Kia No 3 Concept to Debut at Geneva

Kia No 3 Concept

No 3 Concept by Kia features a panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar

By Alex Ricciuti
February 24, 2009 1:27 PM
Filed Under: Asian, Concept Car, Geneva Motor Show, Kia

Not a very imaginative name but Kia thinks it's a magic number so it will be calling this concept simply the No 3 Concept. Okay.

The Kia No 3 is a compact car designed by Peter Schreyer, who heads the Korean brand's European design studio. The design features Kia's new face, with a new composition of headlights, badge and front grille. It's 4045 mm in length and comes dressed for the Geneva show in a matte Titanium Grey finish.

Question: When will Asian brands come up with their own styling paradigm? The car looks a little like a Ford Fiesta, wouldn't you say? In fact, it looks a lot like a Ford Fiesta. But no accusations will be made here. It just looks like a Ford Fiesta.

But there is something new here and you have to look and see for yourself. The No 3 features a panorama glass roof that's become rather popular in recent years. But what is strange here, to say the least, is the diagonal supporting bar that starts at the A pillar on the passenger side and connects to the B pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle. It makes this car's top end looks like all glass (don't worry, there is an automatic visor) and you have to decide for yourself whether it works for you or not. No judgments will be made here.

Kia seems to be promising that the No 3 will one day make it to production by stating in its press release that it is "keeping up its reputation for showing concepts that lead to reality."

If so, one can wonder what this car will really be like. Seeing it somehow isn't enough.

 

Source: Kia

Press Release (Click to expand)

It's a magic number for Kia! The No 3 concept makes its debut at Geneva

Keeping up its reputation for showing concepts that lead to reality, Kia is playing the numbers game at the Salon de l'Automobile in Geneva next week with the debut of the all-new No 3 concept.

Carving a new niche in the small-car market the No 3 delivers flexibility and fun creating a beautiful car that is also great to drive - and even better will be great to be seen in!

The concept features a unique extended windscreen and panoramic glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar and an automatic sun visor.

Designed by Kia's European design team, led by Peter Schreyer, the No 3 also features the new ‘face of Kia' with the front grille, head lamps and brand logo in a new constellation arrangement.

The 4045 mm long concept is finished in matt Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents and will be unveiled at 12.15pm on Tuesday 3 March at the Kia stand in hall 4/5.

 

Comments

paulbe
February 24, 2009 1:47 PM
What would it replace? The Picanto?

dgabri
February 24, 2009 3:30 PM
Does not replace any model. It is a mini MPV.

BabyMilo
February 24, 2009 1:53 PM
that is absolutely awful

afterace2
February 24, 2009 2:13 PM
this actually looks very cool IMO, bring it on Kia!

AmazingJerry
February 24, 2009 2:15 PM
For me it looks closer to the Ka than the fiesta. Despite this I think it looks pretty good. I actually like the diagnal roof beam.

iseenitall
February 24, 2009 5:23 PM
Yes...I would agree...The concept looks nice and clean lines... Kia really was been do`n some... and I do mean SOME...cool concepts...GO KIA....

carbonsigma
February 25, 2009 12:35 AM
Alex Ricciuti, Asian brands have already come up with their own styling paradigm. And anyway, this car was designed by a European, was it not?

politz
February 25, 2009 1:07 AM
Gorgeous. Yes, it looks a lot like the Fiesta from the side, which I had noticed and commented on when that first rendering was shown here. But still, I don't think that is such a bad thing. It is more of benchmarking a good design language than copying some cars lines. I really like the front, with the new Kia grille and all... and the roof looks pretty charming too!

super_car_muscle_man
March 1, 2009 2:08 PM
its looks like a shrunken ford s-max with citroen-esqe design ques

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