One of the things buzzing here at the Geneva Salon is Kia’s No. 3, which, although a concept, is close to what will be marketed in 2010. No. 3 is a mini-minivan built upon the Soul platform, but has an unminivan-strong stance, recognizable personality and some pretty nifty details, such as gold Barbie-leather seats. You could tell Peter Schreyer is proud of this first Kia that is 100% his own design. Pistonheads know Schreyer as the Kraut who was responsible for the first Audi TT and the Audi A2. No 3 is also notable for the new Kia corporate grille, which will intend to make Kias instantly recognizable to one and all. Even to the overtaxed motor-show eye, it works without being ostentatious in an Audi sort of way, so one looks forward to the Schreyer treatment on the upcoming mid-class Kia Magentis. All very nice, but what about the oddtastic name? As the PR lady explained to me, Kia will overhaul all its names around the idea of Number One for the smallest, Number Two for the second smallest . . . . “Gasp, you don’t really intend to call them that, do you?” “No, it’s just an idea”, she replied, “we might call them K1, K2, K3 etc, or something else—we’ll see”. Well, that’s a relief.
The styling is very European…to me this could easily be a Germanic Ford (“Kinetic”)or something from one of the French makes. That being said, Mr. Schreyer has quite a resume, with especially the original TT under his reign. If he gives Kia a corporate design theme of Euro-style small cars built with a Korean price, then their success is certain.
Now if only they could hire somebody Japanese to work on durability!
Dimensions are close to the Fit, IIRC. The car deserves a short punchy name if it arrives in the US.
The grille reminds me of the ‘binoculars’ level (4, 20, 36, etc.) in Atari’s Tempest. Not that it’s a bad thing, I suppose that dates me.
Looks like he got this one right. I always though the TT looked like a cross between a Chrysler Airflow and Karmann Ghia.
Down to the wheels, this appears an uninspired rip-off of FoE’s current kinetic design language (but is not nearly as attractive.)
And speaking of design rip-offs, Audi TT, Schreyer?? I thought the retro-rip-off-originals J Mays and Freeman Thomas had already taken all the credit for the TT and the New Beetle?
I insist on what I said when the same car was posted some days ago: this is a Ford Fiesta (the new one) ripoff.
The proportions make it look Yaris/Fiesta-sized, but when you notice the relative size of the seats and steering wheel, you realize it’s much bigger.
It has the Chevy Spark “Humongous Headlight All The Way To The A-Pillar” look, but seems to pull it off better.
Have to see it “in metal”, I suppose.
So will the Number Two come with an eye patch?
Autoblog just posted some pictures from the show floor, it looks pretty good to me in dark grey
probably designed by another german
i wonder what kool aid Hyundai/Kia are drinking
their production and concept models of late have been well designed, well received and design to sell
the big 2.8 do well to take a lesson because the Koreans are eating their lunch
robert.walter: all I know is what I read in Wikipedia…
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Schreyer
Sorry that stuff is German. Would you be kind enough to cite a reference for the (believable) statement regarding J Mays?