Last week, Kia teased a mystery concept bound for a Geneva Motor Show unveiling as a way to show off its consistently improving skills in automotive design. With a second batch of teaser photos cropping up on Thursday, it’s now abundantly clear the brand made no small effort to create a shining beacon of vehicular style. But it also happens to have more screens than the TSA, indicating that Kia willingly engaged in one of this year’s biggest concept car styling trends.
Truthfully, the display bandwagon probably left town in 2018 — about the time when Byton revealed a crossover at CES with a screen that literally replaced the entire dashboard, plus one mounted on the steering wheel for good measure. The company could be seen disappearing beyond the horizon, whipping its horses while other manufacturers attempted to catch up and climb aboard.
Now, Kia is holding the reins. And it’s laughing maniacally.
There are key differences between Kia and Byton’s approach. The Chinese firm’s massive central display is clearly intended to be functional — Byton even said it intends to implement it on production vehicles. But Kia’s design is a purely creative pursuit, resulting in something equally beautiful and ridiculous.
The Korean company even called the setup “a humorous riposte to the industry’s current obsession with ever increasing dashboard screens.”
Eloquently insulting other brands and showcasing a sense of humor? You have our attention, Kia.
The concept features a 21 ultra high-resolution screens, synchronized together as they cascade across the dashboard. It’s very pretty, but also much easier to appreciate — as the automaker isn’t trying to convince us it’ll be the next option added to the Sportage or Rio’s order form.
As for the car itself, Kia said it will be an all-electric four-door passenger car with a massive glass roof that “draws together elements of a muscular sports utility vehicle, a sleek and athletic family saloon and a versatile and spacious crossover.” Sadly, the release was not devoid of the fluff that accompanies most concept vehicle announcements.
“Kia prides itself on its power to surprise, which is why we wanted to move away from the rational and focus on the emotional, and embrace a warmer and more human approach to electrification,” said Gregory Guillaume, Vice President of Design for Kia Motors Europe. “After all, electricity is found within every atom – it’s the energy that flows within us and around us on our planet. Harnessing its potential has propelled us from one innovation to the next.”
Rather than view Kia’s mystery concept as some progenitor of a specific model, we’re inclined to see it as a testbed for potential design choices that could gradually find their way into production models. The manufacturer wants to see what the public clings to and how receptive it might be to the choices made.
We’ll have a complete look at those decisions after Kia debuts its new concept on March 5th.
[Images: Kia]
Definitely funnier than oil leaks, fried catalytic converters, and engines that self-destruct thanks to metal shavings left behind after machining, in crankshaft drilled oil passages.
Womp womp.
Hey…nobody was even talking about Corvettes.
Man, your are living in the past. Kia today makes the most reliable cars on the market.
I remember Consumer Reports ranked them as the most reliable car maker a few years ago. Unlike GM and Ford, Kia does not recklessly cancel carlines and alienate customers.
I just watched episode 7 of Star Trek Disco and that steering wheel/dashboard makes me think I still am.
I appreciate the joke but I am sure this car if produced will have at least two screens. I’d now pay a premium for a car with no screens. Just provide a way for me to know my phone is paired for calls, and a way to put my phone into view on the rare occasion I use directions. I currently have a screen in my car and I was elated when a software update included a “true off” setting I can use when driving at night. Now if only I could take the screen off the dash…
My Grand Cherokee has a dedicated “Screen Off” button. It’s nice sometimes.
It’s my favorite button on the dash of my Ford. I don’t need to be so “connected” when I drive, I need situational awareness.
When the speedometer and tach are screens, the only time screens are off is when the car is off.
As always, Saab was way ahead with the “Night Panel” button on the dash… circa 1993….
Damn, I miss my Saab.
“After all, electricity is found within every atom – it’s the energy that flows within us and around us on our planet.”
It’s the Force?
Did you know electrons drift? But not very quickly…