Unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the gullwing-door Kia KV7 is a concept on a mission, aiming to change the perception about conventional MPVs. The South Korean automaker beleives that a people carrier should not only be roomy and versatile, but also eccentric and packed with the latest available technologies.
At a first glance, the vehicle’s simple lines aren’t that impressive, but once the exotic doors are open – it also has a pillar-less passenger door – the perception changes dramatically. You’d expect to find similar solutions on a sleek supercar or expensive luxo-barge, but somehow Kia’s designers managed to successfully pair them with the brand’s trademark boxy design.
The wide bodied (80 inches or 2.03 meters) concept also features stretched LED headlights, a relatively small greenhouse and less vertical A-pillars. Paired with 20-inch alloys wrapped around in 225/45 tires, all these elements create the illusion of a lower stance.
Inside, the KV7 offers multiple seating configurations thanks to the swiveling seats, and comes equipped with all sorts of modern infotainment systems, including a floating tabletop touch-screen computer. Wi-Fi is also on the menu.
The design study is motivated by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that we’ve seen on the 2011 Kia Optima, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
By Csaba Daradics
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