The mid-life replace of the Kia Carnival individuals mover has been spied in South Korea forward of its native arrival within the first half of 2024.

Spy photographs printed on Autospy present the up to date Carnival is about to undertake an EV9-like LED headlight and tail mild setup, in addition to an identical wheel design. That is turning into a typical trait amongst up to date Kia automobiles, together with the Picanto and Sorento.

This specific Carnival prototype continues to be coated in black heavy camouflage so it’s laborious to make out any extra particulars.

As beforehand reported, the up to date Kia Carnival is about to obtain the model’s next-generation infotainment system which is able to help wi-fi smartphone mirroring and over-the-air (OTA) software program updates.

“Our rollout of the sixth-generation Related Automobile Navigation Cockpit (ccNc) will start with the EV9 later this yr, adopted by the up to date Sorento and Carnival,” stated Kia Australia product planning boss Roland Rivero to CarExpert in June.

“This next-generation infotainment system can have the {hardware} to facilitate OTA updates and wi-fi smartphone mirroring for fashions with built-in satellite tv for pc navigation.”

Mr Rivero additionally stated the up to date Carnival will lastly introduce a variety of options which were lacking because the fourth-generation mannequin launched regionally in 2020.

“That’s the chance to deliver all these respective options in like rain-sensing wipers, digital cluster, Blind Spot View Monitor, all of those promised options that weren’t prepared in time for launch as a result of COVID,” stated Mr Rivero.

“They’ll all make their look at PE [mid-life update] time.”

Along with its new look, a petrol-electric hybrid model of the Carnival is about to affix the vary with the replace.

When requested about its existence and if it’ll be coming to Australia, Mr Rivero beforehand stated Kia Australia has all the time obtained its “hand up for it, however for the second right-hand drive hasn’t been secured”.

Autospy reported earlier this yr that the Carnival Hybrid will reportedly use the identical hybrid drivetrain because the Kia Sportage, Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe hybrids.

In these fashions, the hybrid powertrain generates whole system outputs of 169kW of energy and 350Nm of torque by sandwiching a 44kW/264Nm electrical motor between the six-speed automated transmission and a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

By way of energy, that locations the hybrid between the 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and the 216kW/355Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol.

At this stage it’s unclear if the Carnival hybrid might be front- or all-wheel drive. It’ll doubtless be the previous as Kia has by no means supplied an all-wheel drive individuals mover.

Whereas SUVs are vastly extra standard than individuals movers, a hybrid mannequin may additional juice Carnival gross sales in Australia.

The large Kia has already been aided by the withdrawal of its closest competitor, the Honda Odyssey, final yr with gross sales rising by 37.4 per cent.

It now has a recent in-house rival within the Hyundai Staria, whereas the brand new Chinese language LDV MIFA has gone on sale.

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