Open, Relaxed Interior
In the process of rethinking what a
van's exterior appearance and image could be, Kia's Southern California design
team also envisioned an interior to meet the needs of an entirely new group of
consumers - a group of people referred to as "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. As such, the KV7 concept's interior
employs four custom-built swiveling seats, including the driver's seat, and a
rear-corner mini-lounge with seating for three and integrated storage
compartments to promote interaction in an open social environment.
The
simple yet sophisticated theme is brought to life inside the KV7 concept through
its modern color palette featuring soft beige and green tones and the use of
unique seat and surface materials. The KV7 utilizes a variety of unconventional
textures, including reclaimed teak wood flooring and sustainable wool and felt
materials help to foster a warm and inviting atmosphere.
When the KV7
concept's push button start is engaged, the entire front dash moves more than
six inches toward the driver, bringing all controls within easy reach, including
the large multi-use display which integrates infotainment, climate and
navigation systems in one simple-to-use interface controlled by a trackball
mouse mounted in the dash. Rear passengers have their own, separate interface in
the form of a floating tabletop touch-screen computer display. The KV7 is Wi-Fi
enabled, providing both the front and rear displays with Internet capabilities
and the ability for multiple passengers to connect their smart phones to the
vehicle at one time and sign on to social networking sites.
Building on
the experimental use of LED lighting elements found on the exterior, the KV7's
concept's interior also features multiple flush-to-the-floor accent illumination
points and standout green LED lighting throughout the front dash, instrument
panel and rear display area to compliment the vehicle's color palette.
V6-Type Power
The final element that separates the KV7 concept
from the rest of the minivan crowd can be found under the hood - the concept is
powered by Kia's new Theta II 2.0-liter GDI turbocharged engine, which is
capable of delivering up to 285 horsepower, and is mated to a six-speed
automatic transmission to deliver V6-type power and performance while achieving
better than 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Kia KV7 Concept: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications