Tuesday 14th August 2007

Kia Shows Us More Of Its TT-Rival

Sports Coupe Concept set to debut at Frankfurt

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Less than one month since Kia teased us

Kia's TT-rival: would you buy one?

with an image of its forthcoming 2+2 Sports Coupe Concept, the Korean car-maker has released another, more descriptive profile shot. Making its debut at September’s Frankfurt motor show, the still-to-be-named coupe isn’t expected to remain a concept for long.

This is the second car to be penned by Kia’s new chief designer, Peter Schreyer - the same bloke who was responsible for the first generation Audi TT. He’s been brought in to shape Kia’s next generation of models and apparently, this coupe shows off Kia’s face of the future.

The press bumf uses words like “uncluttered”,

The Audi R8...sorry, Kia Sports Coupe

“timeless” and “pure”. We think it’s easy to spot that Schreyer is an ex-Audi man – don’t those LED lights look remarkably similar to an R8?  However, in order to inspect the profile properly, we think the showroom lights need to be turned up a little. At first glance, we think the rear haunch appears a bit too bloated for a coupe. Still, making a TT-rivalling coupe is a bold move so perhaps we should reserve judgement until we see the car in the flesh.

[Road_Terrorist]

Rear window is too odd and front lights are a bit gimmicky. Make both less 'concept car' and more production car and I think it could be acceptable style wise. It would be nice to see the whole thing rather than some crappy, poorly lit pictures though.

The other big question is though, how sorted will the chassis/powertrain be?

[A1GOY]

I like the look of the rear end - it looks a bit muscle car-y; but I hope that black streak through the back isn't the rear window. That would be revolting...

[DrGP]

I'm with you on turning up the lights.

This car needs good handling and low price point if it wants a prayer.
If lotus help on the handling then it could be good - but it needs to heavily undercut the opposition on price as the "Audi or Kia?" dilema has only one answer.

[sprinter885]

(In that lighting)-front view looks a little "Laguna meets 5 series" to me.

[Hendry]

DrGP said:

I'm with you on turning up the lights.

This car needs good handling and low price point if it wants a prayer.
If lotus help on the handling then it could be good - but it needs to heavily undercut the opposition on price as the "Audi or Kia?" dilema has only one answer.

Is Lotus help likely? They are a company belonging to regional arch-rival Proton, after all.

I am interested in what car this model is based on - is it the c'eed or the forthcmoming Hyundia copue replacement, which will be RWD... :P

[japes]

Shreyer didn't design the TT though...he just over saw the project from half way through.

[Bizzle]

I think the real question is -
Would you part with £20 grand, for something that had a kia badge on the bonnet?
Not being snobby or anything - but i don't see how a Kia can every rival an Audi. It's like trying to say a childs blue plastic bob the builder watch could rival an Omega.
Don't see it happening.

[DrGP]

Even if Kia made it just as good as the Audi - people would still buy the Audi for the badge. It will take a long time to build the same reputation. In the mean time they must produce a great product and compete on price.

[Alex_S]

That profile shot looks very 'Alfa Romeo Brera' to me. Maybe if Kia came up with some kind of 'prestige' brand that tried to distance itself from the Kia image to market the car under, it would help it sell better, as long as the performance of the car is up to scratch of course.

[grahambell]

Bizzle said:

I think the real question is -
Would you part with £20 grand, for something that had a kia badge on the bonnet?

Well people seem happy enough to part with £20 grand for something with a Hyundai badge on the bonnet, namely the top of the range V6 coupe.

[irs]

switch some bloody lights on.!!!!

[stuartbuckell]

I'm not sure snobbery is so much of an issue, as say 15-20 years ago, when a Skoda really was crap, and the difference between a BMW and VW was huge. These days, with modern manufacturing and CNC machining, cars seem to be built (generally, don't flame!) better than they were. The divide between Korean/Chinese/Jap cars and our trusty German counterparts diminishes daily. (In terms of general engineering, I'm not talking style, or gismos).

That Kia will probably be a very good car.

Got in a new Focus ST the other day, can't believe how solid it feels, major improvement over the old Focus, wonder if it will rust on the welding seams on the bonnet and tailgate, the same as the previous ST my friend had?! Time will tell!

[ih8thisname]

Sorry to go a little off topic here guys, but i am currently studying at academy just now and i would appreciate any info about how to get into the car design buisness??



_______________________________________________________
The best car is the one you have yet to build.
Enzo Ferarri.

[Hendry]

grahambell said:

Bizzle said:

I think the real question is -
Would you part with £20 grand, for something that had a kia badge on the bonnet?

Well people seem happy enough to part with £20 grand for something with a Hyundai badge on the bonnet, namely the top of the range V6 coupe.

And I am not sure you can get a new TT for £20K can you? These will compare even better on the used market. Agree that I feel a long way off buying a Kia though.

[speed-o-phile]

ih8thisname said:

Sorry to go a little off topic here guys, but i am currently studying at academy just now and i would appreciate any info about how to get into the car design buisness??



_______________________________________________________
The best car is the one you have yet to build.
Enzo Ferarri.

I recently just got a diploma in product design in engineering with motorsport at college, and that would have lead me nicely down that very direction. I would either advise college, or start from the ground up at some car firm (u know, from making tea, then 5 years later, designing ferrari's..)

p.s www.cardesignnews.com <-- this sites pretty good for general info.

Edited by speed-o-phile on Wednesday 15th August 00:25

[zebedee]

ih8thisname said:

Sorry to go a little off topic here guys, but i am currently studying at academy just now and i would appreciate any info about how to get into the car design buisness??



_______________________________________________________
The best car is the one you have yet to build.
Enzo Ferarri.

You might want to learn how to spell one of the most iconic marques out there properly before getting into the business...

[speed-o-phile]

zebedee said:

ih8thisname said:

Sorry to go a little off topic here guys, but i am currently studying at academy just now and i would appreciate any info about how to get into the car design buisness??



_______________________________________________________
The best car is the one you have yet to build.
Enzo Ferarri.

You might want to learn how to spell one of the most iconic marques out there properly before getting into the business...

and obviously.. that too..

[DrGP]

speed-o-phile said:

zebedee said:

ih8thisname said:

Sorry to go a little off topic here guys, but i am currently studying at academy just now and i would appreciate any info about how to get into the car design buisness??



_______________________________________________________
The best car is the one you have yet to build.
Enzo Ferarri.

You might want to learn how to spell one of the most iconic marques out there properly before getting into the business...

and obviously.. that too..

and Zebedee should run a spell check for "buisness"

[oagent]

I think its quite a nice Alfa (ish) styling excercise. Would be nice to see something similar make it into production. If the Kia was built on a decent RWD chassis with a V6 then I would certainly choose it over the TT/Golf/Seat/Skoda platform, regardless of the badge.
Im less fussed about these LED front running lights however. Got one of the new Audi coupe's behind me the other day and those lights just looked plain wierd, not to mention very distracting and offering no benefit to the driver of the car.

[horton]

DrGP said:

and Zebedee should run a spell check for "buisness"

LOL.

glass houses/stones/etc