Kookhyun Shim, MD and CEO at Kia Motors India said “The aggressive pricing has been arrived at to bring delight and offer incredible value to the young and the young-at-heart customer of the Sonet. As our endeavour has been to ensure there is a Sonet for virtually all customers in this category, it is being offered with the widest choice in this segment.”

The SUV is available across 17 variants, including two petrol engines – Smartstream 1.2-litre four-cylinder and 1.0 T-GDi (turbocharged petrol direct injection), and two 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine (WGT & VGT configurations). Available in two trim levels - Tech Line and GT-Line, the car comes with five transmission options - five- and six-speed manuals, an intuitive seven-speed DCT, six-speed automatic, and a new six-speed Smartstream intelligent manual transmission (iMT). A technological breakthrough from the company the iMT offers fatigue-free driving thanks to the absence of a clutch pedal, yet the same driver control as a conventional manual transmission. For the first time in this segment, the 1.5 CRDi diesel motor is also available with a six-speed automatic transmission.

According to Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, Kia Motors Corporation, the company has already grabbed a six percent market share in the passenger car segment in India. With the launch of the Sonet, the carmaker aims at becoming the segment leader not only in India but globally and make Kia the brand of choice. “With its aggressive and modern, design language, quantum-drive dynamics, and an array of the latest high-tech features, the Sonet puts an exclamation point on our ambition to make Kia the brand of choice, especially among millennial and Gen Z consumers. The Sonet fills a need in the growing SUV market,” said Song.

The interiors of the Kia Sonet is designed to offer comfort and luxury at the same time, with a well laid-out, easy-to-use connected infotainment and cluster interface along with high-quality materials all around. Despite compact exterior dimensions, the interior of the Sonet offers ample, ergonomic space for all the passengers. In addition to this, the Sonet comes loaded with multiple segment-first features offering complete comfort, convenience, safety and optimum driving pleasure to customers.

Design

The design team travelled to India before the project started and it discovered many elements that it implemented in the Sonet, said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head at Global Design, Kia Motors Corporation. “The Sonet is inspired by the young, passionate and dynamic culture that you find in India. We were inspired by traditional architecture and the modern architecture that you find in the big cities in India. The silhouette, the presence of the vehicle, has a lot to do with what we believe the young people and young at heart in India would like to have. Other small details like material, light and colour that is very important in India,” said Habib.

The first thing anyone would notice is the distinctive bold profile of the car. Inspired by the baby elephant, the Sonet is compact but powerful. The car has got a powerful presence with long hood and bumper and powerful stance. It has black A-pillars that allow the dynamic silhouette for the hood to seem longer for such a compact car. “When you look at the car and look at the baby elephant, we see the link and believe power is visible from the inspiration to design,” added Habib.

At the front, the brand’s signature design trait – the Kia’ tiger-nose’ grille – is reinterpreted to suit the car’s personality. The company tries to evolve the tiger-nose grille to a bit more power with a tusk-like feature to it. The headlamps look like a tiger eye-line that gives a powerful concentrated look in daytime and night. Flanked by ‘heart beat’ LED DRLs and stylish front skid plates below, the wild nature of the car comes alive. Within the tiger-nose grille, with its classy chrome and diamond knurling pattern, is the distinctive grille mesh featuring a three-dimensional geometric design inspired by India’s iconic step-wells. The grille mesh design pays respects to India’s historic strengths in sophisticated mathematics, science and architecture. 

At the rear, ‘heart beat’ LED tail lamps and its unique reflector garnish give the car even more significant presence and impart a wider look. “At the rear too, Kia tries to create the same sense of power, and that’s why the car feels very wide for a compact car as it is and that’s why we have the wrapped -round glass that gives the car lot of width. The signature of the tail lamp is similar to the front and has a very continuous feature to it and gives it a lot of widths,” said Habib. Additional highlights at the rear include a sporty dual muffler design and diffuser fin rear skid plate.

For the interior, the company emphasises on keeping it natural and intuitive and establishing a strong emotional connection in the car. To appeal to young-at-heart and always-connected consumers, the Sonet offers a sophisticated and lively cabin with a smooth, flowing dashboard. The 10.25-inch (26.03 cm) HD touchscreen with infotainment and navigation system at the centre on the dashboard has 57 connected car features. The 4.2-inch (10.66 cm) instrument cluster gives turn-by-turn navigation instructions, Highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and drive mode and traction mode selection. The double-layer AC vents are ideal for the Indian weather. It also offers Kia’s UVO ‘connected car’ technology, Bose speakers, LED Sound Mood Lighting, a wireless smartphone charger with cooling function and Smart Pure Air Purifier with virus protection. 

“On the technology front, we offer many futures for our customers, including intelligent manual transmission, an air purification system that is the world’s first just mention a few. We make sure that our customers will benefit from the latest for their life at the very beginning as soon as we launch the model. I promise that there will be much more excitement in future from Kia for the Indian market,” said Lorenz Glaab, VP and Head of global product management, Hyundai Motor. He also added that in the future, it is not the ecosystem that will be built around the car, but the car will be part of the ecosystem of each customer. (MT) 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German luxury car brand Audi has launched Audi A4 Signature Edition at INR 5.71 million (ex-showroom). The A4 Signature Edition features distinctive styling enhancements, including Audi rings entry LED lamps, exclusive Audi rings decals and dynamic wheel hub caps.

The company stated that the luxury car will be available in limited units and comes with five colour choices: Glacier White Metallic, Mythos Black Metallic, Navarra Blue Metallic, Progressive Red Metallic and Manhattan Grey Metallic.

Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, said, “The Audi A4 has been one of the best-selling sedans in our line-up, combining dynamic performance with sophisticated elegance. With the launch of the Signature Edition, we’re offering our customers a chance to own an even more exclusive variant, distinguished by bespoke styling elements that elevate its premium appeal. The Audi A4 Signature Edition is crafted for discerning customers who value refined aesthetics and seek to make a sophisticated statement through their choice of vehicle.”

Some of the key highlights of the Audi A4 includes –

• Park Assist with 360–degree camera (new)
• New decorative inlays in wood oak, natural grey (new)
• Audi rings entry LED lamps that create a striking welcome light projection (new)
• Distinctive Audi rings decals for enhanced brand presence (new)
• Dynamic wheel hub caps that maintain the perfect Audi logo orientation regardless of wheel motion (new)
• Premium fragrance dispenser for enhanced cabin ambience (new)
• Aerodynamic spoiler lip for a more dynamic profile (new)
• Key cover in customisable colour options for a premium touch to your vehicle access (new)
• Stainless steel pedal covers add a sporty interior accent (new)
• Special alloy wheel paint design for a striking appearance (new)

The Audi A4 is powered by a 2.0L TFSI engine that churns out 204 hp (150kW) and 320 Nm torque. A zero to 100 kmph in just 7.1 seconds and it has a top speed of 241 kmph. It features a 12V Mild Hybrid System that reduces fuel consumption, brake recuperation enhances the overall fuel efficiency, B&O Premium sound system with 3D sound – with 19 speakers including a centre speaker and subwoofer, 16-channel amplifier and an output of 755 watts.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has expanded its Alcazar SUV range with a new Corporate variant with diesel powertrain at prices starting INR 1.78 million and an expansion of automatic transmission options in the Prestige DCT Petrol (7-speed) at INR 1.86 million.

The Alcazar Corporate variant is equipped with a voice-enabled smart Panoramic Sunroof and is available with both 6-speed Manual and 6-speed Automatic transmission choices, and is designed to appeal to the evolving aspirations of Indian SUV buyers.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai Motor India, we are continuously listening to customer feedback and evolving our product offerings to meet their aspirations. The introduction of the Corporate variant in Alcazar Diesel with a voice enabled smart panoramic sunroof and the inclusion of DCT in the Prestige Petrol variant reflects our commitment to providing a more personalized and premium SUV experience. With these updates, we aim to offer more choice and delight to our customers who seek performance, technology and sophistication in their vehicles.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

When Tata Motors launched the Harrier.ev, it wasn’t just introducing another electric vehicle — it was signalling a shift in India’s premium electric vehicle landscape. Based on Tata’s Gen 2 EV (acti.ev+) architecture, the Harrier.ev blends familiarity with futuristic design, making electrification a natural progression rather than a disruptive leap.

Interestingly, the company is providing a lifetime warranty on the battery for the first vehicle owners, applicable only to private owners. 

Anand Kulkarni, Chief Product Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, told Motoring Trends, “We have said that our Gen 2 approach is basically a pure EV approach. Much the same way, the acti.ev+, in fact, we have taken that architecture further ahead on the Harrier.ev to make sure that you can get the seating comfort of a regular SUV without any compromise on the battery or powertrain.”

While rivals explore born-electric platforms from scratch, Tata’s strategy with the Harrier.ev is different – marrying known aesthetics with a ground-up EV design. That’s not just a technical decision, but as Kulkarni stated, it’s rooted in customer behaviour.

“There is a section of people who are saying, who want the comfort and the familiarity of the product that they are using. So we have ​made a product that retains that familiarity, while giving them the benefits of electrification,” Kulkarni explained.

The Harrier.ev isn’t just about powertrains and batteries – it’s about creating a ‘third space.’ With features like a 14.5-inch Neo QLED screen and Dolby audio, Tata wants the Harrier.ev to be as comfortable and connected as a living room.

“You have office, you have home, and everything in between is where you spend a lot of time in the car. People expect it to be comfortable, convenient, connected and safe,” Kulkarni said.

Even as the EV market rapidly matures, Tata remains mindful of long-term viability. Decisions around battery size, AWD vs FWD configurations, and software-driven features were all taken with a delicate balance of affordability and future-readiness in mind.

“We worked with two sizes of batteries. This was about making the right choices,” said Kulkarni, noting how Tata’s dual-battery strategy is now industry standard.

As Kulkarni explained, For Tata, the Harrier.ev is more than a product – it's a culmination of years of foresight, strategic evolution and a deep understanding of the Indian consumer. It’s a vehicle that reflects not just where the market is headed, but how Tata Motors is determined to lead it there.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched the Fortuner and Legender in a new Neo Drive in a hybrid avatar, featuring a 48-volt system that delivers improved fuel efficiency. The models are priced at INR 4.47 million and INR 5.09 million, respectively.  

Since its debut in 2009, the Toyota Fortuner has defined the premium SUV segment in India, admired for its rugged design, robust performance and unmatched all-terrain capabilities. The stylish and feature-rich Legender complements the Fortuner, exemplifying Toyota’s core values of quality, durability and reliability. Together, they have cultivated a loyal following among urban adventurers and off-road enthusiasts alike.

The new Neo Drive variants introduce Toyota’s advanced 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine paired with a 48V system comprising a belt-integrated starter generator and lithium-ion battery. This technology mirrors hybrid electric systems by recuperating braking energy during deceleration, contributing to smoother low-end acceleration, quieter operation and improved fuel efficiency. The Smart Idle Start-Stop function further enhances efficiency by automatically shutting off the engine when stationary, resulting in lower emissions and fuel savings.

Importantly, the company claims that these enhancements do not compromise the Fortuner and Legender’s formidable payload capacity, durability or off-road performance. The Multi-Terrain Select system optimises throttle response, braking and traction control to deliver a superior driving experience across diverse terrains.

On the design front, the Fortuner retains its bold, purposeful stance, ideal for rugged adventures, while the Legender exudes a more dynamic and premium appeal with dual-tone body colours, split LED headlamps and a sleek fascia. Both models offer dual-tone leather upholstery, soft-touch materials and ergonomic seating designed for long-distance comfort.

In terms of safety the SUVs come with ABS, Vehicle Stability Control with Brake Assist, WIL Concept Seats, Hill Assist Control, Traction Control and more. Toyota’s focus on customer convenience extends to tailored finance solutions, including up to 8-year funding plans, Toyota Smart Balloon Finance and pre-approved value-added services such as extended warranty and genuine accessories. Buyers will also benefit from five years of complimentary roadside assistance and a standard 3-year/100,000 km warranty, extendable to 5 years/220,000 km, along with the customisable Toyota Smiles Plus service package.

Varinder Wadhwa, Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “As the SUV market in India grows steadily, customers are seeking advanced features and differentiated styling. The new Fortuner and Legender Neo Drive variants meet these expectations with bold design, powerful performance, and comprehensive features, underscoring Toyota’s commitment to delivering ever-better cars and advancing towards carbon neutrality.”

Bookings for the Fortuner and Legender Neo Drive variants commenced on 2 June 2025, with deliveries set to begin from the third week of June.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!