Kia KEE

Officially, the KEE is a concept car. In reality, bosses at the Korean firm love the sleek 2+2, and they’ll be watching the public reaction closely when it appears at the Los Angeles and Detroit Motor Shows at the turn of the year. With the promise of great looks and competitive pricing, the KEE looks set to unlock a new generation of Kia buyers. And even if doesn’t get the thumbs up, it points the way to Kia’s future design direction.

Look at the Kia line-up, and you’ll find lots of practical and affordable cars... but you’ll have to wait until early next year before you see anything sporty. That’s when the new Pro_cee’d arrives – although even that hot three-door hatch seems sensible compared with this, the KEE!

The 2+2 coupé was one of the stars of last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and now Auto Express has driven it. So, is it all show and no go? From the outside, the KEE is unlike anything in the current Kia range. A squat stance and low roofline give it the appearance of a sports car, while distinctive LED lights up front and the luminous paintjob scream for attention. At the back is a wrap­around windscreen and a pair of cen­trally mounted exhaust pipes. The shape of the front grille is echoed beneath the powered tailgate and highlighted by contrasting rear light clusters.

You won’t find any handles, either. Instead, you simply press a smart alloy button, which pops the door open once the frameless windows have automatically dropped far enough for them to be clear of the surrounding bodywork.

Look elsewhere, and stylish details abound, including polished 20-inch alloys, intricate door mirrors and a pair of glass-covered, aluminium-framed rear quarterlights. The purpose of these becomes clear as soon as you step inside, where they combine with the swoop­ing rear screen to provide a narrow, letterbox-style, 180-degree view out the back of the car.

The cabin has a production-ready feel. There are four seats, and the front pair even fold to boost rear access. Unlike on many prototypes, the electric win­dow levers actually raise and lower the glass, while the instruments are more M25 than Thunderbird 5.

There’s a row of smart alloy controls on the dashboard, which have been designed as a mod­ern take on the Sixties-style toggle switch. An expensive-feeling microfibre fabric covers the rooflining and dash, while the centre console looks good with its attractive polished metal finish.

Pride of place goes to the gearlever, which resembles a computer mouse and controls the six-speed auto. Under its flip-top lid lies the bright orange starter button, which only requires a short press to fire the throaty 2.7-litre V6 engine into life.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel is covered with the same suede-like material as the dashboard, while a pair of column-mounted paddleshifters provide manual changes. A quick pull on the lever is enough to select ‘Drive’, and the KEE moves forward eagerly.

The suspension hasn’t been properly configured, although it’s still possible to gauge how a production version would perform. The low-slung seating position and driver-focused cabin give the car a special feel, even at lower speeds, while the powerplant is torquey and more than sounds the part. And we love the panoramic view out of that back window.

Imagine the KEE as an affordable Mazda RX-8 rival, and it’s easy to see its appeal. After all, there’s room for four inside, as well as a generous boot. You can expect future cars from Kia to carry styling elements previewed by the 2+2. Bosses have revealed that the distinctive grille is set to become a trademark of new models, while the unusually shaped windscreen is also likely to be retained.

You might even see the KEE’s lum­inous paint finish – but that’s just about the only element of the concept’s design we would change.

RIVAL: Mazda RX-8
With its innovative doors, smart looks and strong pace, the RX-8 is a distinctive choice. Its cabin is practical, too. But the package is undermined by its thirsty rotary engine, leaving the way open for a more affordable rival in the mould of the KEE.