KIA Sportage II targets lower SUV market segment<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While good quality highways are rare in most of Indonesia, many
\nautomakers seem confident that the presence of sports utility
\nvehicles (SUVs) can boost their sales in addition to the more
\nrenown multipurpose vans (MPVs) and sedans.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, South Korean carmaker PT KIA Mobil
\nIndonesia (KMI) launched last Friday the KIA Sportage II SUV. The
\ncompany expects it to do as well as the previous model Sportage
\nfirst introduced here in 2001.<\/p>\n
The KIA Sportage II is powered by a four-cylinder, 1,975 cc
\ngasoline double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine with continuous
\nvariable valve timing (CVVT) technology unleashing a top power of
\n142 horsepower (hp) at 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a
\nmaximum torque of 184 Nm at 4,500 rpm.<\/p>\n
The KIA Sportage II is offered in 4x2 version with an option
\nof five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic.<\/p>\n
Previously KMI offered automatic transmissions only with the
\nKIA Sportage 4x4 version.<\/p>\n
Data from the Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo)
\nclaims that there has been a sharp decline in the 4x4 segment
\nover the past four years, and this has prompted KMI to come up
\nwith a 4x2 model.<\/p>\n
There were a total of 1,817 4x4 SUVs sold in 2001, but only
\n1,259 sold last year.<\/p>\n
The 4x2 segment also declined from 30,695 in 2003 to 29,681
\nlast year. However, last year's sales are still higher than
\n2001's figure of 20,774 units.<\/p>\n
Not only that. Taxes are higher for the four-wheel drive.<\/p>\n
The manual KIA Sportage II is offered at Rp 184 million and
\nthe automatic is tagged at Rp 203 million on-the-road.<\/p>\n
The 4x4 KIA Sportage was offered at about Rp 230 million.<\/p>\n
KMI sales and marketing director Suwanda Setiadi said that KIA
\nSportage II was expected to grab market share from Ford Escape,
\nHonda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Suzuki Grand Escudo, which are
\npriced from Rp 197 million to Rp 279 million.<\/p>\n
Suwanda denied that the company was subsidizing the KIA
\nSportage II in order to grab market share, especially from the
\nSuzuki Grand Escudo<\/p>\n
\"Everybody knows that Korean products are always cheaper than
\nJapanese ones, from handphones to TV sets,\" he said with a grin.<\/p>\n
\"Well, actually we are offering KIA Sportage II at a special
\nintroductory price. So buy now,\" he told reporters. \"We must
\nfirst see how the market reacts to this new car\", declining to
\nput a timeframe on when his company would start charging the
\n\"real price\" to prospective customers.<\/p>\n
KIA Motors Company also provides two other engines for the KIA
\nSportage II: the 2,700 cc V6 gasoline DOHC engine with VIS
\ntechnology, and the 2,000 cc CRDi diesel engine with common-rail
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
While saying it was possible to import the larger gasoline
\nengine version or the 4x4 version, Suwanda said KMI would not be
\noffering the diesel version.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's diesel fuel quality is still too low for common-
\nrail diesel engines that require cleaner fuel with low sulfur
\ncontent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suwanda also claims that the KIA Sportage was the first SUV in
\nits class to apply the shiftronic automatic transmission system
\nallowing manual-like operation without the need of a clutch.<\/p>\n
\"The shiftronic system is usually provided only in premium
\ncars,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Other features include electric mirrors, flip-up tailgate
\nglass, rear wiper and a high-mounted exterior stop lamp.<\/p>\n
Inside, there is pop-up center console armrest, map lamp,
\nsunglass case and pullout tray, while the driver's seat is
\nequipped with height adjuster.<\/p>\n
For the manual model, there is a radio, CD and MP3 player,
\nwhile the automatic also has a tape player.<\/p>\n
In regard to safety, KIA Sportage II has side impact beams and
\nthree-point emergency locking retractor (ELR) seat belts for all
\npassengers except for the center-rear passenger, which is a two-
\npoint ELR.<\/p>\n
The automatic is equipped with antilock braking system (ABS)
\nand electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) for better
\nhandling. It also comes with ventilated disc brakes on all tires.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the manual model does not have ABS and EBD, and
\nonly the front tires come with ventilated disc brakes. The rear
\ntires are installed with drum brakes.<\/p>\n
There are five color schemes, including cherry black, grayish
\nsilver, satin silver, smart blue and volcanic red.<\/p>",
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