The Kia Habaniro concept has been revealed in a
newsletter for the New York Auto Show. The
Habaniro is a stylish crossover which looks like nothing else on the market.
The front end is dominated by a large skid plate and dark silver cladding which
extends down the sides of the vehicle in a Z-like pattern.
The unique styling features don’t end there as the
concept eschews Kia’s familiar tiger nose grille. It has been replaced by the
aforementioned cladding which has distinctive LED lights running through it. While the front of the concept is
a bit bulky, the rest of the model features a streamlined design. This is seen
in the gently rounded hood and minimalistic greenhouse. The only thing that
interrupts the latter is a bold C-pillar which is painted red.
Other styling features include hidden door handles
and massive alloy wheels that are wrapped in off-road rubber. The Habaniro also
lacks traditional side mirrors and this suggests the concept could have video camera
mirrors similar to the Audi e-tron.
The newsletter didn’t mention specifications, but
it’s interesting to note the concept’s name is Habaniro instead of Habanero.
This suggests Kia is linking the crossover to the Niro family which includes
hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric variants. Given this connection, it’s
possible the Habaniro will use an eco-friendly powertrain. However, that
remains unconfirmed and the picture doesn’t reveal any obvious charging ports. The Habaniro concept will be
unveiled on April 17th.
