Posts Tagged "KIA"

Posted by Joe Simpson

Posted by John O’Brien

While the exterior design of the Kia GT is getting lots of attention here in Frankfurt, the interior is a stunning ensemble of design, craftsmanship, and technology that deserves a mention of its own. Designed by Antonio Manzari and Chan Park, their goal was to create a classically luxurious space that is thoroughly modern. They’ve been successful. The leather-wrapped door panels are beautifully formed and contrast stitched for a cosseting “lounge” feel, while the spectacular TOLED (transparent OLED) IP creates a 3D readout on three separate clear panels, a technology sourced from the mobile phone industry but reminiscent of analog gauges – re-imagined for the future of luxury, brought to you by Kia.

Posted by Drew Meehan

Peter Schreyer’s team at Kia have been one of the consistent winners at the car design game in the past few years, but there was no guarantee that their strength in designing small cars that elevate the company would equate to designing a fantastic super GT. Any worries however, have been proven unfounded. The Kia GT is a lovely sports tourer that wraps beautifully designed sheetmetal around an iridescent leather wrapped interior. It’s not earth-shatteringly innovative in form or concept, with giant suicide-style doors and a DRG that is very evocative of Citroën’s GT Concept, but it does what so many concepts aren’t right now – it impresses.

The car is deceptively large in person, with a huge hood and a hunched-down stance that gives it a power and aggression not unlike the Lamborghini Estoque concept. But while the Estoque was all aggression, the GT has balanced this with a lightness of touch and crispness in its lines that don’t weigh it down visually from any angle.

On the interior, it’s all smooth, flowing lines and lots of leather, much of it in dark but iridescent tones of gold and bronze that wouldn’t be my first choice, but nonetheless give an instant impression of luxury that leaves no doubt as to the future direction of Kia, or their ability to hit any target they want.

Watch out luxury carmakers.

Post by Drew Meehan