2005 Kia KCD-II Mesa Concept
Larger, More Sophisticated SUV Points to Kias Future
Just why the Kia Sorento isnt Americas best selling sport utility is difficult to say. Its extremely attractive, well made, backed by one of the industrys best warranties, and by far more functional than the majority of its competitors, being more midsize than compact despite its compact price, and offering true off-road capability.
While an SUVs 4x4 potential is arguably a moot point, with the majority of buyers in this segment never attempting to venture off-pavement, the Sorentos other attributes make it a solid winner in the compact to midsize class, and one of the reasons it has garnered so many awards the world over.
A constant question by automotive market analysts about where the automaker will take its flagship SUV may have been answered at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Wednesday morning, January 11th.
Directly after showing the assembled media how the South Korean brand will maintain its strong sales position in the all-important subcompact segment, by introducing the all-new 2006 Rio, Kia showed where it may be headed at the other end of the economic scale - at least as far as entry-level brands go.
A chorus of oohs and ahs could be heard from those in attendance when the KCD-II Mesa concept pulled onto the stage, an impressive reaction from a somewhat jaded crowd of automotive journalists at that time on their third day of new model and concept introductions.
But the Mesa deserved the adoration, as it comes across as more than merely an automaker design departments flight of fancy, but rather an insiders look at where the next generation Sorento may be headed.
As mentioned, the Sorento has always been a good looking sport utility. Now it looks as if this quality was no accident, and if the Mesa can be considered similar in design to the styling direction Kia is targeting for the Sorento replacement, a legacy of attractive SUVs will have been initiated.
The Mesas grille is as bold as any Kia has ever been, and this side of a Hummer about as intimidating as most anything currently on the road. Hopefully Kia wont shy away from the vehicles aggressive nature, as tough, in-your-face design is popular now, evidenced by the success Dodge has had with its Ram pickup line, Durango SUV, Magnum crossover wagon, and will without doubt experience with its new Charger sedan. Bold has made Chryslers new 300 the star car of the 2004, still a hit at auto shows across the nation despite being almost a year old.
Contrasting the three-slat chrome grille, are elegant headlamp clusters that fold around the front corners of the SUV to meet up with heavily sculpted fenders, integrating muscular wheel arches stuffed with large 22-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch 305/45R/45 all-terrain tires.
The Mesas hood is unusually flat, giving the SUV more of a utilitarian appearance than the majority of its would-be rivals.
"Like Hummer and Jeep, Kia has a history of building military vehicles, and we drew on that legacy to bring utility to life in the Mesa," said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia Design at the Hyundai . Kia Motors Design & Technical Center in Irvine, California.
Despite the rogue toughness its chunky qualities depict, its windscreen is sportingly raked backward to mirror the front fascia, no doubt optimizing aerodynamic principals to reduce wind noise and allow the SUV to the slip through the air more efficiently.
The roofline dips down dramatically when reaching the C-pillar, or at least it appears to. In reality it continues on toward a somewhat vertical tail, the rear quarter comprised of tinted glass, while the body-color C-pillar arcs toward the Mesas bulging flanks. Softly angled taillamps are remotely similar to those on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mitsubishi Endeavor, but nevertheless have a distinct quality that cant be directly associated to any previous design.
The liftgate incorporates unique character lines as well, with a tall bustle that makes the SUV look planted to the ground. Adding to the vehicles visual solidity, are unusual creases on the rockers, breaking up would have otherwise been slab-sided styling, while adding greater depth to the overall design.
Under closer observation these rocker creases are actually retractable running boards, produced by Algonquin. They make reaching anything attached to the roof carrier easy, and provide a handy step for getting in and out of the vehicle. This idea is hardly new, of course, with Lincoln already including retractable running boards on its Navigator. The thought of such devices on a Kia, however, is something to consider. Like the Navigator, the running boards are triggered automatically when any door is either opened or closed, moving down and out when the door is opened, and tucking back into place, like the landing gear of an airplane, when the doors are closed. Why go to all the trouble? Theyre just one less thing that wont snag, or get damaged when off-road.
In similar fashion Kia has integrated an electrically controlled "drop" panel below the rear bumper that exposes a trailer hitch when open. The panel also doubles as a step, making it easier to access the rear of the roof.
"Designed to be rugged enough for play on the weekends yet sophisticated enough to take to the theater at night and the office on weekdays, the Mesa really brings everything you could ever want in a truck to the table," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia president and chief executive officer. "Whether you work hard or play hard, Kias Mesa concept SUV can provide the best of both worlds."
At first glance the new concept looks larger than Kias midsize Sorento; a belief substantiated after a quick read of the Mesas exterior dimensions. At 192 inches in length, 77.8 inches in width, 71.6 inches in height, and spanning a wheelbase of 116 inches, the Mesa is lengthier than the Sorento by a substantial 12.2 inches, wider than the front-wheel drive Sorento by 4.4 inches and slightly broader four-wheel drive model by 3.6 inches, taller by a nominal 0.04 inches, and features a wheelbase thats 9.3 inches greater.
The additional size translates into a much larger cabin, of course, and the option of 7-occupant accommodation. This feature will be important to the Sorento replacement, as most of its midsize competitors are either currently offering a third row of seats, or have announced increased seating capacity is forthcoming.
Whether or not Kias Sorento replacement will feature anything near the Mesas interior design, is questionable. The automaker has gone all the way with this one, featuring a black, orange and aluminum-trimmed cabin that would be sure to brighten up the mornings of even the most lethargic early-riser.
Still, Kearns considers the SUVs interior minimalist, stating, "The Mesas highly usable interior design leans toward minimalism, while the exterior portrays the unique go-anywhere, do-anything attitude that Kia buyers have come to expect from the brand."
The seats are form-fitting buckets styled after those in Kias Paris-Dakar
and Baja off-road-racing trucks, replete with everything but the three-point harness seatbelts. Theyre finished in black leather, accented with orange stitching to match their orange backsides. Did I mention that its not only the front seats that are designed with racing in mind, but those in the second and third rows as well? Thats right, all six buckets look great, more like some advanced video game module than something to drive Johnny to soccer practice in.
Johnny will appreciate the dual full-length panoramic glass sunroofs overhead, when hes not watching the nine-inch video monitor
thats part of the onboard DVD entertainment system that produces sounds through a high-end audio system featuring low-profile speakers integrated into the headliner, replacing the door speakers. The video screen drops down out of the SUVs center spine that splits the sunroofs, similar in layout to Nissans unorthodox Quest minivan. The overhead console is also useful for storage of light items, such as sunglasses and headphones.
The Mesa also features an overhead vent system with independent HVAC controls for passengers in the rear. Roof-mounted switches up front operate the programmable garage door opener, electric tow hitch and exterior front search light.
Directly underneath the overhead console is a large central tunnel, separating passengers while serving as an armrest and storage compartment at all positions. Integrated inside is a sliding drawer system front and rear, while soft netting can be found under the front four seats for additional storage. The doors feature two-tier map pockets, and the rear cargo area sports "floating" panels that fold out for stowing what-have-you, as well as handy power outlets.
Theres a great deal of glass throughout the cabin, giving it an airy ambience, and the Mesas turret-style wrap-around windshield looks to provide excellent visibility for driver and front passenger.
While the gauges in front of the driver depict classic Swiss timepieces, the toggle switches on the center stack are all business, rugged in appearance and looking to be actuated easily, even with gloved hands. Additionally theres a convenient cell phone storage area between the metal bars and I.P. Adding to the robust ambience of Kias concept SUV is a heavy-duty gear selector, connecting through to a five-speed automatic transmission.
That would be a variation of the new five-speed automatic transmission now available in the updated 2005 Sorento, an important advancement being that the SUV labored with a 4-speed automatic up until this time.
Likewise the Mesa is powered by Kias existing 3.5-liter DOHC V6, also part of the stock Sorento package. Kia makes a point, however, that the engine compartment is large enough to accommodate the automakers next-generation of powerplants. Just what configurations those next-gen engines will incorporate is not mentioned.
The 24-valve, SOHC 3.5 in the Mesa features multi-port electronic fuel injection and a dual-mode intake system, optimizing low end torque, critical for launching heavyweight SUVs, as well as high-end horsepower needed for passing at highway speeds.
Equipped with, the engine delivers the kind of low-end torque and high-end horsepower that fits the broad requirements of a high performance sport-utility vehicle.
Kia says it has "aggressively tuned" the Mesas suspension system, so that it "delivers performance in either rear or four-wheel-drive configurations."
Adding to the driving enjoyment is Adaptive Cruise Control (ADC), Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and a keyless pushbutton start.
Something enthusiasts will be pleased to hear is that Kia has not yet dismissed allegiance to true off-road capability, endowing the Mesa with full-time four-wheel-drive incorporating a system Kia dubs Active Torque Transfer, which shifts power to the front and rear wheels according to road, or trail conditions. Power is either biased 100 percent to the rear or slit between front and rear, up to a 50:50 maximum. The Mesa also gets a limited-slip rear differential (LSD) to increase traction on slippery surfaces.
Complementing the rugged drivetrain is 10.2 inches of ground clearance, ample to scale most obstacles nature throws in its way.
Under the Mesa is a robust fully-boxed frame, exactly what is needed to withstand the extreme bending and twisting that comes with off-road operation. The trucks thick pillars add to its solidity, creating a structure that is not only good in the muck, but also resists deformation in case of an accident.
Not much else is mentioned about the vehicles safety equipment, other than the addition of curtain-type and knee airbags, inferring that dual-stage frontal airbags and side airbags are most likely also included. Whats more, a back-up monitoring system with a pop-up screen enhances rearward visibility, a superb feature that Ive grown to appreciate in various luxury vehicles Ive tested.
Much has been said regarding the Mesas integrated convenience items, however, such as its center-pivoting alligator-style roof rack clamps, capable fastening down objects up to 2.0-inches in thickness, like "skis, snowboards, surfboards, or even building materials from the lumber yard," says Kia.
Another convenient addition is something truly unique. Rather than the rack of flood lamps that Hummer and Jeep offer to customers wanting to light up their neighborhoods, Kia has integrated a powerful center-roof-mounted front LED searchlight, which is also much less resistant to wind than the exposed alternatives. The Mesa also boasts LED fog lamps, headlights and taillights.
Other convenience features include the integration of Bluetooth hands-free technology for cell-phones, internet connection, and the like, plus a heated washer system dubbed Hot-Shot, the inclusion of a power-tilt steering column as well as the requisite power windows and door locks, etc.
While some of the aforementioned items might not make it to production, there is much that Kia says is representative of what we can expect from future Kia trucks.
"The Mesa represents Kias commitment to the North American market," said Butterfield. "Our investment in the U.S. and around the world supports the steady expansion of sales and market share for Kia globally, and we can only continue that growth by showcasing new and inspirational designs like the Mesa for possible future production consideration. Well be carefully gauging the reaction created by the Mesa among the automotive media and the public at the Detroit show."
Well carefully analyze this, Mr. Butterfield. Im one journalist who thinks youre right on track with the Mesa. Costly items such as the power running boards and integrated search lamp aside, the concepts overall styling and accommodating interior would serve Kia well in attracting more buyers. Its a fine example of what an Asian company can do when it decides to set up shop, design house and all, within the market its targeting. This is only the second concept that the automakers new California Design & Technical Center has created, boding well for its future.
When all is said and done, the Mesa is a clear indication that Kia plans to move the Sorento up a notch or two on the desirability ladder. Now, with the new Sportage about to arrive in dealership showrooms across the nation, filling the compact void the Sorento was left to manage after the previous Sportage departed, Kias midsize model has an opportunity to increase in size, quality and content.