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 long, 1,550 mm high and features a
generous 3,000 mm 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.
