Bait and Switch?

"Groagun" (groagun) 04/09/2015 at 12:25 • Filed to: None

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The Kia SportSpace Concept, it looked great and while not a radical departure from the current Optima, it didn’t need to be.

Very subtle and sleek, it captured the attention of the enthusiast crowed and garnered some real positive attention from the average consumer in the vanilla media as well. It was designed to show what the current design language could really be if designers really had their way and the bean counters and engineers stayed out of the way.

Red and black is always a great combination and the discreet black trim and big gun mental wheels are awesome. Even the metal atop the headlights and the turn signal/fog lamps strip seem to be more brushed aluminum than chrome.

Sinister and subtle is the theme here and it worked beautifully.

Then they dropped this:

Something got totally missed in the translation.

I think the production version is awful! I know it’s really not that different than the SportSpace Concept but seriously, what happened?

First and foremost, chrome, chrome and chrome everywhere. Have Americans started to love chrome again and ask for it splashed everywhere? Chrome is a period time piece and belongs in the 50’s and 60’s. It fits there and suits the period.

There is nothing wrong with chrome in small and measured amounts, but this thing goes overboard. Why? Am I the only one who sees Toyota Avalon and Camry in this new Optima? Bigger and more boring with a side of gaudy. Just what every American orders when they sit down to eat at the trough at their local Denny’s.

(it’s amazing what you get when typing anything into Google search)

Again I know if you look close you can see this car in the concept and the differences are subtle but it just doesn’t work. It is those small and subtle differences that ruin this car. Kia and Hyundai for that matter have seemed to have lost their edge and I have no idea why. Is it the pursuit of Toyota and the sales crown and the perceived reputation that goes along with it that they are chasing?

I think that is a part of it but the idea of the great beige middle, where lets be honest, the bulk of sales come from, are a big draw to CEO’s and executive boards, investors and shareholders alike.

Trying to be all things to all people and a friend to everyone: or this case the car company that everyone buys from. Your chasing a mirage, it will get you no where and in the end will damage your company, it’s reputation and may even steal it’s future.

Hard work, beautiful and impeccable design, attention to detail and rock solid safety and reliability: that is how you get to the top. Carve you own path and follow no one else. It will not guarantee the top spot but you will revel in the fruits of your labor and reap the rewards.

Jedidiah > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 12:28

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What's sad is that I can easily see this being a production car.

dogisbadob > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 12:29

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I'll forgive them if they make an Optima wagon :)

Groagun > Jedidiah 04/09/2015 at 12:32

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Exactly!

Groagun > dogisbadob 04/09/2015 at 12:32

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I hope you aren't holding your breath?

Groagun > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 12:39

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Forgot to add this, sorry=(

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/04/it-was…

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 12:58

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Kia fans are learning what Subaru fans have already learned.

Legacy:

BRZ/FR-S/GT86:

Not to mention the concepts that aren't going to ever be produced, like Subaru Viziv.

Viziv 2:

Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept:

or the easily near-production Cross Sport Concept:

Welcome to another disappointment, Kia fans, and would be Kia fans.

GT4 Stinger would have been a great car, too... roughly BRZ-sized, maybe a hair bigger, much better styling, 3-door fastback, and 275 Turbocharged horsepower. Solving both of BRZ/FR-S/GT86's major problems... a minuscule trunk lid, and under-powered engine choice, and also solving the less imperative problem that the Subaru/Toyota triplets are not as good looking as they could be.

johnv > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 13:01

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The chrome is (if based on the previous model) reserved for ONLY the top of the line SXL model. The other ones have less of the stupid chrome.

IMO, if you change the wheels, and lose the chrome, the production model isn't far off.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/09/2015 at 13:10

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This is true of most cars really.

Concept of my car:

My actual car:

TheHondaBro > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/09/2015 at 13:10

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Kia fans?

Kia?

Fans?

Groagun > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/09/2015 at 13:12

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Well put and I touched on this in puppyknuckles post here: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/im-not-sure-i-…

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 13:12

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I guess the reception from the general public must not have been as good as it was here.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/09/2015 at 13:18

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the Cross Sport's interior is awesome. love me some black and brown.

Rico > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 13:25

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It's called being chintzy and it's why Kia and Hyundai still don't get it.

cornerslide > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 13:30

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I have read your posts before and as a rule I get your point and agree. But as someone who hasn't been to Denny's in years I'd ask you to dial it back on the stereotyping.

Rico > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/09/2015 at 13:31

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Whoa what happened to the GT4 Stinger, surprised they didn't show it at NYIAS.

Thing with Subaru is they don't know what they want to be, exciting, boring, or utilitarian. So they make these exciting concepts like the WRX for example or show off BRZ Sti's with no intention of ever building them, they know it but they try to fool the world to "Drum up interest" little do they know they burn the very people they hope to attract.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/09/2015 at 13:39

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I BADLY want a production Cross Sport 3-door shooting brake, based on XV Crosstrek, minus XV's rear side doors, and with this lowered roofline, and a return to frameless door glass.

(why they based the concept car on the front half of the BRZ, is beyond me... why would such a car NOT be AWD?!?! Especially with a Subaru badge...)

With the double-opening rear hatch, fold-flat rear jump seats, and the fold-forward passenger seat as shown in that interior picture, it would make for a highly versatile little runabout and commuter vehicle in any weather, over any road.

That sort of 3-door shooting brake XV, powered by a WRX or up-tuned FA20DIT, backed by STI drivetrain (6MT-DCCD, limited slip and torque-vectoring rear diff, long-travel bilsteins, monoblock brakes, and 5x114.3 hubs)

Painted World Rally Blue or slightly darker, with bronze finished forged wheels, and the brown (I'd take sort of a ruddy saddle colored leather on the seats, to go with the bronze wheels...)

I would be arranging for money to buy that at the earliest possible time.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Rico 04/09/2015 at 13:46

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I think GT4 Stinger might be shelved... with the slow-down in enthusiasm over the Subaru/Toyota triplets, they may be hesitant...

Which is unfortunate, as I said, GT4 Stinger solves the drawbacks of the Subaru-built cars.

Subaru seems to know that they want to sell appliances like big sister Toyota... and continually set sales records.

But they don't build anything interesting with all that new additional revenue, besides a few one-off custom show cars to try and drum up the interest you mentioned...

I used to own two Subarus, and was an avid enthusiast. I don't own those cars anymore (became too expensive to support as they aged, and my needs changed toward more cargo versatility), and nothing newer in their lineup is appealing to me.

All boring, and all-CVT are deal-killers... and the WRX and STI being sedan-only is also a deal-killer for the cargo versatility aspect. A 3-door coupe of the same size would be more adaptable to internal modest cargo use than a trunk lid on a coupe or sedan.

Groagun > cornerslide 04/09/2015 at 13:58

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Have you seen the portion sizes? Did not mean to offend you, much. I love my American brothers and sisters.

cornerslide > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 14:04

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I appreciate it. Not trying to start anything. By the way I get the way the market works here. Great concepts end up getting "Camryd" because it's the largest most competitive part of the market while the rest of the world gets the world gets the good stuff. Same with motorcycles.

Axial > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 14:23

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The new Optima, as a whole, is a total miss. Should have kept it at Audi-levels of clean, but with Korean flare, like the current Optima does.

Manic Otti > Groagun 04/09/2015 at 16:29

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Yeah, I could buy that wagon wouldn't even consider that sedan.

B/Xmrrmvr > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 16:11

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Kia is the king of making vaporware/bait and switch concepts.

B/Xmrrmvr > TheHondaBro 04/24/2015 at 16:11

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Kia vaporware fan here.