Kia Cross GT a Show Stopper
It’s a premium, full-size, luxury crossover vehicle and it may be coming to a Kia showroom near you. Known at the Cross GT, the large SUV concept vehicle was recently unveiled by Kia Motors to test public opinion.
Kia often uses concepts to sound out radical designs and ideas for new vehicles before deciding whether they will go into production or just remain a styling exercise.
The Cross GT is a hint at a crossover vehicle that is larger and more adventurous than the brand’s current premium SUV, the Kia Sorento.
It is based on the rear-wheel-drive floorplan and powertrain of the Kia GT sports sedan that wowed audiences at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011.
While the GT’s lines were penned at Kia’s European design centre in Germany, the Cross GT hails from the Kia Design Centre America (KDCA) in California, the house that breathed life into the Track’ster, KV7 and Soul’ster concepts and most recently the all-new production 2014 Forte/Cerato sedan.
“The debut of the GT in 2011 heralded a new frontier for Kia, both from a design and a business perspective,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Corporation President and Global Chief of Design. “It beautifully illustrated to the world that the brand was ready to explore the possibility of perhaps one day offering a full-size rear-drive luxury saloon. The Cross GT, with its raised stance and large cargo area, allows us to envision the GT in the form of a full-size luxury crossover.”
The Cross GT’s proportions are similar to its rear-drive stablemate, with short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an aggressively wide posture. But the Cross GT offers even greater visibility thanks to its taller stature and features all-wheel drive for improved performance and all-weather capability.
Distinguished by a new interpretation of Schreyer’s tiger nose grille, the Cross GT’s design makes use of dual rear-hinged doors, which allows easier access to the rear seats. The cargo compartment is accessed through a ‘clam shell’ design that incorporates a traditional glass hatch and a tailgate.
The Cross GT is powered by an efficient hybrid powertrain, comprising a 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine, augmented by an electric motor for city driving, 8-speed automatic and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive. The hybrid powertrain effectively reduces the vehicle’s carbon footprint while providing the uncompromising performance that’s expected of a large, luxury crossover. Combined, the V6 and electric motor produce 678Nm of torque and 298 kW (400hp), with an all-electric range of 32kms.
While strictly a concept powertrain, Kia’s proven hybrid technology, combined with all-wheel drive are thought-provoking ideas that may one day find their way into a production vehicle.
Purely conceptual at this stage, the Cross GT reveals Kia’s intentions to potentially offer a larger premium crossover than the current Sorento.
