Kia gunning for Versa

[feloniousmonk]

http://www.autoblog.com/photos...05447/

Oh my... Why can't it be a Nissan!

[VersaMG08]

What's up with the seats? They look like dirt can collect easily between the crevices. I like how it has sport pedals and a LED around the transmission lever in the center. Overall, not a bad design.

[Red Devil]

Ewww......

[silverarrow27]

I actually think it looks better than the Versa.

[Vahagn23]

those have to be the ugliest seats in the world

[They Call Me Whatshisname]

[#1Tango]

i like it, reminds me of the VW GTI

[blindsnyper]

it looks like a mix between a scion xd and fit

[SpeedyV09]

I like it but this may sound odd but I think it's to shiny inside and is that a mirror on the passenger door?? or a weird speaker? The seats do look like crap and the front looks a little like a yaris.

I don't think it would really challenge the Versa but definitely looks like 4 or 5 different cars rolled into 1

[Andrews Chalmers]

Ford Ka front married to a Toyota Aygo rear.

[feloniousmonk]

Jesus Christ people. It's a concept car. A show car. It's not suppose to conform to the rules and should never, in any way, be taken as a representation of a production car.

[grogman]

Jesus Christ people. It's a concept car. A show car. It's not suppose to conform to the rules and should never, in any way, be taken as a representation of a production car.

..............and adding to that is..............IT"S A KIA.................be reminded that you all own a high brand vehicle which will present higher resale prices than say...........2 kias. just reminding that's all.

[Knightro2]

KIA = Keep It AwayKIA = Keep In Asia

[feloniousmonk]

I don't care what brand it is or that it sounds funny. If it's a nice design it deserves merit. Whether you like it or not, the Koreans are catching up and catching up fast. The Hyundai Genesis sedan is now top pick by several industry and consumer groups. One early comparison of the G37 Coupe and Genesis Coupe has the latter on top. The KiA Soul has its sight aimed at the cube and it has strong appeal among those who dislike the cube. Both Hyundai and KIA have now found their own identities through styling and have strived to obtain a great deal of technical knowledge that is on-par with their Japanese counterparts. Mark my words, 2009 is going to be a historically significant and pivotal year for the Korean automakers.

[GoVersa]

Usually there are major differences between concept car and production car. I remember there was a thread showing the original Versa concept car. It was a much sportier looking Versa.

So when this Kia goes into production, I am pretty sure it will look very different and, most likely, uglier.

[SuperTurbo]

I have a good feeling this will actually be very close to the production car...Of course, those fancy seats, tail lights, and trims will be gone at the date of production...

So far... Koreans don't really like to make PPL go high, but at the end... dry

[themadscientist]

hahaha, "kia", wow.

I don't care if they can build a car that will loop the ring faster than that hideous Gizmo R, I'm not driving a car called "Kia", or for that matter Hyundai or Daewoo. I suspect Korea will soon displace Japan as a car manufacturer but I won't pay a cent to own any of these goofy looking, stupid-name-havin cars they build.

[SuperTurbo]

I don't care what brand it is or that it sounds funny. If it's a nice design it deserves merit. Whether you like it or not, the Koreans are catching up and catching up fast. The Hyundai Genesis sedan is now top pick by several industry and consumer groups. One early comparison of the G37 Coupe and Genesis Coupe has the latter on top. The KiA Soul has its sight aimed at the cube and it has strong appeal among those who dislike the cube. Both Hyundai and KIA have now found their own identities through styling and have strived to obtain a great deal of technical knowledge that is on-par with their Japanese counterparts. Mark my words, 2009 is going to be a historically significant and pivotal year for the Korean automakers.

When are they going to bring the Coupe to here anyways??

I hope they did a good job on the suspension... If they did, and make it like a real sport car, I can see that will happen

[SuperTurbo]

hahaha, "kia", wow.

I don't care if they can build a car that will loop the ring faster than that hideous Gizmo R, I'm not driving a car called "Kia", or for that matter Hyundai or Daewoo. I suspect Korea will soon displace Japan as a car manufacturer but I won't pay a cent to own any of these goofy looking, stupid-name-havin cars they build.

Yea... I don't know when will they change that name..... KIA.... Speically Army guys, these 3 words is a big nono

[feloniousmonk]

So when this Kia goes into production, I am pretty sure it will look very different and, most likely, uglier.

Disagree. Look at the Kia Soul concept and the production version. Little has changed. They are smart about it.

[feloniousmonk]

When are they going to bring the Coupe to here anyways??

I hope they did a good job on the suspension... If they did, and make it like a real sport car, I can see that will happen

I believe they are taking orders already. Read (on Autoblog or Jalopnik) the other day they decided to release the car for sale early, before the marketing gets under way (another smart move). On the suspension, looks like they did their homework. One of the blogs I mentioned had a first drive article just days ago where they felt the car was better than the G37 coupe.

[feloniousmonk]

hahaha, "kia", wow.

I don't care if they can build a car that will loop the ring faster than that hideous Gizmo R, I'm not driving a car called "Kia", or for that matter Hyundai or Daewoo. I suspect Korea will soon displace Japan as a car manufacturer but I won't pay a cent to own any of these goofy looking, stupid-name-havin cars they build.

Just to be clear, this is not a personal attack on you, but I once read a line someone wrote that mirrors how I feel about brands: "Posers chase names. Real enthusiasts welcome any opportunity to have an interesting ride, regardless of where it came from."

You can always debadge the car. They're not giving you any discounts or payment for giving free advertising anyway.

[themadscientist]

It is not a brand thing, it's a country thing. Korean cars are the ugliest thing since french cars. To a car every single solitary design they puke up onto a podium brings the bile to the back of my throat.Combine this with their protectionist tarriff history Korea can go f*** itself.

Yeah, I'm a poser

[feloniousmonk]

It is not a brand thing, it's a country thing. Korean cars are the ugliest thing since french cars.

You do realize that Nissan has close ties with Renault don't you?

Quote »Yeah, I'm a poser [/quote]Perhaps not. But passable for closed minded and immature.

Either way, since I work in advertising, I depend and prey on the brand chasers. How's that for irony.

[SuperTurbo]

Just to be clear, this is not a personal attack on you, but I once read a line someone wrote that mirrors how I feel about brands: "Posers chase names. Real enthusiasts welcome any opportunity to have an interesting ride, regardless of where it came from."

You can always debadge the car. They're not giving you any discounts or payment for giving free advertising anyway.

No Offence, looks like you are very bias toward all Nissan's stuff too....

May I ask, do you work for Nissan??

[themadscientist]

You do realize that Nissan has close ties with Renault don't you?

Yes, and do you realize I have not liked anything Nissan has done since then?

Perhaps not. But passable for closed minded and immature.

Because I choose not to patronize the products of a country that;1. builds products that I don't likeand2. has been an unfair trading partner in years past.

If that is immature and closed minded than so be it. I see it as a informed discerning consumerism.

Either way, since I work in advertising, I depend and prey on the brand chasers. How's that for irony.

Advertising! You are one degree removed from a lawyer as far as evil. (no malice there just pokin fun ) I imagine with the average lemming-like american though it's almost too easy ain't it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

What's up with the seats? They look like dirt can collect easily between the crevices. I like how it has sport pedals and a LED around the transmission lever in the center. Overall, not a bad design.

None of that matters, since none of those things will make it into whatever production car this thing becomes.

[grogman]

I don't care what brand it is or that it sounds funny. If it's a nice design it deserves merit. Whether you like it or not, the Koreans are catching up and catching up fast. The Hyundai Genesis sedan is now top pick by several industry and consumer groups. One early comparison of the G37 Coupe and Genesis Coupe has the latter on top. The KiA Soul has its sight aimed at the cube and it has strong appeal among those who dislike the cube. Both Hyundai and KIA have now found their own identities through styling and have strived to obtain a great deal of technical knowledge that is on-par with their Japanese counterparts. Mark my words, 2009 is going to be a historically significant and pivotal year for the Korean automakers.

What a bunch of HOOEY.............lesson number one..............DON'T GLOAT OVER A KIA...........sugar coating a bad purchase only means that your coffee has too much sugar in it...............can get you in trouble.............can be a warning sign(i.e. Dirty Harry movie)...........buy a car for it's high value not for it's awesome looks. awesome looks go away and then all you have is a pile of crap that won't hold water to a v or corolla. trade in that korean chopstick someday............you will not be happy.

[Ginsu]

Usually there are major differences between concept car and production car. I remember there was a thread showing the original Versa concept car. It was a much sportier looking Versa.

You're obviously thinking of the Nissan Sport, which was not a Versa at all. If anything, the C-Note was the concept version of the Versa, and hardly anything changed when it went into production.

[Rockhound]

What a bunch of HOOEY.............lesson number one..............DON'T GLOAT OVER A KIA...........sugar coating a bad purchase only means that your coffee has too much sugar in it...............can get you in trouble.............can be a warning sign(i.e. Dirty Harry movie)...........buy a car for it's high value not for it's awesome looks. awesome looks go away and then all you have is a pile of crap that won't hold water to a v or corolla. trade in that korean chopstick someday............you will not be happy.

Seriously, you need to get out more. Or at least try to keep up with the times. Hyundai and Kia have made great strides over the past decade to build cars that match, and in some cases exceed, the Japanese automakers. Hyundai's recent rise should be a model for the US automakers that somehow still insist on blaming only external causes for their demise.

How Hyundai came from the early-90s Excel, which was about the cheapest POS since the Yugo, to making cars like the Sonata, Soul, and Genesis is truly astounding. And Kia, Hyundai's 'value' brand, has cars with most of the same components/architecture. Comparing a present-day Optima with the first Kia's brought to the US is a night to day contrast.

What cracks me up about your juvenile take on this subject is that there were countless folks who harbored this same grudge against the Japanese marques in the 70s and 80s. It took nearly two decades for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, et al to overcome this same brand of prejudice.

Call me crazy, but I doubt the Versa has anywhere near the residual value of a Corolla (or a Honda product). That's not a slam on the Versa, just a conjecture based on the fact that Nissans usually don't hold their value as well as some of the other Japanese brands.

I'm not defending the Korean brands because I own one, and nor do I see myself owning one anytime soon - but it sounds like you need to get over your hatred of these brands.