Image Credit: Captain Electro.
When a major manufacturer rolls out a concept car, it's usually one of two things: a serious preview of tomorrow's family car, or the fever dream of someone who spent too long watching old sci-fi films and now has the keys to the design department. Based on what I've seen of the new Kia Vision Meta Turismo Concept, I think it's the latter. And honestly? I love it. The moment I saw this thing - a searing yellow, elongated, torpedo-shaped riot - I thought, "Ah, good, the Koreans are finally loosening up."
This new concept is essentially a sports sedan that has been stretched, squashed, and generally confused until it emerged looking less like a car and more like what would happen if you commissioned a very angry manta ray to design a vehicle. Kia is tossing around phrases like "performance driving," which, given the amount of yellow screaming off the bodywork, I'm inclined to believe. It's glorious. It's also barmy, with a nose section that sprouts a pair of aerodynamic fins like the world's most expensive Dumbo ears, and those ears, naturally, hold the headlights and the little cameras that replace the side-view mirrors.
Image Credit: Kia.
As an automotive journalist who specializes in the new electric landscape, I'm used to companies oversharing. They usually provide everything - kilowatt-hours, horsepower, a 0-to-60 time measured in milliseconds, and the exact weight of the vegan upholstery. Unfortunately, with the Vision Meta Turismo, Kia has opted for the mysterious approach. I have absolutely no idea how big this thing is. Is it the size of a Ford F-150? Is it smaller than a Smart car? Your guess is as good as mine, because the dimensions are currently a closely guarded state secret.
Similarly, if you were hoping for the juicy performance figures - you know, the power outputs, the estimated battery capacity, or a price tag that will send your accountant into cardiac arrest - prepare for disappointment. Kia has provided precisely zero of those key specifications. I can't tell you the price in good old American dollars, but if I had to guess, based purely on how expensive the yellow paint looks, I'd say it's quite a bit and a half. And acceleration? Kia claims "performance driving," but without a single number, this could be the quickest thing on four wheels, or it could be slower than an iceberg - I simply don't know! It is the most impressive feat of information withholding I've seen since I tried to figure out what was in the fridge last night.
Image Credit: Kia.
But we can have an educated guess, since this new eclectic beastie is based on the same E-GMP platform that all Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia electric chariots are built on. What one obvious car is missing from Kia's electric lineup? I'll give you a hint - Hyundai sells it as the futuristic Ioniq 6. That's right. I believe we are looking at the Kia's version of this lozenge-like rocket.
If true, the new Kia will be about the same length, only wider, and in the fastest trim will get the crazy twin-motor 650-horsepower powertrain with fake gear shifts, engine noises, and "Drift" button. Hallelujah! I never thought that a Korean manufacturer would be making the most outrageous cars in the world. Ever. But here we are…
Image Credit: Kia.
Let's talk about the styling, because there's plenty of it. From the front end, you get a windshield that stretches so far back it practically turns the cabin into a gigantic glass bubble. Kia clearly spent their 80th-anniversary budget on glass, because the roof is a spectacular, almost cathedral-like affair of criss-crossing yellow bars, black strips, and angular panels. The overall effect, with that stretched greenhouse, is absolutely reminiscent of a fighter jet's canopy - which, I suppose, is a compliment, unless you happen to live somewhere sunny, in which case you will be boiled like a forgotten lobster.
Kia has described the cabin as a "lounge," which is a word used by people who believe driving should be optional, not mandatory. And yet, this "lounge" is surprisingly driver-focused. While the passenger seats get a sensible, relaxing off-white cloth, the pilot gets the full treatment: yellow leather everywhere. The dash, the steering wheel, the seat - all screaming yellow.
Image Credit: Kia.
The steering wheel has devolved into a chunky, hexagonal yoke protruding from a floating display binnacle. A yoke, naturally. Because nothing says "performance driving" like steering with a shape that was designed to be difficult to hold onto. On the right armrest is a peculiar little joystick - this could be a highly advanced, electronic gear selector. Or, and this is my preferred theory, it's designed to launch various countermeasures at the traffic enforcement officers who inevitably want to pull you over for looking like a road-going space shuttle.
The best bit of tech, hands down, is the augmented reality head-up display. It projects virtual graphics onto the windshield, giving you an "immersive experience" with three distinct modes: Speedster, Dreamer, and Gamer. I have no idea what "Dreamer" mode does - does it turn the road into a giant, fluffy cloud? Do you start hallucinating better efficiency figures? Who knows... "Gamer" mode is where the real fun begins. Visible data includes not just the speedometer and a "boost level meter," but also video-game stats: a score, a global ranking, and a skill level. Finally, a car that rates you! I can't wait to see my "skill level" drop from "Enthusiastic Amateur" to "Terminal Disaster" the moment I hit a speed bump too fast.
Image Credit: Kia.
The Korean automaker is celebrating its 80th anniversary with this creation, and they claim it's "our first bold glimpse into the future of mobility." Which, you know, makes me wonder what all the other cars Kia has ever made - the ones you can actually buy - were a glimpse of. Maybe the past was just one long, sensible, boring glimpse. But with the Vision Meta Turismo, Kia has certainly captured my attention. It's a spectacular, silly, gorgeous concept that reminds me of the wild Stinger EV that every enthusiast secretly wishes Kia would build.
Here's to the Vision Meta Turismo. It's got a canopy, a yoke, a joystick, and a complete lack of any useful technical information. It's a brilliant showpiece that proves electric power doesn't have to be wrapped up in an aggressively beige box. If this is truly the future of the electric sports sedan, I'm all in. I wonder if my bank would approve a loan based purely on a photograph of a prototype vehicle painted in that much yellow.
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