The Kia SPORTSPACE concept made its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, alongside the new Kia cee’d GT Line for Europe and the enhanced Kia Picanto, Kia’s A-segment bestseller. The cee’d GT Line also marks the first application of Kia’s all-new downsized powertrain technology – an all-new 1.0-liter T-GDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine and the brand’s newly-developed seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission).
Created for long distance driving, the new Kia SPORTSPACE concept has been designed for fast and efficient travel, with maximum comfort and minimal stress. Designed at Kia’s European design center in Frankfurt, Germany, under the direction of Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Europe, the SPORTSPACE features a striking, sporty wagon silhouette.
The cabin is designed to be as light and airy as possible, with a full-length panoramic sunroof providing natural light. The luxurious leather in the cabin is with combined with contemporary technical materials – such as carbon fibre and milled, anodized aluminum – while the driver benefits from a configurable digital display. Occupants sit on hand-woven single-piece gloss black leather seats, while the cargo area features steel rollers to more easily load the boot – these then retract into the boot floor when the engine starts, holding everything in place during the drive.
Nissan combines bold new concepts, further developments of its acclaimed EV range and sporting ambitions at its Geneva pavilion. Nissan also highlights its investment in pioneering technologies that will bring autonomous cars to market by 2020.
Taking centrestage is the Sway, a concept designed to shake up the traditionally conservative B-segment hatchback sector, the same way Juke or Qashqai did in their respective segments. Sway showcases how a future generation of compact Nissan could look.
With its swooping lines, striking nose, elegantly simple interior and bold use of sophisticated colours, the Sway is seen as emotional and edgy, designed to appeal to European tastes. The exterior blends four highly distinctive elements – the V-motion grille, floating roof, boomerang lamps and kicked-up C-pillar. This new design signature has already been seen on the Nissan Lannia Concept presented last year in Beijing at Auto China 2014, as well as in the new Murano recently launched in the US. This is the first time a compact hatchback bears the new styling direction that future models in different market segments in all regions will eventually follow.
Having already established itself as a sector pioneer with the LEAF, a special edition LEAF model celebrates the model’s fourth consecutive year as the world’s best-selling electric car. Nissan is also extending its zero emissions line-up with the world premiere of the new e-NV200 Evalia – a seven-seat variant of the successful e-NV200. The versatile seating system allows adaptation of load space according to needs, and the e-NV200 is available with the CHAdeMO quick charging system that provides access to the most widely installed rapid charging system in Europe today with over 1,500 accessible points.
2015 marks the brand’s return to the endurance racing at the highest level with the global show premiere of the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO. Designed to compete in the flagship LMP1 category, the front-engined, front wheel drive GT-R LM NISMO is powered by a V6 3-litre twin turbo petrol engine and a kinetic energy recovery system.
