Kia KND-4
Posted by cardesignnews
Along with Hyundai, Kia also failed to display a significant concept at the 2005 Seoul Motor Show, instead displaying the 'used' concepts like the Mesa, and Soul. However for 2007, it is showing the KND-4 concept, a compact SUV/CUV concept, also targeting the younger generation. Whispers around the booth are that KND-4 might be a styling indication of the next generation Sportage.
The overall proportional balance of the KND-4 looks very similar to the Kia Kue concept from the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. Both concepts an extremely fast front and windshield, looking like a one-box, yet with a steeply angled backlight, overall visual weight of the vehicle is located far to the rear, thus giving the overall vehicle a wagon profile. Front-end design of KND-4 also shares many similarities with the KUE, with an almost identical lower 'clenching of the teeth' graphic line.
The KND-4 has good proportion and stance, with large wheels, wide track, long wheelbase, and short front/rear overhangs, supported by a robust wheel-arches, giving the vehicle a 'tough, go anywhere' look. However, the weak sill volume, which could have been much stronger and robust, gives the appearance that the body was just placed on top of the underpinnings. The rear-end design has more than a little similarity to the Volkswagen Magellan concept of 2001.
The interior design is well-executed with simple and flowing surfacing, but doesn't show many fresh styling ideas, as IT functions were the main theme of the design. The next generation High-Definition display, Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) was integrated to the central display, enabling all-in-one system for movies, audio, navigation, and mobile phone display all possible.
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Print | posted on Monday, October 22, 2007 4:21 PM