2003 Kia KCV-3 Concept
Is Kia Moving Upmarket?
Whats going on Kia? First you launch a seriously competitive minivan against the biggest players in the business, and then you turn the 4x4 world on its tail end with the award winning Sorento.
Now the Korean brand seems to have decided its practical image needs some spicing up, in the form of a perky little 4-seat convertible hardtop. Kias KCV-3 concept follows in the footsteps of the brands KCV I fusion-type minivan concept and KCV II crossover pickup/SUV, but only in name.
Where the previous KCVs were all about flexibility and functionality in the dirt, the third generation concept is more about fun on the street. This is evident at first sight, its low slung roadster profile, aggressively raked bodywork and large diameter performance wheel and tire package.
Vertical headlamp clusters, some of the most dominating Ive ever laid eyes on, span more than half of the hood, their triangular shapes tapering to a point over the front wheel arch. A deep rectangular grille protrudes forward at center stage, framing a floating Kia insignia.
From its profile view, a clear Italian influence is present. Starting from the A-pillars rearward, the front fenders swoop downward pulling the side window cutout along for the ride, similar in execution to Lamborghinis Diablo supercar, now out of production. The KCV-3s shoulder lines curve inward when approaching the rear decklid, much like Alfa Romeos current Spyder.
While a massive rear wing initially steals the limelight, a set of twin orange boomerang-style taillights also offer distinctiveness, mirrored by identically shaped red lamps that span the entire width of the KCV-3s rounded derriere to join the two sides together. A thin horizontal LED strip performs backup lighting duties, complicating what would otherwise be an extremely clean design. The lower fascia incorporates rectangular tailpipes, visually connected by a separator line that creates the illusion of a rear diffuser panel.
What might be most interesting about the KCV-3 is that, despite its styling influences, it wasnt designed in Italy like so many of its Korean counterparts, but rather was penned in the Asian country of its origin. This makes its final assembly in France even more interesting, Kia deciding to go with custom coach builder Huliez for this one off concept, due to its experience with retractable hardtops.
The collapsing roof is just one of the prototype roadsters standout features, another being its 2+2 practicality. Personally, I couldnt even consider a sports car that only offered driver and front passenger seats, what with two kids and another on the way. I always appreciate spending a week with Porsches 911 because it fills my needs for fun and functionality; something that has also recently been addressed by Mazdas enticing RX-8, Infinitis G35 Coupe, plus a raft of new sports coupe alternatives.
The retractable hardtop, a 1922 technology developed by Ben Ellerbeck and applied to an early Hudson, improved upon by French designer and engineer Georges Paulin who put them into limited production on early 30s Hotchkiss and Lancia cars and later on the more popular Peugeot, has been recently perfected by Mercedes-Benz and others. It offers the best of both convertible and coupe worlds, letting the sunshine in when the opportunity arises and then sheltering occupants from more inclement weather at the touch a button. Like the Mercedes-Benz retractable tops, the rear decklid lifts backwards clamshell-like, while the glass roof folds into the trunk.
Safety concerns that usually go hand in hand with convertibles are rectified with the retractable hardtop design too, its rigid shell offering improved protection over soft-tops in the event of a rollover.
Popping the top offers a clearer view of the concepts warm and inviting interior. Organically shaped surfaces are covered in high-grade plastics and rich cream leathers, accented with body-color and brushed aluminum trim. A large infotainment screen is positioned just forward of the automatic transmission shifter on the lower console, the most complicated element of a minimalist design. Only the metallic 3-dial heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls (HVAC) and an overly large hazard light switch are otherwise exposed, a fresh approach.
The KCV-3 goes minimal under the hood too, with a relatively stock 4-cylinder producing an estimated 145 horsepower and a confirmed 140 lb-ft of torque. Does its parts bin supplied powertrain point the new concept toward possible production? Sometimes this is a sure sign of a road-going prototype but often its just the result of a design study needing to get from trailer to stage without the need of human intervention. Most likely the latter is the case for the KCV-3.
The fact that Kia is even teasing show goers with such a dramatic sports car concept is news enough though, showing the feisty Korean automaker is dead set on moving its image up a notch or two, as it guns for an even larger chunk of the middleclass market. And who knows, with Hyundai conjoined at Kias hip, through the larger companys partial ownership, and the most recent showing of the Tiburon-based CCS retractable hardtop concept, economies of scale may allow Kia to take advantage of a common technology. Maybe something like the KCV-3 will be built after all?