Ready to rave at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Kia Motors America (KMA) goes extreme in Sin City with its in-booth activities and tricked-out concept vehicles for the 2008 SEMA Show. Appealing to aftermarket fanatics and concept car enthusiasts alike, KMA dials in the DJ-spun tunes for a sweet showing of the following concepts:
1. Borrego Limited concept extends from the all-new 2009 Borrego midsize SUV, offering four-wheel drive and a sexy stance perfect for urban excursions.
An extension of the all-new Borrego midsize SUV, the Borrego Limited SEMA concept offers a stealth-looking version of the midsize SUV with a monotone black exterior enhanced by limo-tint windows.
Lowered for a sleeker profile and outfitted with flashy 22-inch Avarus Chrome Wheels and Spec-X 285/45R22 tires, this Borrego concept projects an assertive and sophisticated stance fit for a motorcade as much as cruising down the Vegas strip.
2. KOUP concept offers a look into Kia Motors’ evolving design direction with its slanting exterior shape and debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).
3. Soul Burner, designed with a hardcore attitude meant for those who live freely and enjoy life – one of three Soul variation concepts debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
4. Rio5 designed specifically for SEMA is truly a tuner’s car with a KMA-genuine body kit, cat-back exhaust and side sills. Prepared by Mobis Parts Los Angeles (MPLA), the Rio5 concept vehicle based on the 2009 production model is a tuner’s dream.
Evoking the true spirit of customization, the sporty hatchback is complete with a custom Kia-genuine body kit featuring: a revised front mesh grille; blackened headlamps; custom rims; revised strut brace and cold air intake system; a cat-back exhaust and stainless steel door sill plates. The lowered frame sits wrapped around larger wheels and tires by TSW and Goodyear.
“We always enjoy attending and displaying at the SEMA Show as it really lends us the creative and artistic license to push the envelope of our ‘Power to Surprise’” mantra, said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. “The vehicles displayed this year represent not only possible directions for design evolution of the Kia brand, but also express the passion we pour into both our concept designs and production vehicles.”
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November 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
alright! that borrego is sexy! the rio somewhat reminds me of patrick’s cee’d cant wait to see the burner and koup!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Borrego looks absolutely beautiful! Just look at the chromed H-gille and all other chrome accents. Wonderful really!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
The grille doesnt suit the borrego cuz the ‘lips’ of the grille or very small.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
They call the grille Tigers Mouth cause it looks similar to its grin..
November 4th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Well, I really like the grille. Together with three chrome bars on the bumper, they give more upscale look to the it. Other chrome accents are very nice as well and those 22-inch wheels are also great.
Speaking of all these modifications, they don’t seem to be a huge and costly interference into Borrego’s design, so Kia could add them as an aftermarket parts for Borrego. Or introduce these features, just like the name says, on a Borrego Limited model sometime in the future.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
That Bo-rizzle looks ready to hit da inna-city, dawg!
November 4th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Check it all out at kia media! All the photos are there!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I love the gator skin interior!!
November 4th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
yeah, me too. it looks real good from the rear angled too.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
That looks better than the Escalade.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
It doesn’t look better than the Escalade??
November 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
the stock one? not really, IMHO.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Nah, sorry Greg, I think it looks better than the Escalade. I didn’t know what one looked like until I “Googled it” a second ago and I must admit I haven’t seen one in real life. But I didn’t like those headlights and dorky grille. I believe the Borrego looks much better from the front to start with. Obviously you’ve seen both on the road, so you can form a better opinion than I can. I have only seen both vehicles from photographs.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:18 am
where greg lives, the best seller is Kia. He sees a lot of Kias. I dont see escalades at all. the last time I saw one was two months ago on discovery on a show telling about the ‘SUV revolution’.