Kia GT Concept at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show
- Looks like: Kia has Audi and Jaguar in its sights
- Defining characteristics: Swept windshield and sleek roofline; 395-horsepower, turbocharged V-6 sends power to rear wheels
- Ridiculous features: Few; carbon-fiber-trimmed wheel spokes
- Chances of being mass-produced: Kia is aiming big, and this concept could be its next big step
Kia’s GT Concept is the Korean automaker’s first concept to use rear-wheel drive; a configuration used almost exclusively in higher-end luxury sedans. Kia is gunning for those luxury brands with the GT Concept, saying this concept is a look into its future showroom. The GT Concept looks the part with coupe-like rear similar to the Audi A7.
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Kia’s European design team is responsible for the GT Concept. They kept Kia’s front tabbed grille used in the current lineup but everything else looks one-off. The wheels are pushed forward to give a sporty appearance while the swept windshield, roofline and rear fenders give the GT an aggressive profile.
Powering this concept is a 395-hp, turbocharged, direct-injected 3.3-liter V-6 teamed to an eight-speed-automatic transmission.
There’s room for four inside, accessed through standard-opening front doors and reversed-hinged rear doors that both sweep up at a slight angle for easier entry and exit. Kia says there’s plenty of room inside because of its 112.6-inch wheelbase and 184-inch length; a 2012 Kia Optima midsize sedan has a wheelbase of 110-inches but is a little longer than this concept at 190.7 inches.
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