Kia continues its trend of fun, lighthearted concepts and production cars this week with the official unveiling of the No 3 concept car in Geneva. This compact MPV illustrates the versatility of small cars, as well as presenting another facet of Kia's new face to the world. With an overall length of just 4045mm (just over 13 ft.) the No 3 is maneuverable enough for congested city streets, yet it's large enough on the inside to seat four or five passengers. Kia says the No 3 provides C-segment space inside a B-segment body.
What sets the No 3 apart from the average MPV is the looks, of course. The large headlamps and unique grille shape are part of Kia's new corporate look, which scores high on the curb-recognition meter. There's more than a hint of the new Soul in it, which isn't a surprise. The windshield extends into a panoramic glass roof, creating an airy cabin. Gloss white trim stands out against the titanium paint. Large 19-inch wheels, short overhangs and exaggerated wheel arches provide a sporty look. A high-tech, high-class interior is also in place, as is properly fitting of a concept car. The No 3's high style stands as a reminder that Kias don't necessarily look as inexpensive as they are any more.
Kia doesn't have much to say about the No 3's drivetrain. This is probably because it's a harbinger of a production model, the YN, that's set to debut later this year, possibly at Frankfurt.
New Kia No 3 concept car stars at Geneva Show
- New small MPV concept features evolving 'face of Kia'
- cee'd Idle Stop & Go (ISG) lineup and cee'd Hybrid prototype also on display
The all-new Kia No 3 Concept Car, which makes its world premiere at the 79th Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva today (Tuesday), redefines the small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) genre by creating a spacious, functional car that is also beautiful and fun-to-drive. The concept features a unique extended windscreen and panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the evolving 'face of Kia' which displays the front grille, head lamps and brand logo in a new constellation.
The 4045 mm long concept, which is finished in matte Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents, stands out from the crowd with its powerful proportions, dynamic lines, a modern, sophisticated interior and generous cabin space for flexible use. It delivers urban utility with a sporty touch.
The car brings all the features and strengths of a highly versatile MPV into the urban compact class, combining up-to-date mobility with individual style. Kia No 3 excels, in particular, through its unique design language characterized by refreshing clarity and modern, youthful sportiness.
Presenting a concept car of this caliber, Kia Motors Corporation is taking another step in its transition to being a globally oriented, design-focused carmaker. Kia No 3 was created with the European market in mind, by Chief Designer Gregory Guillaume at the Kia Design Centre in Frankfurt (Germany) under the guidance of Kia's Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer. The concept demonstrates Kia's newly created design language in the treatment of surfaces and the flow of lines as well as the evolving 'face of Kia' which is destined to appear on all future Kia models.
Compact sportiness combined with versatility and spaciousness creates a unique interaction and a truly innovative style in Kia No 3. The new concept car establishes the image of the brand and Kia's new design philosophy that will extend beyond the segment of compact cars. The fresh 'face' of the brand is clearly characterized by the proportions of three crucial elements and the relationship between them - the new radiator grille, extra-large headlights, and brand logo placed precisely on the centre-line, create a new 'constellation' that will also be highlighted on Kia's future models.
Extremely short overhangs accentuate the compact exterior dimensions of the car; powerfully contoured bumpers and large wheel arches as well as extra-large diameter wheels bring out the sporty character of Kia No 3. The concept clearly boasts a dynamic wedge shape characterized in particular by the window graphics and the lines rising up to the rear. The rear light clusters are wrapped distinctly around the side panels.
Nineteen-inch light-alloy wheels running on all-weather high-speed tires, provide a clear hint at the car's sporting performance. The wheel rims, painted black on the outside and finished in glossy chrome on the inside, exude a strong feeling of power.
Kia No 3's long wheelbase (2615 mm) and short overhangs front and rear, together with generous height (1600 mm) and width (1760 mm), provide all the features and qualities typical of an MPV. Extra comfort and space, plus the economic use of the available space are ensured by the ergonomically ideal, slightly elevated seating position. The split rear seats are adjustable independently, with sliding and folding functions.
An extra-large panorama glass roof extends directly out of the windscreen and stretches all the way to the rear spoiler. The result is not only excellent all-round visibility, but also a truly generous feeling of interior space. A diagonally arranged roofbar barely breaks the elegant, seemingly uninterrupted flow of the tinted glass surface.
The highlights of the car's exterior design - modern style, individual character, sporty performance, and unparalleled diversity - also characterize the interior, taking up and repeating the contrast of high-gloss white and black surfaces. Kia No 3 clearly demonstrates the highlights of Kia's future in interior design, with the focus on sophisticated materials, top-quality finish, stylish features, and the most advanced IT technology - all combined with a contemporary lifestyle feeling.
Kia No 3 is the forerunner of a future production model which will combine compact B-segment exterior dimensions with the interior spaciousness and versatility that is more typical of a C-segment car. The concept's name 'Kia No 3' is related to the production car's position in the future Kia model line-up.
Kia at the Geneva Show
For the duration of the Geneva Show (March 5-15), there will be a total of 20 vehicles on the Kia stand [Hall 5, Stand 5231] including three models making their first appearance in Switzerland: the Kia Soul, upgraded 2009 Kia Sportage compact SUV and upgraded, new-look 2009 Kia Magentis sedan (known as 'Optima' in some markets).
Kia is also displaying the new Kia cee'd ISG (Idle Stop & Go) models, which offer up to 15% fuel savings in city driving, and are now on sale in many countries across Europe. Kia's innovative ISG system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in traffic and restarts the engine instantly when the driver wishes to move off. Kia cee'd ISG cars are available with a choice of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre gasoline engines and each of the three cee'd family bodystyles: five-door hatchback, five-door sporty wagon and three-door pro_cee'd. The 1.4-litre ISG models at Geneva have a 137 g/km CO2 rating.
Kia Motors has produced a fleet of prototype Kia cee'd Hybrid cars especially for testing and evaluation in Europe. The cee'd Hybrid being shown in Geneva uses an upgraded powertrain with Kia's Gamma 1.6-litre gasoline engine, mated to a 15 kW, 105 Nm AC synchronized electric motor, a CVT transmission and the new ISG (Idle Stop & Go) system. Kia calculates that the cee'd Hybrid accelerates to 100 kph in 11.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 185 kph. The prototype is estimated to achieve fuel consumption of 4.81 liters per 100 km and a CO2 figure of 109 g/km - down 25% compared to the standard 1.6-litre gasoline cee'd.
tarig
March 4, 2009 1:31 PM
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