Boasting an impressive lineup for the magnitude of the Seoul Motor Show, Kia performed the world debut of three new vehicles at the South Korean capital including the firm's first ever hybrid model, the Forte LPI Hybrid that will go on sale in Korea this August. Also on stand were the second generation Sorento that will make its European premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this fall and the KND-5 concept sedan that has gathered a lot of positive reviews for its tasteful exterior design.
Our South Korean sources -chic- have provides us with the first videos of Kia's reborn Sorento that was unveiled at the 2009 International Seoul Motor Show that runs for the public from April 3 to 12. Unlike its more rugged predecessor that featured a body-on-frame structure, the 2010 Sorento uses a unibody architecture as Kia aims to target the more lucrative crossover segment. Depending on the market, the new Sorento will be available with 4-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines plus a 277HP 3.5-liter V6 petrol. Watch both promotional videos after the jump or click here for more info and high-res pictures.
This near-production concept car is the Kia KND-5 and it made its world premiere alongside the new 7-seater Sorento CUV at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. Boasting an aggressive four-door coupe styling in the likes of Volkswagen's Passat CC (the reference to VW's model was not by chance...), the KND-5 give us a pretty good idea of what the production version that's scheduled to debut in Korea in late 2009, and most likely, in other markets including North America and Europe, in 2010, will look like.
The KND-5 measures 4,945mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,475mm high with a wheelbase of 2,845mm, meaning that it is roughly the same size as the firm's Amanti sedan which is known in many markets as the Opirus. Power is provided by Hyundai group's 3.5-liter V6 Lambda gasoline engine that produces, depending on the model, between 275 and 310HP.
Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO, International Business Division, said, "The aggressive and sophisticated KND-5 exemplifies Kia's futuristic design and values. As a concept car that presents the new direction of luxury sedan design, KND-5 will likely generate a lot of buzz at the Seoul Motor Show."
Our take? It appears that Kia has began reaping fruits of Peter Schreyers labor as the company's head designer.
Live pics courtesy of Kia World
Kia took the wraps off its second generation Sorento today at the opening of the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in Korea (April 3 - 12). Partially inspired from the KND-4 concept, the new Sorento is bigger than the model it replaces with seating for up to seven occupants but also less capable off road as the Korean automaker ditched the body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell - hence the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) moniker."The dynamic design of new Sorento adopts simple, linear lines to create a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, the new Sorento represents a new breed of vehicle," commented Kia's chief designer, Peter Schreyer.
Longer and lower, the new Sorento measures 4.7 meters or 185-in. in length and can accommodate seven passengers in three rows of seats. Kia claims that interior headroom is increased by 64 mm (to 906 mm) and legroom by 102 mm (to 795 mm) while luggage space has been increased by 15 percent (258lt behind the 3rd row and 1,047 behind the 2nd row), thanks to moving the tailgate back by almost 70 mm.
Depending on the model and the market, the new Sorento will be equipped with keyless entry, engine start button, reversing safety camera, built-in sat-nav and panoramic glass sunroof and a six, eight or 10-speaker audio system, with MP3 and iPod connectivity.
Kia's all-new Sorento will be offered with up to four different engines. In Korea, buyers will able to choose between three engines, including a 2.7-litre V6 unit running on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) that delivers 165HP and 244 Nm of torque, a four-cylinder 2.4-litre Theta II petrol engine with 175HP and 225 Nm, as well as a new four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel producing 197HP and 435 Nm.
Aside from the 2.4-liter petrol unit, in North America, the new Sorento will also be offered with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 277HP and 335 Nm. Depending on the engine, the Sorento can be equipped with five-speed and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Sorento buyers will be able to select between two-wheel and four-wheel drive layouts. The 4WD versions can tow trailers weighing up to 2,500 kg or 5,511 lbs.
"With the new Sorento, we have created an all-new, seven-seater CUV that will soon be recognized as an 'exciting all-rounder' with a much broader customer appeal," commented Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO of the International Business Division. "Despite the current economic uncertainties, we are confident that the new Sorento will significantly increase Kia's share of the CUV market, achieving annual global sales of 140,000 units from 2010," he added.
Worldwide sales of the new Sorento are expected to begin towards the end of the year.
These are the first official photographs of the new 'Genesis Prada' that will make its world debut at the Seoul Motor Show on April 2. Created by the Korean automaker in partnership with Italian luxury goods maker Prada, the special edition Genesis will be built in a mere three examples, with one car remaining with Hyundai while the other two cars will be auctioned for charity with all income donated to an institution which will be announced at a later stage.
So what makes the Prada edition stand out from the rest of the Genesis range? Well, on the outside Prada's designers chose a matte metallic midnight blue finish combined with metal parts in titanium. Furthermore, the dark matte plated gold replaces the existing shining chrome for the radiator grill, the emblem, and the outer handles while the Genesis also gets a neat set of 20-inch alloy wheels and an outer antenna with edge shape, all designed by Prada's stylists.
For the interior, the Italian fashionistas dressed the dashboard and the upholstery in "saffiano" leather while Hyundai claims that a new special technology was applied to all gold plated details and all wood grain parts - whatever that means.
Source: Hyundai , Via: Hyundai-blog
Following an online leak this past weekend, Kia released a high-resolution photo as well as initial details on its KND-5 concept sedan that will make its world debut at the Seoul Motor Show (April 3-12, 2009). While Kia revealed that the concept study previews a production model that will be revealed at the end of the year, the Korean automaker did not make it clear whether or not the KND-5 will replace the Amanti otherwise known as the Opirus.However, the KND-5's exterior dimensions bring it closer to the Amanti than to the Optima (Magentis in Europe) measuring in at 4,950 mm or 194.9 in. in length (Amanti: 5,001 mm or 196.9 in.) with a wheelbase of 2,845mm or 112 in. (Amanti: 110.2 in.).
The medium-size concept sedan that will be on display at Kia's Seoul stand will be powered by the Hyundai group's 3.5-liter V6 engine.
A photograph depicting what looks to be a near-production concept study of a mid-size Kia sedan has found its way into the web. Word is that the so-called VG Concept most likely previews the next-generation Amanti sedan, but since we do not have any official information, it would be better if we left a question mark until we hear something from Kia. The VG Concept is slated to make its world premiere along with the all-new Sorento SUV and Kia's first production hybrid model, the Forte LPI, at next week's 2009 Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12.Source: TheCarBlogger , Via: Autoblog.com
Korean automaker Hyundai is ramping up its efforts in the hybrid segment with the presentation of an all-new concept car at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show that opens on April 2. The BLUE-WILL is a proposal for a family-sized, dedicated hybrid model in the likes of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The plug-in hybrid powered by an all-aluminum gasoline direct-injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a powerful 100kw (134HP) electric motor
Electric power is stored in a compact Lithium-Ion Polymer battery pack which is located along with the fuel tank under the rear seat to maximize luggage space. The Hyundai group will be the first automaker in the world to apply Lithium Ion Polymer batteries in mass production vehicles when the Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra LPG-Hybrids go on sale in Korea this summer.
Other notable highlights of the BLUE-WILL include the use of recycled PET soft drink bottles for the headlamp bezels and bio-degradable plastics for the interior and the engine cover while the car's panoramic glass rooftop integrates dye-sensitized solar cells that generate power for the batteries from the sun without hurting visibility.
Further details of the concept will be revealed by Hyundai at the Seoul Show.
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