Iran-based automaker Saipa has introduced a new production car called Atlas, essentially based on refurbished Kia Pride tech from the late 1980s. The sales are scheduled to begin in 2023.
Based on the photos, the car sports refreshed front and rear ends while keeping the overall body design intact. The lighting all around is new, the hood is bulging, and the radiator grille resembles a Ford grille. A light ‘rugged’ body kit, roof rails and 14-inch wheels are also included.
It is unknown how much thrust the new model has. The Kia Pride makeover sold in Iran in the 80s was known as ‘Saipa Quick’ and utilized a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-pot, getting 88 PS (87 hp / 65 kW) and 128 Nm (94 lb-ft) of torque out of it. The transmission could be manual or CVT.
The feature list mentions LED lighting, ESP, a seven-inch infotainment system screen and a rain sensor. Higher trims will introduce power adjustments for the seats, a sunroof, blind spot monitoring and vivid exterior accents. Saipa expects to continue selling the long-outdated Quick model alongside the new Atlas SUV for a while until the former becomes obsolete.
