Spied: 2013 Kia Carens/Rondo and Hyundai ix30

Spies have captured the first prototypes of the upcoming Kia Carens/Rondo replacement undergoing cold-weather testing alongside its sister car, Hyundai ix30, in Northern Sweden.

Although heavily disguised, the Carens/Rondo successor will boast more mature, premium styling over the ix30. The Hyundai ix30 will borrow design cues from the 2008 HED-5 i-Mode concept, so expect aggressive styling, sloping roofline, an hexagonal grille, and plenty of character lines.

While the Carens/Rondo replacement will launch with two wheelbases; short and long, offering five and seven seats respectively, the Hyundai variant, codenamed “SO”, will boast six seats with a 2+2+2 seating configuration.

Both cars will underpin the recently-launched Hyundai i30/and upcoming Kia Cee'd, meaning powertrains and transmissions will be carried over to the newcomers.

Both cars will be launched around mid-2013, taking on the Ford C-Max, Chevrolet Orlando, Peugeot 5008, Citroën C4 Picasso, Vauxhall/Opel Zafira, Fiat Freemont, and the Dacia Lodgy.

Via AutoEvolution.com and WorldCarFans.com

The long wheelbase Carens/Rondo will replace the slow-selling Sedona in
Europe

2013 Hyundai ix30 (SO):