Blending different automotive genres is a way of life these days. Kia’s latest concept combines a compact commuter and an off-roader into a single, attitude-filled package. Meet the Kia Niro.
Imagine a sporty commuter car for a post-apocalyptic urban environment, and you’re pretty close to what the Niro is all about. Riding on Kia’s new B-segment platform, the compact Niro looks sturdy and confident. The wheels are at the extreme corners of the vehicle, and high sills provide plenty of protection to the passenger cabin. Kia’s familiar tiger-nose grille rides in a front fascia with asymmetrical elements and tow hooks. Butterfly doors are cut into the roof panel for dramatic entry and exit, and there’s a large, carbon fiber-trimmed cargo area in the back.
The massive twenty-inch wheels are shod with aggressive off-road tires, and the Niro has four-wheel drive thanks to a hybrid-electric system that uses a 1.6 liter gasoline engine to power the front wheels and an electric motor to deliver traction to the rear when required.
Of course it’s just a styling exercise, but Kia’s paying attention to public reaction to the Niro and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a production version.
