Baby Kia SUV previewed

Kia has teased two sketches of the small SUV it plans to pull the drapes off on February 5 at the New Delhi motor show in India.

Featuring shrunken overtly SUV styling, the small unnamed Kia is believed to be largely close to production and developed under the 'QYi' codename.

If you ignore its small mirrors, huge wheels and lack of rear doors and door-handles, and mentally tone down some of the visual muscle, you'll get an idea of what the real car will look.

What will likely stay are the LED headlights and striking red LED light bar.

Beneath the skin the new concept is almost certainly based on the same Hyundai Accent platform that also underpins the Venue we get Down Under.

Sharing the same dimensions as the Indian Venue (our cars are fractionally longer and ride lower), that means the little Kia should measure in at around 3995mm long, 1605mm high and 1770mm wide, with a wheelbase that stretches to 2500mm.

Like its Hyundai sibling, the QYi will offer buyers lots of luggage space and more room for passengers compared to an equivalent hatch.

There are no preview images of the interior, but we expect Kia's new small SUV to borrow much from the bigger Seltos and the Venue itself, including its infotainment screen, climate control, wireless charging and heated and ventilated seats.

Under the bonnet the concept is likely to combine the little 1.0-litre turbo from the Venue with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

More of the QYi will be revealed in the build-up to its reveal in Delhi, but the concept is tipped to preview a small SUV that will be on sale in India as soon as mid-year.