KIA KV7 preview.

          Kia is flexing its muscles with a new people carrier concept which will take centre stage on the firm’s stand at the Detroit Motor Show. Called the KV7, the large MPV blends the chunky looks of an off-roader with people carrier versatility like Ford’s US market Flex.
Kia concepts usually have a codename using alphabetical characters to denote the origin of the design – KCD: Kia California Design, KED: Kia Europe Design and KND: Kia Namyang (Korea) Design – followed by a dash and a number that denoted the chronological order of that concept design to come out of each studio.
The KV7 breaks from this mould as the name stands for Kia Van 7. It's designed more as a crossover, but 'Van' is US-speak for MPV, which gives you a hint as to where the car will end up on sale first.
The '7' refers to a high-end vehicle - such as the top-of-the-range Kia K7 saloon which isn’t sold in the UK.
The KV7 concept was designed by Joey Mo at Kia’s American design studio in Irvine, California, under the watchful eye of the firm’s design boss, Peter Schreyer. It features a bold, slab-sided look, LED lights and a minimalist interior.
But while features like the gullwing doors are pure fantasy, Kia is keen to point out that the Soul, Sportage and Sorento all bore a “very close resemblance to the original concept designs that preceded them.”
Although the KV7 is a large MPV, Kia is aware that the segment is in decline, with sales of cars like the Ford Galaxy, Renault Espace and VW Sharan falling as buyers opt for crossover 4x4s instead, particularly in the US market.
While Kia’s newcomer is still a large MPV, the firm hopes its unique looks and car-like efficiency will be enough to win back buyers. The KV7 is sized between Kia’s Carens and Sedona MPVs, and could replace both cars if it comes to the UK.