India's car buyers are not easy to woo, and they definitely don't get enamoured easily. So, when a car gets launched, potential car buyers and enthusiasts alike are most discerning of a car's appearance. And it decides, in an instant, solely on the basis of the looks if it is worth their money or not. What most of us perhaps lack in ingenuity and technical prowess, we make up for that in taste. We are all equally demanding when it comes to features and equipment. So, Kia knows that we are the definition of a quintessential bad-ass, and hence the advertisement perhaps. Korean car maker, Kia coming to India with a car like Seltos is indeed no accident. While both companies operate independently, we cannot help but wonder if there's an invisible hand that guides Kia. It seems like Hyundai, has a plan and Kia is an accomplice in that plan. The plan, which is, to overthrow the giant - Maruti, which has about 50% of market share.

Kia Seltos

Kia is famous in America and other world markets for offering high-quality interiors and feature-rich products. So when the fully-loaded Seltos arrived in India it was no surprise, albeit the pricing, which is quite competitive. It undercuts the competition like Tata Harrier and MG Rover by almost two lakh rupees and still manages to offer more goodies. It offers, three engine choices to begin with. To beat pollution, there's an air purifier, 8-way power adjustable seat for the driver, sun roof, Bose premium sound system, Mood lighting, ventilated front seats, 6 airbags, Smart head-up display and this list does not end, but I am tired. Even though Hyundai and Kia will share R&D, the Seltos is based on a newer platform which Creta would use in future. Kia has managed to acquire more than 130 dealers in less than a year, so, support and service would not be an issue and informed customers of India know that well. Kia would soon become a force to reckon with, much like Hyundai. And the Carnival has yet to come which would bring in even more space and trouble, trouble only for other manufacturers.   
Public display of affection

Kia brings with it, a beginning of a new era, for a new generation, to get inspired from, and for the old, to relive the past. I fondly remember seeing the Santro (Hyundai's first product in India) for the first time as I was cycling in the afternoon through the wide roads of a nearby locality. A dealer had setup a stall and put the car on display. It was the first time I had seen a car from this close that was so different than other options at that time. I definitely noticed the large glass area, big headlights and other details. Almost besotted by it's presence, I stayed to admire, until it was evening and told about it to my father. Soon after my uncle's purchase, our family too bought its first car a year after the launch, and it was a Santro. In my 30's now, the world does not hold the same charm it once did, but I can imagine why Seltos has become successful. It's swankier than most of the other cars, it keeps true to its promise and is as close to the concept (SP) as it can get. No wonder it's India's new love.

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