Concept KIA Vehicles

Concept cars are designed to showcase daring new ideas and technologies. They are generally presented to consumers at car shows and other automotive events, and used to gauge reactions. Car manufacturers can use this feedback when designing vehicles in future.

Here are some of our favourite KIA concepts cars designed over the past decade or so, moving forward in time.

Kia Kee (2007)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

Going all the way back to 2007 we have the sleek, eye-catching coupe – the Kee. Unlike many concept cars, this vehicle was actually quite realistic. With a 2.7 V6 engine and 6-speed transmission, it has various elements that have influenced the KIA road vehicles of today.

Kia Ray (2010)

Image Source: www.topspeed.com

Released in 2010, the Ray is a classic example of a daring concept car with futurist design elements. Looking as much like a spaceship as it does a road car, this four-seat prototype was put together with recycled materials, and was in fact inspired by aircraft designs.

Efficiency was the primary concern here – this is a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a fuel economy rating of 86 km per litre. It also reflects sunlight, meaning there is less of a need to burn energy using an air conditioner. KIA really thought of everything here.

Kia Track’ster (2012)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

The highly praised Track’ster caused a lot of buzz at the time. The reason behind this will be clear when you find out the making concept of Kia Track’ster. We now understand this was a sampl e of the direction that KIA has since taken with its Soul models. 

Described as being ‘tough’ and ‘like a bulldog’ by its chief designer, the Trickster is great to look at and has a strong engine to back it up, boasting a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 186 Kilowatts of power! We would have loved to see this one mass produced.

Kia Niro (2013)

The Kia Niro, which was presented at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, is a sleek, compact vehicle with vertical doors and front-wheel-drive capability. Featuring a 1.6-litre engine and seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission, the Niro has been designed to rival smaller European compact cars of a similar type.

Kia Trail’ster (2015)

Image Source: www.topspeed.com

The Trail’ster was Kia’s most rugged concept Kia Cars when it was introduced back in 2015. This off-road beast comes with a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering up to 220 hp and an electric all-wheel-drive (e-AWD) system with 1.2 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery powering a 27 kW electric motor. It’s a true off-road concept king with a rough and tough exterior and a breathtakingly refined interior.

Kia Niro-EV (2018)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

The descendant of Kia Niro is the newest addition to the KIA fleet. The Niro-EV was first revealed at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018. It’s a real car of the future; not so long ago virtual reality, self-driving cars, and full vehicle connectivity were all considered technologies of the distant future. 

But the Niro-EV features innovative human-machine interface and advanced ‘motion graphic’ lighting systems, giving us a glimpse at the future. Apart from the spectacular design and futuristic concept, this beauty includes the world’s first in-car 5G connection as well.



Concept cars are the perfect examples for years of R&D efforts coming to life. Kia is always bringing the future closer with their innovations.

5 Car Accessories to Keep You Safe on the Road

As we’ve discussed in our previous blog posts, road safety remains one of the biggest concerns for the community and is something we are working towards improving on an ongoing basis. More often than not, these efforts start at the individual level; driving in a responsible way and looking to obey road laws at all times. Interestingly, there are a number of car accessories developed by KIA and other providers that can help you be safer on the road. This article will go through just a few of them.

Blind Spot Mirrors

If you’re a driver, you’ll be well aware of what the blind spot is and how it needs to be checked by a full turn of the head while driving, particularly when changing lanes. Located in the back right and back left or the vehicle, this is a part of the road that you can’t see with mirrors or in your peripherals.

These 2-inch blind spot mirrors are attached to your standard side mirrors and are angled in such a way that you can see exactly what’s happening all around the car with a simple glance to the side, rather than a head turn.

Seatbelt Cutter/Window Breaker

While chances are you’ll never need it, the Rescue Me seatbelt cutter and Window Breaker is a handy tool to have in the case of emergencies. There are a number of cases where accidents have left passengers in a car trapped and unable to climb out - the door may be unable to be opened or the seatbelt may be stuck. 

Keeping this device in your car can help you out of these kinds of situations as it will quickly and efficiently cut your seatbelt and break the windshield or window glass, providing a means of escape.

For a better understanding of seatbelt cutter, you can check out this video.

Dashboard Video Recorder

This may not actively prevent an accident, but it can certainly save you from a lot of headaches if there is some kind of dispute between yourself and another motorist. If you’re in an accident for instance and it is not clear who is at fault or exactly what happened, the video recorder will help set the record straight.

Further, it stands to reason that in the future all cars will be fitted with cameras, ensuring that we have as much information about what’s happening on our roads and make informed decisions about how to improve safety.

Are you interested to know about dashboard cameras? Then watch out this worthy video. 

Rain Repellent

Rainy weather conditions often contribute to poor visibility, which can certainly contribute to drivers making mistakes which can potentially lead to accidents. Rain-X Rain Repellent might sound too good to be true, but it can help keep the rain off your windshield and improve visibility significantly. 

Applied to your windscreen before you hit the road, it causes the rain to slide off the glass once it lands. When used together with your windshield wipers, it can be highly effective.

The attached video shows the test and review of Rain Repellent. Click this to know much more about it.

Emergency Kit

You never know what’s going to happen when you’re out on the road; so having a road emergency kit in the boot is always a good idea. Usually, these packs will include first aid kit including bandages and scissors, duct tape, various tools such as screwdrivers, a flashlight, a rain poncho and safety vest, cable ties and possibly even rations.

These items can be purchased in a package or separately, but they can be well worth having with you not just for your own safety, but for that of other motorists if you happen to come across the aftermath of an accident on the road.

These are just a few of the extra accessories on the market that can help you stay safer when driving and also don't forget to scrutinise your car from authorised Kia service Centre. For more information about available Kia accessories and service related queries, talk to the team at Chadstone Kia today.

Review on 3 of the Best Kia Cars You Can Buy in 2016

Kia is known for its sporty, performance smaller vehicles that are made to excite and boost your driving experience. This year Kia has raised the bar even higher with a new line-up of their most popular cars to date. In our last article, we have reviewed 3 popular Kia cars in Australia. This time we will be reviewing 3 of Kia's best cars in the respective class: Kia Sorento, Kia Soul, and Kia Optima. These three vehicles are the best of their class for a number of reasons, but are they the best car for you? Let’s find out which type of Kia driver you are!

Kia Sorento 2016: The Perfect Getaway Vehicle

The Kia Sorento 2016 makes use of its larger and more sophisticated exterior and continues the luxury inside. Being slightly larger than the previous model, the luxury interior is where the 2016 model shows its class. Featuring a number of added extras to enhance your driving experience, Kia thought it best to highlight the most popular features and bring them into the new model.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

This mid-size crossover vehicle features more user-friendly controls as you’d expect from Kia. Featuring a clean and great feeling cabin that feels as well-made as it looks, the 2016 model features a nice and versatile second-row seat for those transporting their family in comfortable surroundings. When it comes to value for money, the 2016 Kia Sorento has it all in terms of functions for your money.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

Overall, the Kia Sorento 2016 model has been ultimately redesigned to boost performance with its 2.0L and 2.4L turbo model, with the high-end model featuring a 3.3L V6 for maximum performance. In of its class, the Kia Sorento 2016 is a decent SUV that is positioned competitively for its price, which feels much classier than a cheaper alternative that may lack many of the features and functions in the latest model.

Kia Soul 2016: Totally Transformed

Known for its funky and sporty stylings, the Kia Soul 2016 takes an even bigger step further in terms of fun driving in this years’ latest model. Featuring a number of styling upgrades, the 2016 Kia Soul looks more rugged and urban than the previous model, which makes for a great looking urban commuter for any cool inner-city driver.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

With a whole host of additional features and upgrades available, the 2016 Kia Soul takes functionality to the next level. Being fun to drive and featuring a tight turning circle for its slightly larger size, this car can look and feel much smaller than it actually is – which is a good thing for drivability!

Featuring many user-friendly controls makes the car simple to operate and easy to understand. With all of the controls at your fingertips you will be less distracted along your journey. With amble passenger space you will now be able to haul your work colleagues across town to the nearest coffee shop in an instant, and leave your friends impressed by the spacious room in the back.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

The fuel economy is reasonable for this size of vehicle, and has a reasonably good ride on city roads. You will be impressed by the responsiveness of the car, as well as the number of upgrade and additional options available right out of the shop, such as the new premium package that includes forward collision and lane-departure warning systems which are new to the Soul range in 2016.

If you are after a driving experience that features a comfortable ride for you and a few buddies, one of the best infotainment systems available on the market, as well as a funky cool look, then you won’t have to look any further than the Kia Soul 2016 model to give you a spectacular driving experience.

Kia Optima 2016: Discover the Next Generation

This stylish sedan has proven its popularity year after year thanks to its effortlessly modern styling, excellent performance and a range of in-car entertainment functions that put much more expensive cars to shame. The 2016 Kia Optima has proven its sporty nature again with the latest models, featuring a number of improvements in terms of fuel economy and performance.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

Featuring a turbocharged 1.6L engine that purrs at even higher speeds in the LX Turbo model, the cabin stays quiet thanks to improved noise dampening designs. Featuring many convenience functions that are made to make driving simpler, the Optima also has many luxury features that you simply can’t find on other cars in its class.

Image Courtesy: kia.com

The range of models for the Kia Optima 2016 include a 1.6L turbocharged 7-speed automated manual, the EX 2.4L 6-speed automatic, as well as the top of the range SXL Turbo 2.0L 6-speed automatic.

This front-wheel drive Kia has all of the sporty feeling and handling you’ve come to expect from the Optima models in recent years and with a tighter feel to it you will feel at home with the new 2016 model, as well as offering you more luxury than you would might expect for a sedan in this class.

If you want to upgrade your Kia to the latest models or need to find the best accessories to suit your needs precisely, then there is no better place to fit out your car than with Chadstone Kia. For parts and accessories, Chadstone Kia is the first place to knock, and when it comes to services and inspections, you won’t find a more knowledgeable Kia expect in Melbourne, VIC.

Review on 3 Impressive New Kia Cars for 2016

We are on the verge of waving away 2015 and we’re looking forward to the new models that Kia has planned for 2016, while many of these aren’t yet available in Australia. In this article, we will give you a summary of the key features and updates of some popular Kia 2016 releases just to give you a sneak peak of what’s coming.

2016 Kia Sportage: Everlasting Impression

Slated for a release in the first quarter of 2016, the new Kia Sportage was first shown off back in September at a motor show in Frankfurt. The medium sized SUV has been noted for its different physical appearance compared to that of its predecessors, with a sharper, fiercer-looking front grille, and modified headlights, as well as being slightly longer than previous models.

Image Credit: kia.com

Feature-wise, the Australian release will include new safety features as standard including lane departure warning and blind spot detection. Also for the first time in Australia, this model will include Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The increased length allows for more space inside, which promises a more comfortable ride for driver and passengers. Engine details for the Australian release are yet to be announced, but we’re seeing 2.0 and 2.4 petrol engines overseas as well as a diesel tuber 2.0 litre. The 2016 Sportage is certainly one we’re looking forward to.

2016 Kia Cerato: A Gift of True Innovation

The 2015 Cerato was one of the year’s most widely sold cars, beloved for its sleek design in particular. Despite this, Kia came out and promised significant changes to the 2016 model, and early images seem to confirm this.

Image Credit: kia.com

The updated look was unveiled just last month and we can see that the new design carries over a lot of what made 2015’s offering work, with the interesting tweaks. We’ll let you decide whether you like the new look, but we are a fan of the new, longer headlights which is a nice change from the more bubbly-looking lights on the older model. The other striking difference is that the front grille has been made flatter and straighter. These changes give the Cerato a more luxury appearance.

By all reports, engine options will be the same as the 2015 Cerato and we can expect this model to be available in April or May.

2016 Kia Picanto: All in Small

You might not be familiar with the name and there’s a good reason for that; the Picanto is yet to have been released in Australia. However, it will be introduced to Australian Kia dealers at some point in the first half of 2016.

Image Credit: kia.com

Kia's smallest car, Picanto is being released as a viable competitor to the Mitsubishi Mirage, which currently dominates the micro-car market in Australia. But it will have its work cut out for it to hold the title as the Picanto looks primed for a big first year.

The 2016 model is rather eye-catching, with that stylish grille found across Kia’s range. The zippy micro-car has been commended for its interior space, and rumour has it the Australian model will include a spare tire (not seen in UK models). Safety features have also been a priority, receiving a 5-star safety rating from ANCAP when released to New Zealand.

Are you excited about these new cars? Don't scream yet, we will be reviewing three more flagship Kia car of their respective class in our next blog article. So stay with us and leave your comment below, and don't forget to visit Chadstone Kia's website for new updates on original Kia cars.