With the Chery Tiggo 3 and Great Wall’s Haval H2 both selling up a storm in China’s B-SUV vehicle class, the Dongfeng Yueda Kia JV is keen to get in on the action. Thus the debut of the Kia KX3 prototype at the Guangzhou motor show.
Figures issued by CPCA show that Chery Auto’s small SUV was the class leader in October, with 12,566 registrations, followed by the Haval H2 with 11,678. This is a rare example in the Chinese market of local brand models outselling all foreign name equivalents. The closest non-Chinese make in this segment is Ford: the EcoSport just made it into the top 20 last month with 7,827 registrations.
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The future DYK KX3 will be closely related to the existing Hyundai ix25 but unlike this small SUV, which is made in Beijing, Kia’s model will be manufactured in Yangcheng (Jiangsi province).
The prototype is long for its intended vehicle class, measuring a claimed 4,260mm from end to end. It has a 2,590mm wheelbase: identical to that of the ix25. The concept is 1,630mm high and the boot capacity is stated as 400 cubic litres.
Powering the all-wheel drive KX3 is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which drives through a seven-speed DCT.
Kia’s official statement is that the KX3 remains a concept but production is set to commence in 2015, according to sources. DYK should be the first to build it, to be followed by KME at its Žilina plant in Slovakia. There could also be production in South Korea.
