Acording to Wardsauto, Kia Motors America will take the wraps off an all-new concept car at the upcoming New York auto show. In a recent interview at the North American International Show, KMA’s President, Mr Len Hunt said: “You’ll see something (based) off (the) Spectra at New York,”
Mr. Hunt declines to give any further details about Kia’s latest addition, but says the model, along with the upcoming Soul cross/utility vehicle due in the U.S. early next year, will be akin to a youth brand of sorts for the South Korean auto maker.
“We’re kind of pitching (the) Soul and this (new vehicle) I’m not supposed to talk about almost like Scion,” he says of Toyota Motor Corp.’s U.S.-only brand aimed at Generation Y buyers.
Hunt says the two vehicles will correlate in much the same way Scion’s original xB CUV and now-discontinued xA subcompact did.
“What we’ve noticed is Kia is being treated as a new brand, a challenger brand, like Scion,” he says. “We have (an advantage that) we’ve been here for 14 years. So your dad didn’t drive a Kia; your dad probably drove a Toyota.”
Kia’s next big step in the U.S. is to move beyond “value” and “practical,” Hunt says. The auto maker hopes a focus on design, to be seen in the Soul CUV and upcoming new model, will do the trick.
Hunt says it’s possible Kia will get a small coupe for the U.S., as will sister brand Hyundai with a model based on the Veloster concept car.
The Kee coupe concept unveiled at the Detroit show initially was intended as a design study, with cues such as the front end to appear in the next-generation Spectra due next year, likely as a ’10 model.
“But after we saw it, we thought we’d really like a sports car, “ Hunt says, adding Kia is “having a very good look” at a production small coupe. [Source: Wardsauto]
January 24th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Wonder what the new concept car would be? I’m so excited to know!
. they should make a sports car!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:45 am
It will be based on TD car. We already have some spy pics of it and Kia will show us a concept of it. Which means Spectra successor is already close to production.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
so basically its like what they did with the bk, eh?
January 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
You mean bk, Hyundai genesis coupe?
January 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
wow i am so excited. I have driver a spectra for the last few years and have been waiting for this day when we hear more about next gen spectra. can’t wait to see it revealed.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Corwin, did you see our next gen Spectra spy shots. We have two sets of images here on blog and in Spectra forum. here is a link: http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/12/20/more-spectra-replcement-spy-shots/
January 25th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Very, very cool information about upcoming youth-oriented models from Kia. Including the Kia Soul and the Spectra-TD. Does this mean a new 4-door is coming to compliment the Kia Soul, himi? And the Spectra-TD will be coming as well? Wow, it sounds like that and the new Kia Kee is turning heads, too.
Enough so that Kia will make a new coupe, size-similar to the very sporty looking Hyundai Veloster we have seen concept pictures of a year or two ago.
January 25th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I don’t know more than what you could read in that article, Bryan. But I’d say the concept, Len Hunt mentioned, will be the preview of future Spectra(TD)…He wasn’t really definite about the concept car and refused to give any further details.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Len Hunt’s on top of things, himi. They’re on the right path and things are going to get even more interesting when these new models come out, too.
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 am
Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I’m glad to join your conmunity,
and wish to assit as far as possible.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 am
Wlcome Damion! Where do you come from? What Kia do you drive?