That doesn’t mean that it needs glasses, or a special treatment, because the Kia Proceed Concept, which is displayed in Frankfurt, features a very complicated paintwork.
It’s called Lava Red, and it’s the result of a week-long paintshop process that saw the combination of 19 hand-applied layers of black, chrome-effect silver, and red tinted lacquer, for a glossy and lustrous finish.
The special paint, which covers the entire body of the brand’s latest show car, is said to enhance its curvaceous body, and to be sensitive to changing light conditions.
“Color and trim played a key role in the development of the car, and our discussions on the look and feel of the Proceed Concept’s cabin took place at the same time as our talks on exterior form. The two dovetailed together perfectly, which is not always the case”, Chief Designer Europe for Kia, Gregory Guillaume.
Some of the exterior highlights include, besides the ‘extended hot hatch’ shape, which could become a third member of the next generation Cee’d family, the dynamic lineage, glasshouse that extends to the tailgate complete with illumination, dramatic roofline, slim waistline, muscular rear end, and 20-inch rims, with central locking.
Finished in Lava Red as the rest of the bodywork, the dashboard and steering column provide an interesting contrast in the cabin. The door linings have been covered in glossy hand-painted fabric, the seats are wrapped in more than 100 meters of black elastane fabric, specially molded by hand to create “rippled and ruched upholstery”, and there is also visible carbon fiber that runs across its full length.
The Kia Proceed Concept can seat four, in the interlinked seats that feature a contoured welcoming wave. The person behind the wheel can then select between three color-coded driving modes – Lava Red for GT, Forest Green for Eco, and Ghost White, for Autonomous. Yes, the study features autonomous drive, but the automaker has yet to detail it.
Other interesting additions made to the cabin are the aluminum controls, inspired by the haptic, machined actions of top-end audio systems, and the ‘Memory Bank’, which is “a flush-mounted shelf housed within the dashboard, containing a trio of evocative aromas”, Kia says.
“Each of these three engraved flacons contains a scent synonymous with power, passion and performance; aromas that any petrol head will instantly recognize,” says Guillaume. “There’s the warm musky smell of aged leather, the oily fragrance of a garage that’s home to a classic car, and the tang of high-octane motorsport fuel. This is about automotive passion and the love of car culture.”
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