The midsize SUV segment saw plenty of action at the 15th edition of the Auto Expo. Tata debuted the new Gravitas and updated Harrier, MG revealed the Hector Plus, and Hyundai has unveiled the India-spec, second-gen Creta. Not wanting to miss out, Kia has stepped in by taking the covers off the X-Line concept, which essentially is a pumped-up version of the Seltos.
The X-Line features a bevy of design touches and makes liberal use of a darker colour palette to set it apart as the more rugged offering. The concept wears a matte grey paint shade, and at the front, it sports a dark chrome surround for the grille, glossy black trim on the bumper and closed-off fog lamp housings outlined in bronze. The X-Line largely maintains the profile of the standard SUV and only sports a few tweaks, including a chrome applique running along the sideboards. The alloy wheel design mimics that of the standard Seltos’ GT-Line trim, but it gets a blacked-out treatment on the concept.
At the rear, the changes follow a similar theme with a dark chrome bar connecting the tail-lights, a glossy black finish for the bumper, and a more prominent faux scuff plate flanked by bronze trims. And just to drive the point home, Kia has even provided prominent ‘Seltos’ badging across the bonnet and tailgate, in addition to ‘X-Line’ emblems on the front grille, doors, and boot lid.
Owing to a completely blacked-out glasshouse, changes in the cabin haven’t been revealed. The Korean automaker is even tight-lipped about the mechanical details of the X-Line showcased in India. The standard Seltos in our market gets a wide variety of powertrain option – a 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol with a 6-speed manual or CVT auto gearbox; a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter auto transmission; and a 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol paired to a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox. All versions get a standard front-wheel-drive configuration.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Kia is using the 'X-Line' moniker on the Seltos. Last year, it had revealed the X-Line Trail Attack and X-Line Urban concepts based on the US-spec Seltos at the LA Auto Show . The models featured a 176hp, 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with all-wheel-drive capabilities.
