Kia might name it’s latest mini MPV model as Kia KV3
Kia Sedona and Rondo minivans have been on the market for years and both are already established and very well known nameplates among similar people-movers out there. Neither of them has been particularly successful, but their sales results haven’t been bad either, especially in the US market where Sedona’s sales has been on increase lately, while Rondo continuously beats it’s main rival Mazda5 in terms of sales each month.
As you know, Kia keeps it’s range of cars expanding fast and each year the company ads one or two new models to it’s line-up. So far, this year we have seen the funky Kia Soul hitting the market, while later in the year we are expecting to see the Forte Koup making its way into the Kia showrooms.
But that’s not all, at about the same time as US will get the 2010 Kia Forte Koup, Europe will see the official unveiling of the new Kia mini MPV model, which will be joining Sedona and Rondo as a third people mover in Kia’s line-up. Codenamed YN, the new Kia mini-MPV is unfortunately destined for the European market only and there are no plans to export it to the States.
In Europe, similar mini-MPVs have been really popular and the segment has been on a rise with more new models coming-in each year. So such people mover is what Kia lacked until now to compete head to head against Opel Meriva, Renault Modus and Nissan Note – all belonging to the mini MPV segment.
Earlier this year Kia gave us an opportunity to take closer look at the No3 concept car, which was the vehicle that previewed the final YN product. Now, only a few months later and we can see a slightly disguised production-ready model being tested by Kia’s engineers in Europe. The new model is, surprisingly(!), benchmarked against Opel Meriva which has been on sale for like five years already and is getting a replacement at about the same time as Kia YN.
Production name Kia KV3?
The new model will be officially launched at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show in September this year while it’s European sales is expected to commence by February 2010. The new Kia MPV will share it’s underpinnings with the Soul crossover and it’s platform, as well as engines and transmission, will also be used in the next generation Rio sub-compact car.
What’s really very interesting about this all-new Kia model is it’s official name. There has been a lot of speculation on renaming scheme that Kia has reportedly been having in the plans. I have already talked about that and also mentioned that Kia could start using numeric names on some of it’s future models. It’s very likely that Kia will use the KV3 nomenclature on it’s YN mini-MPV car. The KV3 means: “K” for Kia, “V” for the versatility of a MPV vehicle and “3″ being the model line. [Source: Carmagazine ]
May 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 am
The Rondo is much better than the Mazda5. I drove a Mazda5 last week in Los Angeles on the freeway, the Piece of Crap was all over the road. It would follow the rain grooves and toss the car all over the place, it felt like i was driving during an earthquake. The Rondo smokes the Mazda in handling and quality. Can’t wait to see whats coming next, these guys have a dream and they make it happen. Makes me glad to be part of the team..
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 am
lolz at ur drive in d maz5!
anyway, i think the alpha-numeric naming is the best option now after the ‘Borrego’ lol! XD
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
This YN looks pretty mean, doesn’t it? I can’t wait to see it in the flesh.
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I don’t like the sound of KV3. WAY too try-hard luxo brand. Be creative and come up with an awesome, catchy, chic name to suit the gorgeous car. PLEASE KIA!
May 23rd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Using numeric names really shows laziness to me. Do whatever the hell you want in Europe. Start doing that numeric shit in the USA, and a lot of people will be pissed!
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I agree, give the No.3 a word-name, not a number name. The Kia Cricket? Looks like a Cricket to me, they are a cell-phone company, though. I don’t know, just don’t give it a number-name Kia!
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 pm
The alpha-numeric system doesn’t make sense to me. V for versatility? Why wouldn’t it be M for MPV? And if it is number three in the line-up, what are one and two?
May 24th, 2009 at 7:02 am
wouldn’t the KV stand for Kia Vehicle?
May 24th, 2009 at 9:29 am
New use for old bags
http://www.break.com/index/airbag-powered-skateboard-nutshot.html
May 24th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Kia Versatile
May 24th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
If anything it SHOULD be KM3. Why V for versatility? I don’t get that. OR, INSTEAD OF USING ALPHA-NUMERIC, USE A NAME!!
May 25th, 2009 at 2:06 am
What is with this versatility thing? Calling this tiny thing versatile is like calling the Rio5 versatile! When was the last time you saw someone using a Rio5 for anything other than getting groceries or commuting?? Get real.
May 25th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I use my Rio5 for everything but four wheeling. I put a small trailer hitch on back of it and use it to too haul a small trailer when I need to get something I can’t squeeze into the car. Rio5 and the Spectra5 are the only way to go unless you just need a commuter car..
May 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Its bigger than the current Rio. It would be a good move if they brought this over as an Accent for the US, it looks elegant, and Hyundai is going for that image. The Grille would be dramatically different if they did that of course. Hyundai/KIA Europe will also have different looking cars as well as the Names, than Hyundai/KIA America. The US Accent is supposed to look different than the i20 yet using the same platform. In the Future the Elantra will look different than the i30. They will be designed for US and Korean specs in mind.
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Some rumors, also point to a Hyundai version, as an i25 replacement for the Very Aged Trajet in Europe.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Look at how the Forte looks drastically different than the c’eed. That will be the future of Hyundai/KIA design.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Alpha-Numeric names only work for premium brands. And as much as we all love KIA….
KV03 does not have the same sexy sound as 911, R8, F430, M5 or C63(AMG)…
May 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
In 2001 alpha-numeric would have been cool, when there was no Hyundai i10, i20, i30…., no Citroen c1, c2, c3…. no Mazda 1,2,3…. and so on. Now it would mean no other than Kia being a me-too product.
May 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
tht is a valid point
May 27th, 2009 at 4:39 am
I will say, I am not a fan of the alpha-numerics either. They hit spot on with the Soul. A change to numbers and letters just doesn’t really have any type of appeal to it. And as others have pointed out, there are a lot of brands that are using the this theme. I personally think there are too many out there – I know I get confused sometimes. Keep it unique Kia, that’s where you need to be heading.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:15 am
I think the Alpha Numerics will be a non North American non Korean thing only. They will either keep the names, or change them to to Alphas only here in the States. KIA has a horrible reputation in Europe. At least here in the US KIA is past that stage. Testers here like KIAs more than Testers in Europe. However, KIAs are built in different facilities for European sale than American sale. People do say that the Korean plants make better quality products than their European counterparts.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Rios, Cerratos, Optimas, etc… in Europe were seen with the same disgust as if you said Yugo here in the US. KIA had to radically change the names in Europe to move past the reputation.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I could live with KV-3 being No.3′s production name.