REPORT: Kia considering production Kee to compete with Toyobaru coupe
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/kia-kee-coupe-concept/#46"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/kia-kee-concept.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Kia Kee Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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In an interview with the blokes from <em>Autocar</em>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia/">Kia</a> head designer Peter Schreyer had plenty of interesting things to say about the possibility of a new rear-wheel drive sportscar from the Korean automaker based on the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-kia-kee-coupe-concept/">KEE concept</a> from the 2007 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Frankfurt-Motor-Show/">Frankfurt Motor Show</a>.<br />
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If it ever sees the light of day, Schreyer sees the coupe as a possible competitor for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/mx-5">Mazda MX-5 Miata</a> and the upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/toyobaru">inexpensive sportscar from Toyota and Subaru</a>. Not to mention a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/yes-again-nissan-rumored-to-be-reviving-240sx-bringing-it-to/">possible Nissan 240SX revival</a>. Just don't expect to see such a machine any time soon:<br />
<blockquote>
<div><em>Assuming Kia's European fortunes continue to improve at the rate they are now, we could be ready in, say, five years for a car like Kee... [I]t would be important for the Kee to be rear-wheel drive. And there is, of course, already a rear-driven platform within the Hyundai-Kia group that we could look to use, if our timing was good... Personally, I have to say that I'm very excited by the idea, and very enthusiastic to make it happen.</em></div>
</blockquote>So, not only may the Genesis platform be expanded to include a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/kia-k9-super-sedan-sneak-peeked-in-seoul/">top-level Kia sedan</a>, it may spawn a small sporty machine as well. According to Schreyer, the production Kee wouldn't need a ton of power; rather Kia would focus on making the car "compact, affordable and fun." Sounds good to us - really, can we ever have too much of those three adjectives in the automotive world?<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/">Kia Kee Coupe Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/kia_kee_live_1280_01_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/kia_kee_live_1280_02_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/kia_kee_live_1280_03_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/kia_kee_live_1280_04_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-kee-coupe-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/kia_kee_live_1280_05_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=24577 8">Autocar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-kia-considering-production-kee-to-compete-with-toyobaru/">REPORT: Kia considering production Kee to compete with Toyobaru coupe</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=24577 8>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-kia-considering-production-kee-to-compete-with-toyobaru/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19275556/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-kia-considering-production-kee-to-compete-with-toyobaru/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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