KIA is confident that its upcoming compact SUV will be the sportiest looking yet, with elegant proportions that will make it stand out among the Mazda CX-3 and Renault Captur set.

Expected to be unveiled within the next 12 months, the as-yet unnamed crossover will pay only lip service to the Niro Concept pictured here, shown two years ago at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show.

Kia Motors’ chief designer for Europe, Gregory Guillaume, promises that the production model will be worth the wait.

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“So the revolution will be more what that car is in its segment, like the Sportage is in its segment. We won’t do it the Renault Captur, we won’t do it the CX-3 way, we’ll do it the Kia way.

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Mr Guillaume admitted that Kia underestimated the popularity of the compact SUV, and Kia’s need for one, especially in Europe. But the company is no longer dragging its feet.

Kia -Niro -Concept -interior

“It does take a certain amount of time to develop that sort of car… but you cannot ignore that segment.”

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Kia Motors Australia communications manager Kevin Hepworth reiterated that the upcoming compact SUV would be “a very welcome addition to the range”.