Kia Futuron Concept Is A Bold Coupe SUV With Electric Power, Level 4 Autonomy


Kia has unveiled its first coupe SUV but you won’t be able to buy it, as it’s a concept – at least for now.

It’s called the Futuron and it explores a new design direction for the Korean brand’s future electric vehicles. As the name suggests and the photos attest, this is a futuristic concept we won’t see on our streets any time soon. However, the Futuron envisions a “progressive electric SUV coupe” from the Kia brand which should eventually go into production.


The exterior design is obviously the most striking thing about this concept, which debuts today at the 2019 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Merging elegant proportions with clean shapes and surfaces, the Futuron introduces a new interpretation of the “tiger nose” grille which. Much wider, the grille now incorporates the headlamps featuring a “Star Cloud” design on a Dragon Skin surface inspired by Chinese mythology.

Taking inspiration from nebulae in the night sky, according to the press release, the headlights consist of a geometric patchwork of matrix LEDs that are echoed at the back by similar LED taillights. We’ve seen something quite similar in the teaser photos of the facelifted Hyundai Grandeur.


The vehicle’s proportions are equally striking, with the low-profile SUV coupe body contrasting with the elevated ground clearance. The Futuron Concept is 4,850 mm (190.9-in) long, 1,550 mm (61-in) high and features a generous 3,000 mm (118.1-in) wheelbase.

The concept features an unusual roof, namely a diamond-shaped panoramic glasshouse sitting atop a 360-degree core inspired by “UFO and flying saucer design.” The roof extends down the bonnet to give drivers an unparalleled view ahead and also incorporates a network of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors capable of providing Level 4 autonomous driving features.


The vehicle’s dramatic shape is made possible by the  fully-electric powertrain underneath. A high-capacity battery is mounted low in the body beneath the cabin floor, providing energy to four powerful in-wheel electric motors. This results in a low center of gravity and an e-AWD system which is said to deliver “lightning-fast responses to driver inputs.”

The self-driving capabilities of the Kia Futuron Concept are reflected in the design of the spacious and flexible interior. The two front seats are made of flexible materials and can offer an upright “driving” position, or a reclined “rest” position. When the self-driving mode is engaged, the front seats recline as the steering wheel retracts.


The Star Cloud lighting and scaled Dragon Skin motif on the doors create a connection to the exterior, with the ventilation system being housed behind Dragon Skin scales as well. Another striking interior element is the cockpit area surrounding the driver which features a graphical user interface (GUI) flowing out of the driver-side door and wrapping around the steering wheel in a seamless arc. This effectively merges the instrument cluster directly with the audio-visual display at the center of the dashboard.

carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as ...
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu...
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel...
Read more