KiaKCV-III Concept

Kia Considers Adding Inexpensive Roadster to U.S. Lineup
Date Posted 09-28-2005

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Peter Butterfield, president and CEO of Kia Motors America, is pushing the Korean manufacturer to add a stripped-down, sub-$20,000 two-seat convertible to its U.S. lineup to evoke a sporty brand image.

Butterfield told WardsAuto.com that the car would be "very, very stripped. No carpets; maybe rollup windows, if you had windows at all; really light; fun to drive; doesn't even have a radio; without an electric top." It would be a car that buyers could accessorize, he said.

Kia showed a small concept roadster, the KCV III, at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show.

Butterfield said no program to produce such a vehicle has been approved. But Kia has said it wants to double its U.S. portfolio to 12 vehicles by 2010.

What this means to you: Everybody wants brand recognition but so few have it. This is the key to Kia's success in the U.S.
(InsideLine)

:lol: That seriously looks horrible. Pulled-back Accord headlamps with a new Subaru grille and an Eclipse beltline.

For what it is, I don;t think it looks all that bad. Even if you hate the funky/cute styling you have to admit it looks better than the Honda Cappucino/Beat.

No...no, the Honda looks better. Its cutsey whereas the Kia just looks stupid, like its getting ready for Halloween and doesn't know what car to go as.

I think the Honda has ZERO sense of style or design direction... look at those wheel wells, the headlights, horrific off-road stance and the pseudo-Mustang-esque side scoop. :puke: The Beat /Cappucino makes the Miata look like a E-type Jag or a '57 Vette. IMHO. The Kia has more style and looks like a French Kappa car.

The Hondas are terrible. I don't like the looks of this car, either. They should just concentrate on Hyundai's Tiburon looking as sexy as the recent concepts they've come out with. Kia doesn't need a version of EVERYTHING they do...

Looking like a French Kappa car is good? Have you seen what the french have been making lately? Pure crap. Renault and Peugeot make very ugly cars. I don't care who says they're beautiful, they're not to me. This car combines all the bad design cues of several different automakers and wraps it in a tiny package. Too tiny for most people.

I like the Kias funky styling, with the exception of the awful awful headlights.

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I think this Kia concept looks muscular and aggressive. The production model will be most likely toned down....they usually are.

It's different, and that in an of itself is a lot better than blending in. I think the styling fits the car's character.... Not everything the French are doing is ugly:

I agree about the French doing some good design....sometimes their cars can appear odd..because they tend to stretch the envelope more than most. French design is rarely bland or boring....often polarized opinions result.

Edited September 29, 200519 yr by HarleyEarl

Yup, they have some really ugly ones but there's a few gems too.

Those crazy

That Yellow Honda is old, and shouldn't be compared to newer cars. The Kia has an ok body design, but the headlights are the worst I've ever seen, I honestly wouldn't be caught dead driving it (and would rather drive the Yellow Honda than that thing).

A small person could reside in one of those headlights.

LOL. It may pain me to say it but it looks retarded.

I could snap that spoiler with two fingers it looks so flimsy. Otherwise it looks great.

Sixty8... You're so stupid. :P The Cappucino is a Suzuki, not a Honda. Anyways, yes, the Beat looks like shit. It's old, though, so you can't judge just by that. As for the Suzuki... I love the looks of it. It's a cool little thing. Compared to the Kia, it looks better, but the Kia looks better than the Honda. Only because it's newer. It's just a mix of cars put all into one. Ugly... Ugh...

Suzuki, Honda they're not that much different. All shitboxes with crappy design, recycled Pepsi cans for body panels and nasty detailing. Just LOOK that that Yellow ugly little crapbox. I don't care WAHT era it came out of it looks hideous. I've seen horse $hit that looked much more appealing. It's like a really pathetic, drunk, braindeda Pinninfarina designer Zombie drew a cartoon car wiht a crayon on the bathroom wall and Honda went ahead and copied it to the millimeter. Look at the disjopinted wheel wells and the horrific lights. Those Pseudo Mustang scoops are just beyond tacky and the rims on the first one would look at home on a Lego set. The SUZUKI Cappucino is better but not much.

All I can say to Kia is...HELL NO! Be the first to be laughed off your street... Could you see these cars being Customized?? :lol: