Geneva Preview: Kia teases new MPV concept
by Sam Abuelsamid on Feb 6th 2009 at 3:01AM 
Click above to enlarge
When we arrive in Switzerland next month for the Geneva Motor Show, Kia will have a brand new concept to share with the world in the shape of an MPV concept. In this case, Kia claims the MPV stands for "Million Possibilities Vehicle". Based on what we can see in this teaser image, its flanks share some of the design elements of the 2007 Kue concept mixed in with wheel wells that look inspired by Ford's Kinetic design language. Kia's bare bones press release states that the concept has some kind of "unique glass roof treatment". We'll have to wait until Geneva to see just what that means.
Gallery: 2009 Kia MPV concept
[Source: Kia]
PRESS RELEASE
Kia Motors to reveal new concept car in Geneva
- New Kia small MPV (Million Possibilities Vehicle) concept to redefine segment
(SEOUL, KOREA) February 6, 2009 -- Kia will reveal an all-new concept car at the Geneva Show on 3 March. Redefining the MPV genre, Kia will introduce 'a great looking MPV' with a unique glass roof treatment to create a cool and spacious automotive powerhouse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Skipper 4:31AM (2/06/2009)
The graphics are still overtly round. Looks too cute. Gray for a show car?
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Skipper 4:43AM (2/06/2009)
Shut lines are unsympathetic of fenders and the shoulder integrates with the body crudely. Rear blackout graphic resolves with nothing in the side--it's doing it own thing.
Overall, not a very sophisticated design or well thought out. Back to design school. This time let’s pay attention to design and not flashy renderings.
few 6:01AM (2/06/2009)
yeah..uh huh..like you know anything about design. why don't you go tell what you just said to Peter Schreyer.
efw 8:18AM (2/06/2009)
yep...mhmm..im certain you are a graduate from ACC. i believe you. Just out of curiosity though, is your name skipper because you skipped a lot of classes? i assume not, right?
do you even have a job with a car company? are you just saying "back to school" to whoever designed it just because its a kia? i'm sure there are some people around you that think of you the same way..
Skipper 4:38AM (2/06/2009)
Shut lines are unsympathetic of fenders and the shoulder integrates with the body crudely. Rear blackout graphic resolves with nothing in the side--it's doing it own thing.
Overall, not a very sophisticated design or well thought out. Back to design school. This time let’s pay attention to design and not flashy renderings.
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Wyce 5:43AM (2/06/2009)
I have to agree on the shut lines. Really distracts from the overall design. Those lights are pretty much blacked-out Q5 lights.
geo.stewart 8:36AM (2/06/2009)
I'll agree on the shut lines. looks like they were added on the rendering after the fact and do not accurately reflect the impact of the body lines.
but the rest is consistent with the rest of the new products (soul, forte,...) Kia has been showing and good work to boot.
Torrent 12:39PM (2/06/2009)
Wyce. Go Look at the Kia Cee'd('s) headlights, and if you can't tell that they are the exact shape, you are on something heavy.
TJF 5:06AM (2/06/2009)
I know everyone says all cars borrow from each other so I guess this one should be no different. I really like the Audi Q7 tails and CX-7 side profile/fender flares.
I hope they make the cabin larger than the CX-7, offer a V6 and price it in the mid-$20Ks.
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few 6:23AM (2/06/2009)
@TJF
you fail on many levels but let me correct some. first of all, you shouldn't be surprised to see a lot of audi from kia's future vehicles, because kia's chief designer is an ex-audi designer. nice try on the cx-7 part. those 'bulging' fenders are nothing new..they can be also found in some of past hyundai-kia concepts, the veloster, soul concept, and the mesa to name a few. as for the interior this MPV is about the size of a honda fit...so obviously no v6. and cx-7 is an SUV isn't it apparent from the picture that this thing is small?
efw 8:21AM (2/06/2009)
@TGJ or TFJ or whatever
few 6:17AM (2/06/2009)
@TJF
you fail on many levels but let me correct some. first of all, you shouldn't be surprised to see a lot of audi from kia's future vehicles, because kia's chief designer is an ex-audi designer. nice try on the cx-7 part. those 'bulging' fenders are nothing new..they can be also found in some of past hyundai-kia concepts, the veloster, soul concept, and the mesa to name a few. as for the interior this MPV is about the size of a honda fit...so obviously no v6. and cx-7 is an SUV isn't it apparent from the picture that this thing is small?
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TJF 6:34AM (2/06/2009)
Ah, an automotive blog snob, I love you guys.
Just because the designer is from Audi (which I will assume you are correct as I don't care enough to research it) doesn't mean that they should pull the exact same style straight from the Audi parts bin. A little innovation wouldn't hurt.
There may have been "bulging" fenders in past concepts but the Mazda CX-7 was the first to make a statement with it in the CUV segment and the fender flares and CX-7 like side profile is obvious to anyone who has seen or been in a CX-7/RX-8 before.
To correct your improper use of car segment terminology the CX-7 is a CUV aka Crossover aka not an SUV. SUVs do not have turbo four cylinders, ride on car platforms and fit five people.
Reviewing the picture again I guess it is smaller than originally assumed but the styling similarities still stand.
Now go beat up a homeless person to make yourself feel better. And use the "Reply" function next time so I don't have to go through dozens of intelligent comments to find your shining examples of idiocy.
Skipper 7:48AM (2/06/2009)
The Skipper is an Art Center Graduate. He knows a lot about design.
Everything I critiqued is valid. I didn't say it looks "cool" or "bad".
I have to agree with TJF. Different Company, Different form language.
efw 8:06AM (2/06/2009)
@TGJ or TFJ or whatever
"Now go beat up a homeless person to make yourself feel better. And use the "Reply" function next time so I don't have to go through dozens of intelligent comments to find your shining examples of idiocy."
I'm sure same can be said about you. you say you don't care enough, yet you've had time to type out a nicely-paragraphed and lengthy reply. Let me point out something:
1. I used the reply button, that's why you see my reply under your comment. i don't know why there is a separate comment just below. sometimes autoblog screws up.
2. CUV is just a terminology. 9 out of 10 people will call cx-7 an SUV. Hell, even mazda USA calls cx-7 a mid-size SUV.
3. there are no four cylinder turbo SUV's? it's obvious you don't know about subaru forester XT's and acura RDX's.
4. CX-7's fender's may have been the first in production cars(which i am sure aren't) but they are nothing ground breaking in design studies. so saying the kia has mazda fenders is like saying both cars have four wheels..unless mazda patented those fenders.
5. The designer i mentioned worked for audi for many many years during which created cars like TT and the A2, so i'm sure it's natural for him to draw like audi. and there is nothing wrong with KIA going after the audi look, because audi's design languages proved successful. I'm sure KIA hired him for a reason.
*waiting on TPF to get low ranked*
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jkoen 8:32AM (2/06/2009)
Looks way cooler than the Rondo.
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DP 9:01AM (2/06/2009)
Looks great to me. I hope they keep the matte finish. I saw an Acura at the LA Auto Show with a paint job like that. Stunning. I think this looks like the size of the Honda Fit.
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xspeedy 9:35AM (2/06/2009)
Looks like a Meriva without the kink.
http://www.drivebulletin.com/uploaded_images/2008-Opel-Meriva-Concept-797865.jpg
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BLS 10:05AM (2/06/2009)
Looks similar. But mostly in they way that they both look like four-door hatchbacks and have very similar tail lights.
Want a Meriva bad though.
Rick 10:40AM (2/06/2009)
ooooooo, looks good.
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