Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes, Kia
Kia Sports Coupe concept pegged for Frankfurt
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The Frankfurt Motor Show is still a couple of months away, but the trickle of pre-show teasers and announcements has already begun. The latest release is from Kia, which will be presenting a new 2+2 sports coupe concept at the September show designed and constructed at its Frankfurt design studio. Similar in size to the Audi TT, the unnamed concept is expected to hit production as a relatively cheap RWD sports car.
The new concept was penned by Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer as a follow up to his attractive ex_cee'd cabrio concept from March's Geneva show. Schreyer, in fact, is in charge of reshaping Kia's whole new brand identity and character and admits that he's been given a rare opportunity to design a car with a clean sheet to work from.
There's a lot riding on this latest concept because it'll reveal the new face for Kia and is one of the first steps in its new product strategy of focusing on design. If the ex_cee'd cabrio is anything to go by, Kia's new offerings are shaping up to be very exciting.
PRESS RELEASE:
Revealing a first 'preview image' of the car, Schreyer said: "Kia has given me the opportunity to shape its whole brand design and character. Seldom does a designer have such a clean sheet to work with.
"We started this exciting journey with the Kia ex_cee'd cabrio concept at the Geneva Show back in March, and at Frankfurt I'm sure Kia will surprise the entire automotive world when people see our new sports coupe concept in the metal."
The new concept – its name remains secret for now – has an imposing road presence and was designed by Schreyer at Kia's Frankfurt Design studio and was built in Europe.
The ex_cee'd cabrio concept was Schreyer's first design after joining Kia in September last year, but the 53-year-old Bavarian had previously indicated that Frankfurt would be the target for his unveiling of a new face for Kia products in the future. The sports coupe concept is his design statement for Kia and heralds a future product strategy focussed on design.
Schreyer was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the Royal College of Art in London in recognition of the contribution he has made to automotive design over the last 25 years.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John R 11:05AM (7/18/2007)
This might be kinda cool if Kia can produce this car and make it 190 to 220bhp, less than $25k and kept under 2500 lbs.
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Vectortrance 1:44PM (7/18/2007)
I agree with you, however the unfortunate trend lately seems to be making cars bigger and heavier. Gone are the days when anything other than a sub-compact will weigh 2500 lbs or less.
A "light" passenger car now is probably 2800-2900lbs. Perhaps Kia can buck this trend. The lighter the car, the better it handles, the faster it accelerates, and the less fuel it needs.
Nellydesign 11:05AM (7/18/2007)
Reminds me a little bit of the Saab Aero-X and the Audi R8 but that's not a bad thing. Overall I really like it.
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tokastyle 11:08AM (7/18/2007)
So both Hyundai and KIA are getting a RWD coupe. Nice move in not simply passing down the FWD Tiburon to KIA like some people have suggested. I bet this coupe will come with the 3.8L V6 and the Hyundai will get the V8.
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cappuccino 11:10AM (7/18/2007)
Agree w/ John up there. hopefully....they won't
make a sport-looking car..
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cappuccino 11:12AM (7/18/2007)
I think I remember reading an article that the Hyundai RWD will be V6...not a V8...
but yah who knows what the future could bring ! :)
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geo.stewart 12:46PM (7/18/2007)
someone now has a 300hp V6, normally aspirated.
If Hyundai and kia can pull 250-265hp, that will be great for a base and put a charger on it to get above the 300hp point. realistically, no reason for more than that from these folks as they would be selling too far upmarket. It will be another 5-10 yrs before they can credibly sell a 400hp sports car.
h8rain 1:52PM (7/18/2007)
To Geo:
Do you mean anyone or kust Kia/Hyundai that has a naturally aspirated V6 rated @ 300hp. If so the Nissan 350Z I had (35th Anv.) had 300hp from a NA V6.
iamhoff 11:57AM (7/18/2007)
So is this going to be on the Genesis platform, or is there another RWD platform floating around Hyundai/Kia? Either way, it's about time they get some product that reflects their position as the sporty member of the H/K family.
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Eek 12:01PM (7/18/2007)
Well, I'm interested. I'm really interested in seeing what new goodies Hyundai and Kia will be offering. If this is an attractive car that can go into the Miata/Sky/Solstice class they may have themselves a winner.
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Christopher H. Kim 12:04PM (7/18/2007)
Bold move!
kia = lightweight sports coupe rwd
hyundai = GT type sports coupe rwd
aftermarket = BOOM
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Christopher H. Kim 12:04PM (7/18/2007)
Bold move by Hyundai/Kia
Kia can get the cheap lightweight sports coupe rwd while Hyundai gets the more GT type sports coupe rwd
Aftermarket will go boom!
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Carlos 12:28PM (7/18/2007)
Cue up the "I hope it has 200 hp, weighs 2,500lbs, and only costs $20,000" comments that new cars always get.
RWD platform in a company that doesn't make a lot of RWD cars -> cost
Kia -> weight, poor mileage
It could be good, but c'mon, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.
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Christopher H. Kim 12:32PM (7/18/2007)
You do realize that Kia is a sister company of Hyundai..
But I say its possible to make it rwd however I wouldnt be surprised if it was fwd replacing the Tiburon
Jruhi4 12:55PM (7/18/2007)
I hate to be a party-pooper, but Kia's press release says absolutely nothing about whether this 2+2 concept is FWD or RWD. Do you guys at Autoblog have some sort of inside information that's not in the press release or just engaging in wishful thinking?
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ryan 1:18PM (7/18/2007)
someone over in europe seems to have a good grasp of the powetrain...
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_official_picture.php?sid=870&page=1
FWD or AWD. no mention of powerplants available.
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naggs 1:29PM (7/18/2007)
if they keep the weight down, i would buy it no matter what it looked like or what brand it was. that is of course if the rwd stuff pans out.
but they wont, it will be a 3300 lbs pig
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TwinTurboZ 1:55PM (7/18/2007)
Whoa, frontend looks also exactly like Dave Houston's Hybrid Coupe Concept..send in a sample get it ripped off!...Why to go Hyundai/Kia!....wait until Dave sees this...
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brian 2:13PM (7/18/2007)
I can't wait to see what crazy vehicles Hyundai/Kia will be offering in the coming years. Keep 'em coming guys!
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Aetius 2:43PM (7/18/2007)
I've said it before and I'll say it again - just because they'll put a RWD coupe on the market for cheap (RWD/cheap being assumptions BTW) doesn't mean it will be serious performance sports-coupe/GT. The Tiburon has been in the market for years and it can't hang with a Civic Si.
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