Korean car companies are on the move these days pushing quality, styling and fuel economy forward in ways nobody would've expected just five years ago. One of the quiet successes at Kia has been its Sedona, a competitively priced minivan that delivers many features at an attractive price. Now, at the Detroit Auto Show, Kia is showing off a new minivan concept called the KV7, and it's probably not too far from becoming reality.
The KV7 strikes out in a slightly different direction from the Sedona, more butch and modern than the current offering, borrowing styling from the Soul, the Optima, and the poorly received Borrego. It makes use of Kia's emerging design language with a stylized grille and a version of the double-hump windshield found on the Optima. Smooth sides give way to prominent wheel arches and a strong character line which ends in a slick, wraparound, pencil-thin taillight at the rear. The giant gullwing doors leading to the passenger compartment open up to show off a swanky cabin that's pure concept car.
The focus of the KV7's interior is placed on social interaction. There you'll find seating for seven installed over handsome hardwood flooring with four pedestal seats which swivel for face-to-face interaction. Front-seat occupants face a minimalist dash that again mimics the grille, and simplified controls are lined up along its centerline. There's full wireless connectivity for all handheld devices onboard, or attention can be turned to a slick tabletop computer for gaming and entertainment on longer road trips. Overall, the KV7 is designed to look clean and modern while embracing the inherent efficiency of a box-shaped interior.
Strip the show-car dazzle away and what you're seeing is something that probably looks very close to a vehicle headed to a Kia dealer near you. It won't have gullwing doors or hardwood flooring, but don't expect to be surprised by the looks.
