New York show: Kia confirms 221kW V6 for Carnival

KIA has revealed that its new-generation eight-seat Carnival people-mover will be powered by a 3.3-litre V6, in North America at least.

The engine plan was disclosed overnight as the South Korean company continued its drip-feed of teaser information for the new vehicle ahead of its New York motor show reveal next week, including another image, this time a side view.

As well, the company confirmed that its “all-new MPV” will carry the Carnival moniker in some markets, including Australia where the current model is called Grand Carnival.

The engine is most likely the 221kW petrol Lambda-II direct-injected GDI V6 from the Hyundai stable as used in the Kia K9 large sedan sold in South Korea (called K900 in the US).

If Kia Australia adopts that engine for Australia, it will replace the 202kW 3.5-litre V6 that does duty beside the popular alternative 143kW 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel that is unlikely to appear any time soon in the line-up in America where the vehicle is called Sedona.

Kia also revealed that the third-generation Carnival will ride on an all-new chassis and boast “a host of innovative technology and safety features”.

These will include the company’s latest information and voice-operated telematics system, dubbed UVO – short for ‘your voice’.

The image revealed in South Korea overnight shows a long and relatively low silhouette, with a rear sliding door. The styling is a match with the company’s current family design language, complete with Kia designer Peter Schreyer’s trademark ‘tiger’ grille.

The new Carnival is expected to go on sale in Australia late this year or in early 2015, replacing the current model that has been one of Australia’s top-selling family workhorses for almost eight years.

GoAuto will have a full report on the new Carnival from New York next week.