What happens when the Koreans take a minivan, a small hatchback like the Soul, and combine it with spaceship interiors? You get something like the KV7 concept. Add in gullwing passenger doors and Winnebago-type seating and you’ll really turn heads. People in Detroit were excited to see this boxy test model on the showroom floor.

KV7 will be powered by a 285 horsepower turbocharged four cylinder. The car will also include wi-fi (built in) and caters to those who are not your “typical suburban family.” Kia calls these types Ringleaders:

“Rather than using a van to transport children and their accompaniments, Ringleaders are busy organizing road trips, social outings and new adventures for themselves and their friends to experience together.” Ok terrific.

Source: Jalopnik

Looking in part like the Forte met George Jetson’s hovercar, the Ray features a huge four-door design which pops open wide enough to allow easy access to the rear compartment.

Suicide doors on a Kia? We like!

Targeted to the eco-conscious, the Ray Concept has a driving range of 746 miles (1,200 km). It can travel 50 miles (80.5 km) on electric power alone plus a fuel economy rating of more than 202 miles per gallon (1.2 l/100km).

Powering the Ray Concept is a direct injection 153 hp (114 kW) 1.4-litre engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in addition to a 78kw electric motor. Depending on driving conditions, power is routed to the front wheels via the gasoline engine while the electric motor pushes the rear wheels, or both simultaneously.

Based on the Kia Forte platform the Ray Concept features a streamlined body for reduced aerodynamic drag. This is particularly noticeable in the long tail with U-shaped deck lid which extends out from the rear at higher speeds for improved aerodynamics. Despite the “mono-volume shape” the Ray Concept still manages to convey some striking curves topped off by an aggressive snake face front end.

The Source: WorldCarFans

Kia’s chief designer Peter Schreyer unveiled this sketch of a car referred to as “K9″ at a conference near Seoul last Friday. Schreyer is best known for designing the original Audi TT when he was still at Audi, is said to have compared the car’s design prowess to that of the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. Kia’s plans include a luxury sedan codenamed the CH, which is scheduled for launch around 2011 and is the sister car to Hyundai’s Genesis sedan.

via WCF