Powerful, dynamic and forward-looking new saloon in Frankfurt as a concept proposal is another indication of Kia's stylistic evolution. A rear-drive sports sedan, a first for the brand, which combines sleek proportions and energetic with a refined and elegant interior, capable of seating four passengers. Kia GT Concept is the result of work started in November 2010 around the idea of a rear wheel drive sports car that time, the designers of Central European style cultivated. " This prototype allows us to explore new and exciting design themes, starting from different proportions that characterize the pattern than the traditional rear-wheel drive front-wheel drive " , said the head of Kia design, Peter Schreyer, "the classical configuration of the sports sedan with front engine and rear wheel drive, has a strong appeal for fans all over the world, in Korea, as in Europe and the United States. "
He is echoed by the Director of European Design Centre Gregory Guillaume: "In dealing with this project, the team of designers inspired by the famous GT has 70 years, rich and elegant car, capable of carrying passengers from Paris to the Cote d'Azur and quickly" in style ". We wanted to create something that will reclaim the style of travel, car performance and refined, but not excessively exciting. "
The dynamic view is based on the many references that characterize the aero body: the wheel rims, aluminum and carbon composite propeller design, small cameras instead of mirrors, the efficient diffuser in the rear, the shape of the air intakes front and the wings that emerge from the spoiler and join with the headlights.
Many motifs are inspired by the beauty Kee prototype, exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007 and reconfirms the strength of the stylistic design elements that recall by Kia Kee is the prototype of both the Pop (introduced in 2010) with total stylistic consistency despite the substantial differences between the two projects.
One of the objectives was to give William Schreyer and in this study that leads immediately to the idea of the proportions of rear-drive sports sedan. Hence the long hood, the reduced front overhang, the cockpit moved back with "shoulders" robust and short tail.
The profile of the GT Athletic flows from the front pillar to the tail with a continuous line that emphasizes the development of the roof to the rear trunk, using a profile copper graphically accentuates the trend of the glass surface, from the small window at the windshield pillar to the rear window.
The idea of using the copper came after a visit of specialists Kia of colors and materials to the DMY International Design Festival Berlin, the largest event dedicated to conceptual design in Germany, where this metal was featured for its "hot "This effect is balanced by the freshness of color that reacts to light silver mica light, creating surprising nuances.
From any angle you look at it, Kia GT expresses a clear sense of solidity and coherence in all directions, according to the design philosophy indicated by Schreyer and the general impression of solidity is further accented by the roof that extends beyond the incorporating the rear window pillar, with the result of making the car look even more "squashed" on the ground.
The view is enhanced by many special surprising. The calipers finished in copper recall the profile that emphasizes the cockpit, the trend goes on top of the windshield on the roof, creating two increases that increase the headroom for driver and passenger, while the shape of the bonnet bulge form a discrete which implies the potential of the powertrain.
Both William Schreyer and are particularly proud of the headlights of the GT accents at the front alongside the typical grid surrounded by an aluminum profile. Each projector has six groups of LED lights that create a powerful and feature, this setting is reflected in the advanced rear lights with a trend-wing groups which are inserted three pillars of light.
The front doors and rear-hinged opening at a slight angle upwards so as to give the car that Schreyer calls "a sense of beauty and confidence."
Despite the low height, the roofline and subtle glazing, the architecture of the body is able to create a welcoming and spacious interior with generous interior space for four people.
The chairs are suspended on supports single arch that accentuate the feeling of spaciousness. The Kia's designers have deliberately increased the footprint of the center tunnel to enhance the feeling of sportiness and power, and at the same time obtained an environment created around the driver but away from the usual concept of a full console commands.
The dashboard transparent, similar to that proposed for the first time Pop on the prototype, consists of three layers of LEDs - that create a three-dimensional but also may show a large amount of information without the usual recourse to a large number of spies and switches. The selection of information to be represented on the dashboard is via fingertip controls located on the small three-spoke steering wheel.
This sophisticated instrument panel is suspended above the massive center console in order to increase the feeling of spaciousness. The big red starter button and the rotary switch of the transmission are combined into a single element in order to further reduce the clutter of controls on the center console.
The images taken by the two are reproduced in two small LED screens arranged in a position clearly visible on goalkeeper.
The warm reflections of the copper used for the profile around the line of windows recall the color of the skin treated with metallic suede that covers the entire passenger compartment and this particular light is accentuated by the golden color of the crystals. The principle which inspired the treatment of skin was to make contact surfaces for all passengers, is tender to the touch.
Schreyer believes that the importance of this prototype covers, rather than pure design, the effort to create an overall look and feel of high-impact, balanced proportions and impressive personality, elements that will guide the work of his team in ' approach to future achievements.
"One of the best things about this project that a car is a very real," says Schreyer, "it was nice to work on a project that could be on the street tomorrow. In fact, our dream is to see this project become a reality: it has a functional layout, with four seats, and a good load capacity, then it is attractive, dynamic and expresses a strong personality. So it's exactly the kind of car that Kia we think we do. "
