Well, what do we have here? Reader Amar Zain has spotted the new Kia Carnival at JPJ Putrajaya, which hint that the massive MPV may well be made available in Malaysia sometime in the near future.
The car seen here is a left-hand drive unit (likely a South Korean model based on the Carnival badging, instead of the Sedona name it carries in other markets), so it’s possible that it’s either an evaluation vehicle in preparation for a possible local introduction, or simply a special unit brought in to ferry top Naza Kia staff.
However, a source told paultan.org that the Carnival is currently under consideration to be sold in Malaysia, which does lend some weight to this sighting. If it does end up being offered here, this would be the first time the Korean MPV is sold here since the first-generation, also badged as the Naza Ria.
This Carnival is an absolute beast – it’s 40 mm longer than the already-commodious previous model and, on this particular unit, rides on 19-inch chrome alloy wheels. The added girth is claimed to have enabled the Carnival to offer more front shoulder room, greater leg room in the first, second and third rows and a slightly higher hip-point.
Available in either seven-, eight- or, in Korea, eleven-seater configurations, the Carnival is offered with two powertrain options – a 202 PS/441 Nm 2.2 litre R CRDi turbodiesel or a 280 PS/336 Nm 3.3 litre naturally-aspirated GDI V6. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic. So, what do you think of the possible return of the Carnival on our shores? Sound off in the comments section after the jump.
GALLERY: US-market Kia Sedona
The post SPYSHOTS: New Kia Carnival spotted at JPJ Putrajaya appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
Related posts:
SPYSHOTS: 2017 Kia Picanto seen for the first time
