KIA KND-4 Concept premieres at Seoul Motor Show

Well if you too aren’t from Korea, you’d probably have no idea that the 2007 Seoul Motor Show opens its doors to the public on April 7. Anyway, according to the Korean company the KND-4 concept gives a hint at how Kia’s future compact SUV models might look like. Conceived and created at the Kia Namyang Design Centre, 4466mm-long Luminous Green colored concept is powered by a 2.2-litre VGT diesel engine driving all four wheels via the latest version of Kia’s Active Torque Transfer (ATT). -Click “Read More…” below to see a high-res image gallery and the press release

PRESS RELEASE: Kia reveals new KND-4 concept SUV at Seoul Motor Show

- Exterior styling removes boundaries between urban and rural vehicles

- Four-seat interior is ‘future-oriented’ with AMOLED and Blu-ray technologies

(SEOUL) April 5, 2007 – Kia Motors Corporation is staging the world premiere of its all-new KND-4 concept car today (Thursday) at the Seoul International Motor Show. Designed to reassert Kia’s credentials as a leading brand in the 4x4 and RV vehicle sectors, the new SUV concept car projects a dynamic, powerful character and exudes a strong sense of individuality. Although clearly a ‘concept car,’ the Luminous Green, three-door, 4466mm-long KND-4 gives a bold hint at how future Kia compact SUV models might look.

This is the first Kia vehicle to demonstrate the company’s renewed passion for ‘Designology’ (Design & Technology) – its ongoing commitment to making automobiles that are both more stylish and technologically advanced.

“The KND-4 is an exciting vehicle which showcases Kia’s increasingly sophisticated styling and advanced technologies that will give our future products an even stronger and more distinctive road presence,” commented Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation. “Over time, elements of this concept SUV will evolve into our next-generation lineup, ensuring the continued global popularity of our already competitive 4x4 models.”

The exterior styling of KND-4 is designed to appeal to consumers who crave freedom and an active lifestyle, while removing the traditional boundaries between urban and rural vehicles to create an SUV that looks great in any location. The sleek, rounded nose features LED headlights, while flared wheelarches wrap around large diameter 20-inch wheels and 245/40 R20 low-profile tyres, which appear to bulge out of the vehicle’s form.

The ponounced shoulder line, glass-house profile and sweeping C-pillar give a dynamic flare to KND-4. The full-width rear screen emphasises the interior volume and provides a simple contrast to the complex styling of the LED rear lamp clusters. Short overhangs and a high ground clearance ensure excellent off-road ability.

‘Future-oriented’ High-tech Interior

Designed to seat four people in individual seats, the KND-4’s interior is ‘future-oriented’ with floor, dashboard and door trim panels in metallic finish, highlighted by indirect lighting that reflects in this metallic material and creates an exciting cabin ambience.

The interior is equipped with the most advanced IT technology available to present the driver with information from within and from outside the vehicle. Dominating the centre stack is a next generation AMOLED (Active-Matrix, Organic Light Emitting Diode) display screen which features an ultra-thin screen, ultra-wide viewing angle and ultra-high contrast.

Controlled by multi-function buttons on the steering wheel, the KND-4 offers the driver both Bluetooth and Blu-ray (high density optical disc) technologies, plus a built-in hard disc for the audio player. Blu-ray can store 10 times the information of a regular DVD.

KND-4 is powered by a 2.2-litre VGT diesel engine driving all four wheels via the latest version of Kia’s Active Torque Transfer (ATT) system which, in severely slippery conditions, automatically distributes torque to the wheel or wheels with the best traction.

Conceived and created at the world-class Kia Namyang Design Centre – hence the KND-4 naming – the SUV concept is a clear demonstration that Kia does indeed have ‘The Power to Surprise.’

KND-4 Dimensions

Overall length 4466 mm

Wheelbase 2630 mm

Width 1860 mm

Height 1600 mm

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