New Kia Venga Debuts at 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show
SEE ALSO: Complete 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show News
FRANKFURT, GERMANY – September 16, 2009: Kia’s all-new, uniquely spacious and dynamic B-segment MPV makes its global debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Called ‘Venga’, the new model will be manufactured in Europe, and will go on sale across Europe later this year – backed by two warranties: Kia’s unique ‘7-Years (drivetrain) / 5-Years (whole car) / 150,000 km’ warranty, plus a 10-Year anti-corrosion warranty.
The new production model, which is closely related to the stunning Kia No3 concept car that made its debut at the Geneva Show earlier this year to worldwide acclaim, brings stylish good looks and a fun driving experience to an otherwise ‘humdrum’ vehicle segment.
“Venga will certainly deliver all the practicality and versatility that a European family could require. It will also provide them with the most stylish transport this segment has ever seen,” observes Benny Oeyen, Director Marketing & Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe. “On the road, its performance and agility will surpass the class norm. Venga will ensure that rewarding, fun-to-drive motoring is now available to drivers whose lifestyles demand an MPV.”
The ‘Venga’ name has an attractive and lively sound that suits Kia’s latest family car. It is derived from Spanish and has a modern feel that fits well with active urban lifestyles. It echoes Kia’s core brand value – the ‘Power to Surprise’.
Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the 4,068 mm long Kia Venga features an unusually long wheelbase for its class (2,615 mm) – and a 1600 mm high roofline to maximise cabin space. Skilful packaging ensures that the Venga redefines its MPV category by offering levels of interior space typical of a larger C-segment vehicle, but within a B-segment footprint.
“Venga is a tremendously exciting new model for us which will build on the success of the Kia cee’d and boost the on-going process of changing European consumers’ perceptions of our brand,” continues Oeyen.
“The B-segment MPV is still a ‘young’ concept, and although demand for this type of vehicle shrank during the last two years, we believe that two main factors will reverse that trend. Firstly, the economic climate will encourage consumers to down-size. Secondly, exciting new products from several manufacturers will re-ignite interest in the whole segment and with New Venga, Kia will be positioned to maximise its sales growth and sector share,” adds Oeyen.
Every engine in the Venga line-up will be available with Kia’s fuel-stretching Start/Stop (ISG) technology and will comply with Euro 5 emission standards. Start/Stop (ISG) equipped models will have a CO2 rating from just 117 g/km (1.4-litre U2 engine).
Venga will be marketed exclusively in Europe where consumers will be offered a choice of two 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre gasoline and diesel engines, generating between 75 and 128 ps. Every version of Venga will be equipped with a sliding 60/40 split rear seat that also folds flat into the floor to create a spacious cargo bay. Depending on model, an optional tilt-&-slide, all-glass panoramic sunroof will be available to flood the cabin with natural light.
“Venga is going to inject much-needed excitement into the B-segment. It is such a great looking, great driving car that even people who don’t actually need an MPV-style vehicle, will buy one!” concludes Oeyen.
Kia brings dynamic and dramatic design to small MPV sector
New
Kia Venga will offer consumers a winning combination of style and
practicality when it goes on sale across Europe at the turn of this year.
Bearing many of the striking design elements and detail touches that drew
wide media and public acclaim to the No3 concept car at the 2009 Geneva
Motor Show, Venga brings a sensational ‘good looks’ to a
segment of the market previously characterised by ‘dull but
worthy’ vehicles.
Indeed, the similarities between the No3 concept car and the production-ready Venga making its debut at Frankfurt go surprisingly deep. Apart from the adoption of a more conventional windscreen and roof design, all metal panels are common between the two models, and only minor changes have been made to turn the design concept into a production reality.
“B-segment MPVs have traditionally been a class of vehicle purchased out of necessity – they are cars of function and practicality,” explains Kia Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. “Now all that is about to change. With New Venga we have designed a car that will fulfil European consumers’ practical requirements, while also being genuinely desirable and fun to drive. Venga is going to re-ignite interest among consumers in B-segment MPVs, by setting new standards for the class!”
Viewed from any direction, Venga appears to get progressively wider as the eye is drawn from top to bottom, thanks to the car’s long wheelbase and wide track – giving it a stable, purposeful, sporty stance. All of the car’s creases, shapes and outlines – from the sleek headlamp housings, through wedge-shaped double shoulder creases and deep swage lines on the doors, to the ‘kick-up’ rear passenger windows – get progressively higher as they flow from front to rear, making Venga appear poised and ready for action, even when parked.
Doing away with the boxy ‘mini-van’ profile typically associated with B-segment MPVs, New Venga adopts a sleeker, racier profile. Indeed, Venga’s slippery form achieves a class-best figure for aerodynamic drag with a Cd of just 0.31 – reducing fuel consumption, emissions output and wind noise – as well as satisfying numerous aesthetic criteria.
Short overhangs front and rear combine with the new model’s broad stance and its ‘smiling’ lower air intake to enhance the overall feeling of ‘eagerness’ to get moving. The bold, concave swage lines along the flanks accentuate Venga’s pronounced shoulder lines and muscular wheel arches, to give the car a svelte, but athletic appearance.
When New Venga is viewed in profile, the extended, four-panel glasshouse reaches beyond front and rear doors to improve driver visibility and to apparently ‘stretch’ the car’s outline. At both front and rear, modern, angular light clusters draw the viewers’ eyes sharply in towards the middle of the car.
The treatment of glass surfaces is especially important in the creation of Venga and buyers can accentuate this aspect of the MPV by specifying the optional, all-glass, two-piece sliding panoramic sunroof. It covers almost the entire roof area, bringing light to the interior to add to the feeling of spaciousness, and making the car seem sleeker by disguising the windscreen header rail and seeming to draw the roof line back.
Venga will be marketed exclusively in Europe with a choice of 10 exterior paint colours, two of them – Byte Blue and Caramel Gold – unique to the new model.
Generously equipped for maximum comfort and choice
Kia is
confident that when customers first experience the new Kia Venga MPV they
will be deeply impressed by much more than its ‘uniquely
spacious’ interior. The new model’s style, colours, execution,
quality, materials, fit and finish will delight existing Kia owners and
demonstrate to those unfamiliar with the brand Kia’s continuing
‘Power to Surprise’.
Facing the New Venga driver is a new-style
four-spoke steering wheel, which is becoming a Kia trademark feature. It
can be adjusted for height and reach and features alloy-finish lower spokes
and remote control switches on both left and right spokes. Another element
of Kia’s developing design DNA – the
‘three-cylinder’ instrument cluster – can be viewed
through the Venga’s wheel. While the Venga’s
standard interior
colour scheme is Ebony Black or Ash Brown, with a Metallic Silver central
facia, high-gloss Beige, Black and Lime Green trim packs will be available
as either standard or as an option on the TX model. The radio/CD player is
all-new and features a circular central ‘master’ control. The
centre-top, red-on-black information panel has high readability thanks to
its Dot Matrix presentation and is able to display information about the
audio system, external temperature, time, day and date. The floor console
houses an oddments tray (with USB and AUX iPodŽ* connections), gear
selector and hand-brake lever, twin cup-holders and large-capacity storage
box.
Three trim levels and a wide range of options
Kia Venga will
be available in three trim levels (LX, EX and TX) from launch, offering
consumers a good breadth of choice, plus a selection of individual options.
Following the best Kia tradition, even in ‘base’ LX
specification Venga is fitted as standard with many equipment options only
available at extra cost on competitor vehicles. The well-appointed interior
features a height adjustable driver’s seat, while in the rear, the
60/40 split rear seat has a folding centre armrest and a sliding and a
‘fold & dive’ facility to offer a flexible load area. Electric
front windows, four audio speakers and rear seat ventilation ducts are also
included as standard. Venga EX trim adds a high-specification radio/CD
audio system with six speakers (including two ‘tweeter’
speakers), plus CD, MP3 and AUX input capabilities. Comfort is enhanced by
the addition of manual air conditioning, and convenience is boosted by
keyless entry and a fold-away key.
Top level TX trim for Venga brings a
number of design flourishes to Venga, including 16 inch diameter alloy
wheels, front fog lamps, electric folding door mirrors with side repeater
and electric rear windows. Inside, there is a leather steering wheel, with
wheel-mounted audio equipment remote controls, cruise control and speed
limiter, high-gloss centre stack, leather/cloth interior upholstery and
driver’s seat armrest. In addition to the generous standard
specification, buyers will also be able to personalise their car by
choosing equipment from an extensive list of options.
The most striking of
these options is the all-glass panoramic sunroof. This two-piece tilt
‘n’ slide sunroof covers almost the entire top of the car,
bringing light and a feeling of heightened spaciousness to the entire
cabin. Satellite Navigation, voice activated Bluetooth connectivity and a
variety of audio systems are among the options – as are fully
automatic air-conditioning, and heated front seats. Stylish alloy wheels,
up to 17 inch in diameter and darkened privacy glass can be specified to
further enhance New Venga’s exterior appearance. In addition, models
can be ordered with keyless entry and engine start/stop button, electric
heated and folding outside mirrors, and chrome finish exterior door
handles. An optional tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse parking
sensors and a reversing camera with interior mirror display screen, are
also available for additional driver peace-of-mind.
SEE ALSO: Complete 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show News