how it copes with Indian road conditions.
Although Hyundai is Kia’s parent company, Kia could operate independently here and will share only raw materials and logistics with Hyundai. They will have their own dealer network across the country and reports suggest that they will set up a manufacturing plant in Tada, Andhra Pradesh, which will be close to Hyundai’s plant in Sri Perumbadur, Chennai.
Globally, the hatchback is available with four engine options – two petrol and two diesel engines. The base petrol is a 1.4-litre unit producing 88 bhp and 137 Nm of torque and it is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The top-end petrol is a 1.6-litre unit 121 bhp and 156 Nm of torque and it is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The base diesel is a 1.4-litre unit producing 87 bhp and 240 Nm of torque while the top-end diesel is a 1.6-litre unit producing 112 bhp and 260 Nm of torque. Both the engines come with a 6-speed manual transmission. In India, it will rival the Hyundai Elite i20, Volkswagen Polo, Ford Figo, Fiat Punto Evo and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.
Kia Venga Spyshot Image Gallery
Source – Overdrive