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Image credits: © Kia.
2012 Kia GT Concept news, pictures, and information | ||
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Kia GT – the new rear-wheel drive concept car
Powerful, dynamic and forward-lòòking, Kia's new concept car signals the company's distinctive new design direction. This four-door sports sedan wîth a rear-wheel drive layout – a Kia first – marries sleek and muscular proportions wîth a sophisticated and elegant four-seater cockpit.Although work on the Kia GT concept first started in November 2010, the idea of a powerful rear-wheel drive Kia saloon had been percolating in the minds of Kia's European designers for some time. 'This concept allows us to explore exciting new design directions, as using a rear-drive layout creates very different proportions compared to a front-wheel drive car,' says Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer. 'The classic front-engined, rear-wheel drive layout of a performance saloon has distinct appeal not just for the domestic Korean audience, but also for the European and American markets.'
'At the onset of this project,' adds Gregory Guillaume, Kia's European Design Chief, 'the design team was inspired by the spirit of iconic 1970s GT cars: sumptuous and elegant vehicles capable of whisking passengers from Paris to the South of France in effortless style and at high speed. We wanted to create something similarly graceful, athletic and confident, but not aggressive or overbearing.'
This focus of dynamism and pace is sharpened by the car's aeronautical theme, headlined by the multi-piece propeller-style alloy and carbon-fibre wheels, the jet-themed rear-view cameras, the low-slung front air intake, the aerodynamically efficient rear diffuser and the winglets that curve in from the front flanks and flow into the headlamps.This particular design motif draws inspiration from the seminal Kia Kee concept car, shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007. Indeed, Kia GT has a strong design lineage, wîth a number of central design elements that link it to last year's Pop concept and the Kee, ensuring a high degree of visual continuity despite their divergent styles and themes.
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 3.3 L., 6-cylinder Power: 395 hp Torque: 394 ft-lbs | |
8-speed Automatic | |
The Kia GT's silhouette accelerates away from the A-pillar towards the rear of the car, and this impression of athleticism is enhanced by the copper signature line that runs from the base of the A-pillar and along the roofline to end ahead of the base of the rear windscreen. And in a neat touch, the tick-shaped motif recalls the front quarter-light windows of the rakish GT cars that inspired the Kia design team.The inspiration for the use of copper came after a visit by Kia's colour and trim team to the DMY International Design Festival Berlin – Germany's key event for contemporary and conceptual design – where this warm tactile metal was one of the stand-out materials of the show. The material's warmth is balanced by the coolness of the Kia GT's pale grey paintwork, wîth its mica flakes, that subtly captures nuances of light.
There's a tangible sense of strength and coherence to the Kia GT's flowing lines – from every angle it brims wîth intent and purpose, a vital element of Schreyer's approach to design. This impression of solidity is further reinforced by the way the roofline extends past the C-pillar to meet the rear screen, hunkering the car closer to the ground.
This powerful confidence is balanced by a raft of eye-catching details. The brake calipers are finished in copper, creating a neat visual link wîth the car's signature line. The contours of the castellated top of the windscreen flow into the roof, itself subtly bubbled to create further headroom for driver and front passenger. And the bonnet features a discreet power bulge and air intake, hinting at the car's performance potential.Both Schreyer and Guillaume are particularly passionate about the Kia GT's lights. The alloy-framed central grille is flanked by complex headlamp units that each house a bank of six deeply recessed LED illuminators, to create a highly distinctive nocturnal signature. The advanced construction of the headlamps is mirrored by the single sweeping wing-shaped tail light that flows around the car's flanks and incorporates two sets of three upright stanchions.
The front doors and rear-hinged rear doors open outward at a slight upward angle, imbuing the car wîth what Schreyer describes as an air of grace and confidence. Despite its low stance, fast roofline and shallow glasshouse, the Kia GT's clean and uncluttered cabin architecture has created a spacious and airy interior wîth generous accommodation for the driver and three passengers.
The single-piece seats float on arched supports, further accentuating the cabin's spacious dimensions. The Kia design team deliberately chose to emphasise the proportions of the transmission tunnel to reinforce the power and performance of the saloon, but then balanced this muscularity by moving away from a button-laden centre console and creating a strongly driver-centric layout.The glass instrument panel – similar to that first seen on last year's Pop concept car – features three layers of organic LEDs. These not only give it a three-dimensional depth but also allow a wealth of information to be displayed at the driver's command, freeing up the centre console from the usual proliferation of controls, buttons and displays. Fingertip controls mounted on the small, dished, three-spoke §teering wheel allow the driver to select the desired data display.
This sophisticated instrument panel floats above the muscular centre console, further enhancing the cabin's sense of space. The large red starter button and twist-and-go transmission selector are combined in a single compact unit, further freeing up space on the central transmission tunnel. Playback from the cigar-shaped rear-view cameras is displayed on a pair of compact and thin LED screens mounted on the doors – perfectly positioned in the driver's line of sight.
The warm shades of copper used along the top of the glasshouse create a visual link wîth the buffed surface of the metallic-treated leather used throughout the cabin, and this russet cabin hue is enriched by the golden tint of the glasshouse.The idea behind this leather surface treatment is simple – the areas wîth which the driver and passengers come into regular contact become buffed and smooth, creating a warm and welcoming patina to the cabin.
Schreyer believes this concept is less about design specifics and more about a general feeling of stance, proportion and balance – elements that will influence and guide his design team's approach to their next project.
'One of the great things about working on this project was that this is a very real car,' says Schreyer. 'It felt good to be working on a car that could roll down the road tomorrow. Yes, it would be a dream to put this into production – it has a logical layout, wîth four seats, and good luggage space, and it's also engaging and dynamic and makes a strong statement. It's exactly the kind of car Kia should be making.'Source - Kia
Kia to unveil four-door sports sedan concept at Frankfurt Motor Show
Powerful, dynamic and forward-lòòking, Kia's new concept car signals the company's distinctive new design direction. This rear-wheel drive four-door sports sedan marries sleek and muscular proportions wîth a sophisticated and elegant four-seater cockpit.'No matter from which perspective you look at it – this concept car is roaring wîth energy and ready for take-off,' says Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Chief Design Officer, proudly.
'I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter.'
Visitors to the Kia stand in hall 3.1, booth A21, will also see the world premiere of the all-new three-door Rio and a refresh of the Kia Soul.Source - Kia
KIA MOTORS' GT CONCEPT VEHICLE SIGNALS A NEW DESIGN DIRECTION FOR THE BRAND AT THE 2011 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
Kia GT is Brand's First-Ever Rear-Wheel-Drive Concept• GT's graceful and confident styling reminiscent of iconic 1970's GT cars
• Sports sedan is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine wîth 395 horsepower
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the fastest growing car company in the Ú.S.1, and the brand, which has recently undergone a design-led transformation, continued to turn heads today at the Los Angeles Auto Show wîth the North American introduction of the striking Kia GT concept vehicle during the show. The forward-lòòking Kia GT concept – originally shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show – signals the company's distinctive new design direction wîth graceful yet confident styling and is the first rear-wheel-drive concept in Kia's history.
'Over the past three years Kia's design-led transformation has delivered more new products than any other brand, and the first showing of the striking GT concept on Ú.S. soil provides a glimpse into our future showroom and the continuing role world-class design will play in the development of our vehicles,' said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. 'With its rear-wheel-drive platform and powerful engine, the GT concept represents exciting possibilities for Kia as we move forward to the next chapter in brand history.'Sleek and muscular, the Kia GT four-door sports sedan concept was created by Kia's European design team under the watchful eye of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer. The new concept allowed Kia to explore exciting new visual paths, including a unique interpretation of the Kia-family tabbed grille wîth a carbon-fiber insert to match the front and rear fascias and side sills.
Triangular swept-back headlamps wîth pronounced outlines flank the grille and transition seamlessly to the sloping hood and up to the wide windshield. The extended hood along wîth the rear-wheel-drive configuration also allowed for the design team to push the front wheels to the extreme front of the car to increase its sporty design. The swooping angle from windshield to rear window enhances the GT's aerodynamic presence, while vent-like tail lights, powerful rear shoulders and truncated rear end add to the vehicle's hunkered down appearance. Propeller-style rims complete the dynamic look.
The GT's front and rear-hinged back doors open slightly upward to ensure easy ingress and egress, and the spacious cabin provides comfortable seating for four, assisted by the concept's unusually long wheelbase of 112.6 inches and overall length of 184.6 inches. Despite its low stance, an overall height of 54.3 inches allows for plenty of headroom.The GT is not all looks, however, packing plenty of heat under the hood. Coupled wîth an eight-speed automatic transmission is a 3.3-liter turbocharged Lambda V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine, allowing the rear-wheel-drive sports sedan to offer a thrilling 395 horsepower and 393.5 pound-feet of torque.
Design-Led Transformation and Product Line
Kia Motors has undergone a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important §egmènts at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand's continued gains in Ú.S. market share. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and brand growth through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and new technology. Kia's commitment to the Ú.S. market is represented by its Ú.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – which is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and added the critically acclaimed Optima midsize sedan2 to its production line in September. Kia's model year 2012 vehicle line includes the Sorento CÚV, Sportage compact CÚV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.Source - Kia
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| Kia Motors America Announces Strong April Sales | |
| IRVINE, Calif., May 1, 2013 – With the first deliveries of the all-new 2014 Cadenza and Forte sedans taking place throughout the month, Kia Motors America (KMA) today reported best-ever April sales of 47,556 units. The U.S.-built* Optima midsize sedan led Kia's sales for the 17th consecutive month with 14,678 units sold, and together with Sorento CUV, also built in West Point, Georgia*, accounted for nearly 50 percent total sales for the month. The Soul urban passenger vehicle also recor...[Read more...] | |
| 'Ferrari Supercar. Technology. Design. Myth' Exhibition Opened Today | |
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| NEW CAR BUYERS RANK THE KIA SORENTO AND SPORTAGE AS THE BEST VALUE IN THEIR SEGMENTS | |
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| Toyota Motor Sales Outpaces Industry with 17.2 Percent November Sales Increase | |
| Best-Ever RAV4 November, Strong Camry and Corolla Sales Among Highlights TORRANCE, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2012) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported November 2012 sales results of 161,695 units, an increase of 17.2 percent compared to the same period last year on both a daily selling rate (DSR) and a raw volume basis. The Toyota Division posted November total sales of 138,976 units, an increase of 17.3 percent on a DSR basis from November 2011. 'Replacement...[Read more...] | |
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