Hyundai is the name that offer style and comfort and Kia is focused for the younger audience, relying on dynamic and fun.
So, plans for a roadster Kia, are not hazardous as British sources said for the Auto Express magazine.
It is not the first time when Kia offers a roadster range. This happened in the ’90s and it was only licensed production of Lotus Elan model, built between 1989 and 1995 by a small British firm. Koreans have made this model as KIA Elan, between 1996 and 1999, but wasn’t very successful.
The Roadster idea went along with presentation at the Detroit Motor Show in 2004, called Kia KCV III concept, but things were delayed and the economic crisis has outputted the project. The head of KIA’s European, Paul Philpott confirms that in 2013 or 2014, we’ll see a rival for Mazda MX-5 in Kia roadster.
KIA Europe has even compared the Volkswagen group (considering that the Kia brand is the Hyundai-Kia group which is SEAT Volkswagen Group) – a brand that is directed by young people. Koreans have at the moment some affordable sport car concept, one of the examples being Kee Sports Coupe Concept or coupe concept.
No other details were provided, but is expected to use the same platform as the Roadster’s Hyundai Veloster, technical and basic price to go below the barrier of 20,000 Euros. It is not known whether alone or coupe-cabriolet version with retractable hard top, for reasons of cost as low as it most likely will have a KIA Roadster soft-top.