12 Sep 07
The Kee, which previews the look of the next generation of Kia production cars, was created by a Frankfurt-based design team as part of Kia's determination to develop global appeal, as well as to create a 'landmark' car.
A low-slung 2+2 with long bonnet and sweeping cabin, trimmed in milled aluminium with 20" wheels and hand-cut Continental tyres, the Kee is attractive and expensive-looking. Yet it's meant to be affordable and attainable, and it's also 'something that could be built now or in the future'. Bring it on, Kia.
Neat details include an electronic door release set within the side window glass and a clamshell rear hatch opening, and toggle switches for navigation of the multimedia interface - a neat blend of the familiar and the futuristic.
The steering, braking and throttle controls are all drive-by-wire and the gearbox is a sequential-shift semi-automatic six-speed unit with a simple backwards-forwards lever and steering wheel-mounted controls. The gear lever also houses an electronic starter button. Upholstery is a suede-like microfibre, with metallic-finish silver cloth for the seats.
Even if the Kee itself doesn't make it into production, many of its features will: the front-end design, with the LED clusters and new grille, is to become the new face of Kia, for a start. In case you were wondering, the name is a play on 'key' and the Chinese/Korean 'ki', for life-force or energy.
Check out the rest of our Frankfurt Motor Show coverage
