The Land of the TIGERS

The top-selling SUV with the unique tiger nose grille take a trip to the natural habitat of the animal: Tadoba Tiger Reserve

- Sarmad Kadiri

William Blake’s “The Tyger”, arguably one of the most famous poems written in the 1700s, comes to mind every time there is a reference to the majestic beast. Thus, it comes as no surprise when we decided to drive the Kia Seltos and go for a Tiger Trail in India.

To give a little background, over a decade ago, Kia Motors hired a globally acclaimed designer to give their cars a distinct identity, one that’s instantly recognisable and leaves a lasting impression. The legendary designer came up with the striking “tiger nose” grille which beautifully narrows down at the centre as if the designer has pinched the grille to impersonate the fearless face of a tiger. This signature element has been a turning point for the brand since then, with the Korean car-maker creating waves in the automobile industry by introducing some of the most spectacular designs and stunning concepts.

Our obvious destination for the tiger-nose grille was to take it to the natural habitat of the animal: a Tiger Reserve. Our first destination was the famous TadobaAndhari Tiger Reserve which is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park and has a high frequency of tiger sightings. The usual route via Solapur is close to 850 km, but since we had tested and were impressed by the Seltos’ performance and driveability, we decided to go through Aurangabad, which is a shorter route but known for some challenging sections.

We started from Pune in the wee hours. On the dark, empty roads, the Seltos’ bright Crown Jewel LED headlamps appeared like the glowing eyes of a beast on the prowl and even made a few scared strays run for cover. The Kia’s handsome face grabs your attention at first glance and, as you realize the connection with the majestic wild cat, it is bound to leave you with a lasting impression.