Concept cars

2003 Kia KCV-3 Concept

October 14, 2003

Safety concerns that usually go hand in hand with convertibles are rectified with the retractable hardtop design too, its rigid shell offering improved protection over soft-tops in the event of a rollover.

With a larger chunk of the midclass market in sight, Kia's dramatic sports car concept shows they aren't afraid to push their brand's limits. (Photo: Kia)

Popping the top offers a clearer view of the concept's warm and inviting interior. Organically shaped surfaces are covered in high-grade plastics and rich cream leathers, accented with body-color and brushed aluminum trim. A large infotainment screen is positioned just forward of the automatic transmission shifter on the lower console, the most complicated element of a minimalist design. Only the metallic 3-dial heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls (HVAC) and an overly large hazard light switch are otherwise exposed, a fresh approach.

The KCV-3 goes minimal under the hood too, with a relatively stock 4-cylinder producing an estimated 145 horsepower and a confirmed 140 lb-ft of torque. Does its parts bin supplied powertrain point the new concept toward possible production? Sometimes this is a sure sign of a road-going prototype but often it's just the result of a design study needing to get from trailer to stage without the need of human intervention. Most likely the latter is the case for the KCV-3.

The fact that Kia is even teasing show goers with such a dramatic sports car concept is news enough though, showing the feisty Korean automaker is dead set on moving its image up a notch or two, as it guns for an even larger chunk of the middleclass market. And who knows, with Hyundai conjoined at Kia's hip, through the larger company's partial ownership, and the most recent showing of the Tiburon-based CCS retractable hardtop concept, economies of scale may allow Kia to take advantage of a common technology. Maybe something like the KCV-3 will be built after all?

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