At the ongoing international media drive programme for the new Kia Carens MPV, Kia gave the assembled journalists a business update on the growth of the company, its targets (global sales of 3.5 million units by 2016) as well as some new product strategies.
Two things caught our attention. In the presentation, Kia officials said that the company is looking into making the Kia GT Concept, a big rear-wheel drive four-door sports sedan from Frankfurt 2011, and the Kia Track’ster Concept, a high-performance two-door Soul. Both concepts – billed as “future iconic vehicles” – share the status of “under serious consideration for production after 2014.”
This is part of Kia’s bid to churn out more exciting models, a move already started with the Kia cee’d GT and Kia pro_cee’d GT hot hatchbacks with 204 PS and 265 Nm from a 1.6 turbo. The duo were unveiled at the recent 2013 Geneva Motor Show alongside the interesting Kia provo concept, which could also be heading for production.
Kia also shared a new product strategy that will replace the traditional mid-life facelift in a car’s life cycle with two “product enhancements”. A car’s typical life cycle is six years, so expect a PE every two years instead of a facelift after three. Kia says that this strategy change will help them better adapt to ever-changing market trends, keeping the cars more up to date.
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Car companies are quite stupid coming out with so many models and variants. People get confused. Lots of Research and Development money wasted. Samsung is also doing the same thing, coming out with so many mobile phones until it confuses people. Better to just have a few models and use the R&D money to spec it up more and give your customer more buck for his money.
The GT really does excite me, the idea of an affordable Korean CLS. Though I can’t see a point for a Track’ster other than being unique. Wonder weather the “product enhancement” would work or is it just a facelift that will happen more frequently.
kia gt….the aston martin one-77 with kia grille……
product enhancements is nothing new, proton and perodua been doing it all these while by recycling whatever parts available in their bins.
Two product enhancements every 2 years would mean that your car would be outdated very quickly too…
agree on the product enhancement strategy. it’s all about adaptability right now, and i believe kia is really serious about moving further up in the ranking of automobile manufacturers of the world.
btw, you guys going for the international media drive for new carens mpv?
Rear-wheel drive 4 door sedan? I smell Hyundai Genesis… Maybe platform sharing… Or is the new Genesis on the way?
i wonder when will kia rondo 2013 be released? i’m waiting for the past 1/2 year for this car arrival. i hope that it can arrive this year,else i’ll have to get myself an innova or grand livina by end of this year