There has been the buzz doing the rounds for the past six months about Kia coming out with a model that would lend competition to the Mazda MX-5. Kia has marked its presence in the automotive world with a boom in its sales given the various models made by it namely the Kia Soul and Kia Forte and even the Kia Sedona. Its European CEO Paul Philpott has confirmed the expansion of its minivan line up at a recent interview.
In his words “I’d like to have a Kia MX-5. 2011 and 2012 are about establishing the brand. But for 2013 and 2014, we’re thinking about halo models that stretch the company forward.”
The sports roadster that the company is planning to come out with would get a “tiger nose” grille as per the chief designer Peter Schreyer and he has confirmed also that the model would be more aggressive by looks that any of the current models. They have plans to keep the design in line with the 2003 Kia KCV-III Concept which had been on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show in its debut venture. The design of the concept was meant to attract the Y generation and is expected to be a good starting point for the future model.
It is being speculated that the engine would be a 1.4 liter unit that can generate 200 hp, which is the same that is found on the MX-5. There is also talk about Kia roadster having a hybrid version as well.
Source: topspeed
