Kia's new concept car, the KV7 features swiveling seats and modernistic interior space.
A true concept car (the rear hatch wouldn’t open as some journalists discovered during the press launch) but nonetheless futuristic and funky looking, the KV7 concept was introduced to the Canadian market at the Montreal International Auto Show last week.
Kia Canada says the KV7 concept challenges the notion that vans are strictly for family transportation and reveals a vision for a vehicle with the functionality to transport a large number of people and their belongings while also serving as a connected social hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers.
“We are pleased to unveil the KV7 concept for its Canadian debut at the Montreal International Auto Show,” said Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing for Kia Canada Inc. “The KV7 brings our corporate design philosophy to the next level with an unsurpassed amount of technology and sustainability features wrapped in a versatile package.”
The KV7’s design stands in sharp contrast to the dramatically raked windshields and wedge-shaped noses found throughout the van segment. KV7 builds on the philosophy of “embracing the box”, established by Kia’s Soul urban passenger vehicle, which creates a unique and alluring design language that brings SUV-like qualities to the segment.
The exterior of the KV7 is 4,873-mm long with a 3,100-mm wheelbase, 2,033-mm wide and 1,082-mm high. The wide stance and 20-inch tires are set off with a smooth exterior skin. A continuous line of LED fog lights spans the entire front end of the vehicle and LED directional turn indicators on the outside mirrors and the rear of the vehicle pulse in the direction being signaled. A distinctive windshield and a series of near-continuous windows, starting at the A-pillar for maximum visibility, blend into the interpretation of Kia’s tabbed grille with vertical LED headlamps integrated within the design.
The interior includes four custom-built swiveling seats, including the driver’s seat, a rear-corner mini-lounge with seating for three and integrated storage compartments. The unique seat and surface materials are in a modern colour palette, featuring soft beige and green tones, in a variety of unconventional textures including reclaimed teak wood flooring and sustainable wool and felt materials. Inside the Wi-Fi enabled cabin there is a large multi-use display that integrates infotainment, climate and navigation systems in one simple-to-use interface. This interface is controlled by a trackball mouse mounted into the dash which can move more than 15 centimetres toward the driver when the push button start is engaged.
There are multiple flush-to-the-floor accent illumination points and standout green LED lighting throughout the front dash, instrument panel and rear display area. A rear, floating, tabletop touch-screen computer display gives the ability for multiple passengers to connect their smart phones simultaneously.
The last facet that separates the KV7 from the minivan crowd is the new Theta II 2.0-litre GDI turbocharged engine which has V6-type power and performance of up to 285 horsepower, while maximizing fuel efficiency with a six-speed automatic transmission. This will achieve better than 7.8 L/100 km on the highway.
