A compact SUV, large four-door 'coupe' and compact
rear-drive sports car are likely to be the next three additional models from Kia
Kia
design chief Peter Schreyer confirmed to motoring.com.au at this week's Geneva
motor show that all three projects remain 'live' within the Korean car maker.
He wouldn't indicate when they might reach showrooms, but
confirmed our recent report that the KX3 compact SUV is a China-only model and
that a production version of the Niro concept revealed at the 2014 Frankfurt
show is more likely for global markets, including Australia, in as little as a
year's time.
"The B-segment [light-size] SUV market is very
important," he said. "We need one soon. We have KX3 for China, but
Niro is different..."
As for the two coupes – Kia's first rear-drive sports
models — Schreyer indicated both the large GT four-door shown at the 2007 and
2011 Frankfurt shows and the compact GT4 Stinger two-door revealed at the 2014
Detroit show were still being evaluated.
"Both projects are very much alive," he said.
"We're still working on them.
However, Kia's
vice-president of design indicated the GT was likely to beat the 235kW 2.0-litre
turbo-petrol powered GT4 into production because the latter would require an
all-new compact rear-drive platform to be developed.
Both versions of the GT concept, on the other hand, were
based on the same large rear-drive platform as Hyundai's original Genesis,
which also donated its 5.0-litre petrol V8.
"We have the technology to make the GT, so the
chances are good [it will reach production soon]," he said.
"The Stinger is smaller, so it needs a new platform
– that's the difficulty with it."
If it reaches showrooms, the GT4 would effectively be Kia's version of the Genesis
coupe and its first serious performance car, following its first turbo-petrol
model, the two-door Cerato Koup, and the three-door Pro_cee’d GT – both 150kW
front-drive models.
Kia
Motors vice-president of overseas marketing SN Lee told motoring.com.au in
December that the imposing GT concept, which featured four seats and rear coach
doors, is now in the R&D stage and could be launched by 2018.
"After unveiling the GT concept we have been blessed
with very positive feedback, and response from the journalists," said Lee.
"So the marketing team requested the R&D side
develop the GT concept, and we are discussing [that] at the moment.
"For the 2018 Kia vision we need
to consolidate our luxury image in the USA market, and in my opinion the GT
concept will play a very important role in consolidating that luxury image. To
realise the GT, we need a more powerful engine... so we are discussing this
with the R&D side."
When it enters production within three years, the GT will
be Kia's answer to the
Genesis sedan, as well as luxury four-door 'coupes' like the Audi A7 and
Mercedes-Benz CLS.
As such, it will be an all-new style leader within the Kia range, positioned alongside
the large K7/Cadenza sedan and the even larger K900 limousine.
Neither of those models are sold in Australia, where Kia's flagship passenger
model is the Optima, and there's no guarantee the GT would ever reach local
showrooms.
Nevertheless, Schreyer said the GT had the potential to
be a trademark model for Kia, in much the
same way the Soul has become.
A third-generation Soul is due for release by 2017, and
it's likely to look a lot like the Trackster concept, said Schreyer.
"As a company with such a short history, it's nice
to have something to build on," he said.
Before the new Soul and all-new compact SUV arrive, Kia Motors Australia will this
year release the redesigned Carnival (March), new Sorento (June), facelifted
Picanto (September), new Optima sedan (October) and new Sportage (December).
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