It’s not too clear what the correlation is between hamsters, robots, dancing and the new Kia Soul but we like the ad anyway.

It’s always interesting to see what car manufacturers come up with when they present concept cars, the only problem is that far too often they never make it into mass production. Lets hope that’s not the case for the new Kia Naimo concept, which is set to debut at the Seoul Motor Show next week.

The word Naimo is Korean for ‘square shape’, and while the car is quite boxy, it sounds more like a Brazilian footballer. The Naimo is targeted for the B-segment and is an electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) which combines many traditional Korean elements with state of the art tech.

Part of the Korean traditional element of the car is seen in the floor and the interior door panels, which are made from Korean oak, with Han-ji paper used for the head lining. The high tech comes in the form of high-intensity air jets at the base of the windscreen instead of windscreen wipers. As you may have noticed from the pictures of the car, there are also no door mirrors, instead the Naimo uses miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars.

The Naimo is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor that produces up to 80 kW of power with a maximum torque of 280 Nm, which results in a top speed of 150km/h. The twin-pack battery uses Lithium Ion Polymer technology that will last for 200km of driving on a single charge. Recharging the battery to full will take 5 and half hours.

While the Naimo does look promising, it is far too common for many of these concept cars to lose a number of their innovative features down the line, should they be lucky enough to make it to the production line.

Source: Kia

World premiere to be held at 2010 New York Motor Show

The next generation Kia Optima (currently, also known as ‘Magentis’ in some markets) is set to make its world premiere next month at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.

“The next generation Optima possesses the power to surprise,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer. “It’s a car that people will simply not expect from Kia – and that’s exactly what we set out to achieve.”

The Optima exudes an athletic confidence from every angle and shutline – its raked roofline, the high and pronounced shoulder line of its sculpted flanks and its extended wheelbase are complemented by boldly flared wheelarches and a shallow glasshouse that create a saloon with a muscular and self-assured stance.

The striking visage of the Optima features a new interpretation of Kia’s bold ‘tiger’ family face that’s edged by piercing projector headlamps.

Longer, wider and lower than before, the Kia’s coupe-like profile is enhanced by the sweeping chrome arc that flows from A to C pillar, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further still and enhances its cab-backwards proportions.

Spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the Optima’s intelligently configured and driver-oriented cabin underlines this newfound poise and presence.

“The Optima embodies Kia’s confident new design direction,” says Schreyer. “It’s a global car with individual appeal.”

Source: Kia

Kia Motors Corporation has unveiled the first official picture and export market name of the production version of its KND-5 concept car – an all-new sedan designed to satisfy drivers’ desire for refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction by creating ‘ideal’ driving conditions.

The stylish luxury sedan, which is to be called ‘Cadenza’ in markets outside of Korea, will make its overseas premiere at the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai international motor shows, towards the end of the year.

Sporty and sleek in appearance, Cadenza features a bold headlamp design with attention-grabbing LED surrounds and a purposeful, athletic character line. The prominent front grille and stylish taillights emphasize the car’s high-tech feel and are a continuing expression of Kia’s dramatic design DNA.

On the inside, there is a futuristic ‘floating’ dashboard that highlights Kia’s uniquely innovative design approach. The welcome system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet’ the car owner, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs along the dashboard to the door trim, creates a warm atmosphere within the vehicle.

Kia Cadenza’s dynamic design and driving performance, allied with a raft of competitive passenger-friendly high-tech features, will make it a leader in the large, luxury sedan market segment.

Source: Kia