After a massive hit of its maiden product, Seltos, the all-new smart urban compact SUV Sonet, has been introduced to meet the growing demand fueled by millennial and Gen Z consumers in the segment. Sonet was showcased in the Auto Expo this year in Delhi.
 
The pilot production for Sonet has been successfully conducted, and now the new car will be manufactured in the Andhra Pradesh plant. It will also be used as an export hub to export Sonet in various countries.  

“KiaMotors continues to be recognised globally through products which offer exquisite design and world-class quality, along with ‘The Power to Surprise.’ Everything about the all-new Sonet is uniquely Kia and is sure to delight both drivers and passengers,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia Motors Corporation.

Song also anticipated that growth in the SUV segment is expected to continue in 2020 and beyond.
 
Inspired by a baby elephant, the Sonet design makes it a powerful, sports and
compact SUV.  At the front, Kia tried to be more powerful with its brand’s signature design trait – the Kia ‘tiger-nose’ grille. Flanked by ‘heart beat’ LED DRLs and stylish front skid plates below, the wild nature of the Sonet comes alive. Within the tiger-nose grille, with its classy chrome and diamond knurling pattern, is the distinctive grille mesh featuring a three-dimensional geometric design inspired by India’s iconic stepwells.

The Sonet’s lighting makes it stand out from everything else in this segment. Jewel-like LED headlamps frame the ‘face’ of the car, with ‘heart beat’ LED DRLs with integrated indicators and similar LED tail lamps make the Sonet’s wild personality come alive through its design.Furthermore, the Sonet is offered with up to eight monotone and three dual-tone exterior colour options.

For the interior, the company tries to give natural feel inside and connect people emotionally to the car. It has 10.25 inch HD touchscreen with infotainment and navigation system which does not allow the driver to remove his or her eyes off the road. It also has UVO ‘connected car’ technology, with a range of 56 features for owners offering convenience, remote control, navigation, safety, security and vehicle management.  Additionally, the 4.2-inch (10.66 cm) instrument cluster presents important information to the driver in vivid colour and clarity, such as turn-by-turn navigation instructions, highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and drive mode and traction mode selection.

With a choice of three engines and five transmissions, there is an engine-transmission combination for virtually every customer need in this segment. Two petrol engines – a versatile Smartstream 1.2-liter four-cylinder and powerful 1.0 T-GDi – and an efficient 1.5-liter CRDi diesel engine are offered.
 
The Sonet comes with five transmission options: five- and six-speed manuals, an intuitive seven-speed DCT, six-speed automatic, and Kia’s revolutionary new six-speed Smartstream intelligent manual transmission. Additionally, automatic variants of the Sonet offer Multi-Drive and Traction Modes for added convenience, driver-confidence and safety.

Sonet offers first-in-class diesel six-speed automatic, alongside a wide choice of powertrains. Offered in sporty GT-Line specification, for the first time in the segment

It has the Smartstream six-speed iMT which gives less driver fatigue. With iMT, the driver does not needs to use a clutch pedal, especially in stop-go traffic. It also gives  Longer clutch life and Smoother ride.

Apollo Tyres’ Vredestein Traxion tyres have been selected by agricultural equipment manufacturer SDF Group as original equipment (OE) for its range of DEUTZ-FAHR Series 6 tractors. The new Vredestein OE partnership was announced during the 2024 EIMA trade fair, held in Bologna, Italy.

All DEUTZ-FAHR Series 6 vehicles, including the 6-160, 6170, 6180, 6190, 6210, 6230 and 6230HD models, as well as the 4-cylinder models 6160.4 and 6170.4, will be able to use four distinct Vredestein Traxion combinations starting in the first quarter of 2025. The tyres will be offered to customers as an option for all Series 6 vehicles with power outputs between 160 and 230 horsepower and transmissions like as Powershift, RCshift and TTV. For maximum on-road comfort and superior wear resistance, the Vredestein Traxion has a curved lug design with more rubber in the middle. In the field, the distinctive non-parallel lugs offer superior self-cleaning capabilities and more traction as they diverge towards the tread's shoulder.

Laurence Bennett, Head – Off-Highway Tyres, Apollo Tyres, said, “We are honoured that DEUTZ-FAHR has selected our Traxion tyres for its Series 6 tractors. This decision comes in response to the increased demand from contractors and farmers operating DEUTZ-FAHR tractors, who appreciate the value of Vredestein tyres. Our Traxion technology is designed to deliver superior performance, with enhanced traction, comfort and extended tyre life – all crucial factors for demanding agricultural work. This partnership reflects the strong reputation we’ve built in the market.”

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has started the delivery of its ADVAN Sport EV tyres in size 245/50R19 105W to be used as original equipment for the new Lynk & Co Z10 sedan launched by Lynk & Co, a joint venture between China’s Geely Auto Group and Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, in China in September 2024.

In order to satisfy the demands of high-end EV users, the ADVAN Sport EV was created based on Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tyre for high-performance vehicles. With a tread design that improves drainage and a compound that has been shown to lower tyre rolling resistance, Yokohama Rubber has attained a level of low power consumption and wet performance suitable for high-end EVs. The exclusive ‘E+’ label from Yokohama Rubber is shown on the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport EV to signify that it possesses unique properties appropriate for electric vehicles.

The Z10 is Lynk & Co’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV). It has a maximum range of more than 800 km and can be charged quickly, increasing the range by 573 km in around 15 minutes. The Lynk & Co Z10 achieves a high degree of harmony between driving enjoyment and passenger comfort by utilising cutting-edge technology and skilled tuning to give remarkable acceleration and safety.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC), a US subsidiary, will provide ADVAN racing tyres as the control tyre for the new Mustang Cup series that has been approved by the United States Auto Club (USAC). Beginning in April, the series will take place in the US. YTC will provide ADVAN A005 tyres for dry weather and ADVAN A006 tyres for wet conditions.

Ford Performance, the racing subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, is launching a new series of entry-level events for beginner racers and amateur racing enthusiasts called the Mustang Cup. Participants will have the chance to improve their racing abilities through the Mustang Cup series, which also offers progression into Mustang Challenge, Mustang GT4 and the higher level Mustang GT3. The Ford Performance-engineered Mustang Dark Horse R will compete in the Mustang Cup series. Louisiana will host the first event in the series, which will feature six races spread across six US states.

Together with Ford Performance, Yokohama Rubber will assist the Ford Mustang GT3 vehicles of the German racing team Haupt Racing Team in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring), one of the world's premier endurance events, in addition to providing the control tyre for the Mustang Cup. This will be the first time Ford Performance has competed in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race since 2019 and the first time Yokohama Rubber and Ford Performance have worked together since 2012.

In order to increase awareness and fortify the brand power of its ADVAN tyres in the North American market, Yokohama Rubber is supporting high-end sports vehicle one-make racing series. The Porsche Carrera Cup North America, which is regarded as one of the quickest one-make races in the world, is one of the other one-make racing series to which Yokohama Rubber is supplying its ADVAN racing tyres in addition to the new Mustang Cup series.

Hyundai has selected Nexen Tire’s N’FERA Supreme S all-season as original equipment (OE) tyres for its flagship SUV, the Palisade.

The AI-driven big data noise reduction tread pattern design of the N'FERA Supreme S tyre effectively lowers road noise and vibrations to provide a comfortable driving experience. The tyre is optimised for high-performance and heavy-duty vehicles using a 4D compound and load distribution technologies to maximise grip. This reduces driver fatigue and improves driving performance by providing excellent stability over long distances and at high speeds. Pattern shape retention technology has been used to provide even better performance even when the tyre is 50 percent worn. Additionally, to lower air resistance and boost fuel efficiency, an aerodynamic sidewall design has been used.

Travis Kang, Global CEO of NEXEN TIRE, said, “Being chosen as the OE tyre supplier for the Palisade, overcoming competition with leading global tyre manufacturers, is an encouraging milestone. We will increase our global competitiveness through strategic relationships with Hyundai Motor Company and other automakers.”