Kia has unveiled its Provo coupé concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The B-segment show car has been designed to provide driving pleasure without necessarily breaking the bank according to its maker.
Exterior
On first glance, the Provo looks like a grown-up Smart Roadster. The compact body features a long bonnet, a sloping window line and a stubby rear end.
Round the front, Kia has fitted its latest signature grille along with LED light clusters and a front splitter. Moving rearwards, the door handles are electronically recessed until needed and the contrasting roof is broken up by C-pillars that arch over the top of the car. At the back you'll find a twin-exhaust outlet and more LED lighting. Underneath, Kia has fitted 19-inch milled-alloy wheels that are joined to the car via a single, central wheel nut.
Interior
The Provo's interior is a minimalist black-on-black arrangement. The simple, modern look has apparently been designed to keep drivers' eyes off the gadgets and on the road. Kia has also managed to remove the centre console, leaving two leather seats that seem to weave their way across the width of the car.
Behind the flat-bottomed leather-trimmed steering wheel features an electronic display that changes depending on selectable driving setups. Normal mode will display a rev counter, speedometer and satnav instructions; Cruise shows primarily a satnav display; while Track shows a large rev counter, a smaller speedo and a track map.
Mechanicals
Under the bonnet of the Provo sits a 204hp, 1.6-litre, turbocharged petrol engine connected to a seven-speed DCT gearbox. Assisting both power and economy is a 'Smart 4WD Hybrid' system. While the petrol engine drives the front wheels, an electric motor can be called upon to drive the rears; either to increase performance by 42hp or to provide an electric-only 'creep' mode that can be activated by a button on the dashboard.
Anything else?
It's expected that Kia will follow on from its cee'd and pro_cee'd GT models with a coupé proper, though we don't expect it to be called the Provo in this part of the world...