RE: Can you tell what it is yet? Kia readies restomod
RE: Can you tell what it is yet? Kia readies restomod
Thursday 3rd October 2024

Can you tell what it is yet? Kia readies restomod

This Sunday's Bicester Scramble will debut a transformed Kia Heritage Fleet car - but which one?


Kia has some form when it comes to making wild one-offs; anyone keen on a fast saloon will fondly remember the GT420 Stinger of a few years ago. The beach buggy Soul EV was cool, too. Now it’s having another go, with a car to debut at this Sunday’s Bicester Scramble. 

Kia hasn’t confirmed what it’ll be, however, only saying for the moment that the donor car is from its heritage fleet and that the performance of its restomod will boast ‘a similar power-to-weight ratio to various hot hatches of the 1970s and 1980s, with a focus on driver engagement.’ Which sounds right up our street. And means it’s unlikely to be, say, an original Sportage.

If we were betting folk, we’d say this is a Kia Pride, surely the most likely candidate for that remit and power-to-weight claim. The headlight design in the teaser shot looks vaguely familiar, too. Or a Picanto would make sense. As the vehicle serves as part of Kia’s 80th-anniversary celebrations, a car called Pride would be very apt.

But we’re not absolutely certain, and it’ll be those at Bicester on Sunday who find out first. Ahead of full details being published on Monday, those at Scramble will be given the lowdown a day early. Sounds well worth seeing: that GT420 looked great, and a car for the 80th anniversary won’t have wanted for budget. Be sure to tag us in any pics if you do see it. 


Author
Discussion

siwhit

Original Poster:

99 posts

210 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Kia Pride?

Dr G

15,964 posts

271 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Pride with a bolt-in battery and motor where the gerbils used to be.

Deranged Rover

4,653 posts

103 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
I'd love it if they'd turned an EV6 into a supercharged PV6!

S600BSB

8,354 posts

135 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Does anyone really care..

Amanitin

542 posts

166 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?

fantheman80

2,599 posts

78 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
yeah it cant be a big team...maybe an intern.....

Kia have only been good surely in the last 7 years, I have socks older

Turbobanana

8,366 posts

230 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
fantheman80 said:
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
yeah it cant be a big team...maybe an intern.....

Kia have only been good surely in the last 7 years, I have socks older
They don't have to have been good for there to be heritage.

Bencolem

1,183 posts

268 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Isn’t Kia’s heritage basically in Mazda?

And “anyone keen on a fast saloon will fondly remember the GT420 Stinger of a few years ago.” is a bit of a stretch.

Only old Kia worth transforming with a modern power to weight ratio would be the Kia Elan…

Mr Tidy

31,418 posts

156 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
Kia and heritage had me stumped too!

The first one I remember seeing was a Kia Pride, and that wasn't exactly something to be proud of.

911Spanker

3,642 posts

45 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
Kia and heritage had me stumped too!

The first one I remember seeing was a Kia Pride, and that wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..

GTRene

22,445 posts

253 months

Saturday 5th October 2024
quotequote all
maybe they do a 2006: Kia Sidewinder



or the 2014: Kia GT4 Stinger


Silvanus

6,910 posts

52 months

Saturday 5th October 2024
quotequote all
911Spanker said:
Mr Tidy said:
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
Kia and heritage had me stumped too!

The first one I remember seeing was a Kia Pride, and that wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..
I agree with not having much History, but not not sure why anyone would class them as a st brand, I'd say quite the opposite.

Jon_S_Rally

4,451 posts

117 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
911Spanker said:
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..
I think that's a bit harsh. Given where it was 20-odd years ago and where it is now, there is plenty to celebrate. Sure, it might not be for fast and exciting cars, but the way they have carved out a chunk of the market for themselves in cooking models is to be respected.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
Silvanus said:
911Spanker said:
Mr Tidy said:
Amanitin said:
Kia Heritage?
its probably an age (and cynicism) thing but I can't recall one single Kia/Hyundai worth remembering that is not still in production.
The first Ceed as a turning point, maybe?
Kia and heritage had me stumped too!

The first one I remember seeing was a Kia Pride, and that wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..
I agree with not having much History, but not not sure why anyone would class them as a st brand, I'd say quite the opposite.
Seemed a bizarre comment for sure.

kambites

71,466 posts

250 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
yes I think Kia are one of the, if not the outright, best makers of "white-goods" cars there is at the moment. They are far from "st", just not very interesting.

Triumph Man

9,586 posts

197 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
kambites said:
yes I think Kia are one of the, if not the outright, best makers of "white-goods" cars there is at the moment. They are far from "st", just not very interesting.
Colleague of mine has a 2018 Rio - quite an impressive little car. I haven’t driven it so can’t comment - but it’s well equipped, and well built.

Looks like a Pride under the tarp though - still, amazing how far they’ve come. Their success is well deserved.

Jon_S_Rally

4,451 posts

117 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
I guess this will probably be electric, but it would be fun if they fitted an internal combustion engine to one and have it the sporting treatment. A pepped up version of the 1.0-litre turbo would be more than enough.

BenS94

3,245 posts

53 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
Anything yet?

AKjr

653 posts

40 months

Sunday 6th October 2024
quotequote all
Jon_S_Rally said:
911Spanker said:
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..
I think that's a bit harsh. Given where it was 20-odd years ago and where it is now, there is plenty to celebrate. Sure, it might not be for fast and exciting cars, but the way they have carved out a chunk of the market for themselves in cooking models is to be respected.
Good post. There's some right miserable sods around here hehe

nismo48

7,017 posts

236 months

Sunday 13th October 2024
quotequote all
AKjr said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
911Spanker said:
Exactly. Kia is a st brand with little history.

"Heritage" is pushing things too far..
I think that's a bit harsh. Given where it was 20-odd years ago and where it is now, there is plenty to celebrate. Sure, it might not be for fast and exciting cars, but the way they have carved out a chunk of the market for themselves in cooking models is to be respected.
Good post. There's some right miserable sods around here hehe
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