Kia KV7 Concept
Matt: Hit and miss. Miss because minivans are all but dead in the water. Hit because minivans are all but dead in the water and this concept may re-ignite this snubbed segment. Its unusual yet familiar shape blends modern styling cues and a familiar design language which Peter Schreyer helped make famous. The cabin is novel and mostly impractical but everyone will agree with the lounge idea.
Mike: Miss. A rolling lounge where passengers can connect to their social media sites instead of talking to each other or playing strip poker sounds boring. The KV7’s styling is sleek and modern, though, and maybe Kia should’ve called it a crossover concept instead of the minivan of the future.
Luc: Miss. Well, well, Peter Schreyer is human after all! The guy does make mistakes every once in a decade. With a Japanese name, this fancy concept could pass as a glorious homage to the Power Rangers. That being said, the KV7 looks way more attractive than the Sedona. And if I had to choose between the new Nissan Quest and this Kia, I would definitely opt for the latter. Take it as a compliment, folks.
Mini Paceman Concept
Matt: Miss. Although I love the idea of an AWD turbocharged 2-door Cooper, I can' t imagine that this tiny car will ever be anywhere near affordable. A 2011 Mini Cooper S retails for $31,000. With this as a starting point, a Paceman would come in at no less than $34,000, the price of a WRX. The Mini might think that it's a premium offering but for the my money, I'll take real performance and capabilities. Case closed.
Mike: Hit. The Paceman, which has been confirmed for production, can only hope to sell by stealing clients away from the Cooper hatchback or the Clubman because they’re too small. The Countryman is, in my humble opinion, the absolute limit you can stretch to within the philosophy of the MINI brand. But the Paceman is a pseudo-truck, so people are going to buy it.
Luc: Hit. A four-door MINI? In the words of my good pal Hugues, Alec Issigonis is certainly rolling over in his grave! Personally, I like it. The brand is finally reinventing itself in striking fashion. After all, we've been used to MINI cabriolets, wagons, vans and even pick-ups since the heydays of the original MINI. However, you won't find anything more creative than the four-wheel drive Paceman SUV. Bravo! Now, let's see if the price is reasonable...
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
Matt: Hit and miss. Miss because minivans are all but dead in the water. Hit because minivans are all but dead in the water and this concept may re-ignite this snubbed segment. Its unusual yet familiar shape blends modern styling cues and a familiar design language which Peter Schreyer helped make famous. The cabin is novel and mostly impractical but everyone will agree with the lounge idea.
Mike: Miss. A rolling lounge where passengers can connect to their social media sites instead of talking to each other or playing strip poker sounds boring. The KV7’s styling is sleek and modern, though, and maybe Kia should’ve called it a crossover concept instead of the minivan of the future.
Luc: Miss. Well, well, Peter Schreyer is human after all! The guy does make mistakes every once in a decade. With a Japanese name, this fancy concept could pass as a glorious homage to the Power Rangers. That being said, the KV7 looks way more attractive than the Sedona. And if I had to choose between the new Nissan Quest and this Kia, I would definitely opt for the latter. Take it as a compliment, folks.
Mini Paceman Concept
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
Matt: Miss. Although I love the idea of an AWD turbocharged 2-door Cooper, I can' t imagine that this tiny car will ever be anywhere near affordable. A 2011 Mini Cooper S retails for $31,000. With this as a starting point, a Paceman would come in at no less than $34,000, the price of a WRX. The Mini might think that it's a premium offering but for the my money, I'll take real performance and capabilities. Case closed.
Mike: Hit. The Paceman, which has been confirmed for production, can only hope to sell by stealing clients away from the Cooper hatchback or the Clubman because they’re too small. The Countryman is, in my humble opinion, the absolute limit you can stretch to within the philosophy of the MINI brand. But the Paceman is a pseudo-truck, so people are going to buy it.
Luc: Hit. A four-door MINI? In the words of my good pal Hugues, Alec Issigonis is certainly rolling over in his grave! Personally, I like it. The brand is finally reinventing itself in striking fashion. After all, we've been used to MINI cabriolets, wagons, vans and even pick-ups since the heydays of the original MINI. However, you won't find anything more creative than the four-wheel drive Paceman SUV. Bravo! Now, let's see if the price is reasonable...