Kia's sportier, rear-driven future
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Kia's sportier, rear-driven future
Kia's sportier, rear-driven future
28 June 2007
Kia’s future model line-up could be spearheaded by a new affordable sports car, according to company design chief Peter Schreyer.
The German designer, responsible for the original Audi TT, told Autocar that he wants to repeat the trick for his new company. Rumours are that Kia could use sister company Hyundai’s new rear-wheel drive architecture for a new sports coupe.
"Rear drive would make it easier to get great proportions to the design," said Schreyer "but I wouldn’t want to make an expensive car. Any coupe should cost around £20,000."
Schreyer also indicated that designing a "more emotional SUV" is also on his wishlist – possibly with coupé-like styling.
You can also expect more dramatic styling from all Kias in the near future. "We’re going to stop trying to appeal to everyone and move away from Hyundai with a sportier and more dramatic look," said Schreyer.
Kia’s design boss also hinted that a convertible Cee'd should hit the showrooms in late 2009, strongly based on the Excee'd concept seen at this year’s Geneva motor show. Rather than the fashionable metal folding roofs, the Cee'd cabrio will have a conventional fabric roof and be built at the same Slovakian plant as the hatchback.
28 June 2007
Kia’s future model line-up could be spearheaded by a new affordable sports car, according to company design chief Peter Schreyer.
The German designer, responsible for the original Audi TT, told Autocar that he wants to repeat the trick for his new company. Rumours are that Kia could use sister company Hyundai’s new rear-wheel drive architecture for a new sports coupe.
"Rear drive would make it easier to get great proportions to the design," said Schreyer "but I wouldn’t want to make an expensive car. Any coupe should cost around £20,000."
Schreyer also indicated that designing a "more emotional SUV" is also on his wishlist – possibly with coupé-like styling.
You can also expect more dramatic styling from all Kias in the near future. "We’re going to stop trying to appeal to everyone and move away from Hyundai with a sportier and more dramatic look," said Schreyer.
Kia’s design boss also hinted that a convertible Cee'd should hit the showrooms in late 2009, strongly based on the Excee'd concept seen at this year’s Geneva motor show. Rather than the fashionable metal folding roofs, the Cee'd cabrio will have a conventional fabric roof and be built at the same Slovakian plant as the hatchback.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Much of the styling was apparantly taken from the VW Eos convertible, but with VW's poor reliability ratings, I'd buy virtually any Kia over an equivalent VW product. Kias, with the exception of the Sportage, are all average or better in reliability according to Consumer Reports.
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