When Kia introduced the second generation Carens MPV it said the car was not only a successor to the original, but also a replacement for the larger Sedona model. The inclusion of a seven-seat Carens in the line-up made the aging Sedona somewhat redundant and it was retired... in Europe at least.
While the Carens marketing strategy works here it does not work in other countries like the United States where full-size, eight-seat MPVs still sell in droves. Which is why Kia has chosen the upcoming New York Auto Show as the venue for the debut of its all-new people carrier.
There are currently no plans to bring the new model to Europe and we do not know if the Sedona name will be revived, but Kia says that the new car will "challenge the segment" and "offer the functionality to transport as many as eight passengers." There is also a mention of it catering for adventure seekers, but that is likely to be just marketing bluff.
The single teaser shot released shows a front end with Kia's corporate 'Tiger Mouth' face, a windscreen area that seems to dwarf that of the Carens and a much more upright profile. Little else is known, but Kia says it will release more information before the unveiling in NYC.
Anything else?
The 2014 New York International Auto Show kicks off on Wednesday April 16 with the Kia MPV debuting on opening day.