Kia 4-Door Concept heading to Frankfurt 2011

Kia 4-Door Concept heading for Frankfurt 2011

It really is remarkable, the pace of change at Kia. Once the butt of as many jokes as Skoda at the height of their ‘Skip-on-Wheels’ era, Kia is now a real force. And a real force going very much upmarket, if the Kia 4-Door Concept heading for Frankfurt 2011 is anything to go by.

The unnamed 4-Door Concept from Kia is said to be an indication of the direction Kia is heading, both in styling terms and in market sector. And if it is, the German premium car makers should be the next to look over their collective shoulders with trepidation as the Koreans arrive.

Designed by Peter Schreyer, this is a properly grown-up piece of car design, one which seems – certainly judging by these photos – to be comparable to the work of Ian Callum. It’s a 4-door coupe with drama; an Aston Martin Rapide for the masses, perhaps.

We think it sports a proper V8 under the sleek bonnet, and gets rear wheel drive and is based on Hyundai’s Genesis. Kia are being very coy about detail and just about all there is in the release is a quote from the aforementioned Peter Scheyer, Kia Motors Chief Design Officer. He said:

No matter from which perspective you look at it – this concept car is roaring with energy and ready for take-off.

I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter.

And he’s not wrong. Take off the Kia badge and look at it as a tease from an unnamed car maker. You’d buy that it was a car from any of the premium German marques. You could equally believe it was something from the top end of the Brit pack, or even a high-end Italian.

Kia are coming.

(click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK