DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Kia 2+2 sports concept

Kia has created a striking two-door sports car concept for next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Revealed in this single teaser image overnight, the as yet unnamed show car is described only as a new 2+2-seat sports concept.

Kia says it will reveal further images of the concept ahead of the show, but full details will not be announced until its January 13 debut.

Rather than a traditional booted coupe, the concept appears to be a two-door hatchback in a similar vein to sister brand Hyundai’s Veloster.

Painted in a deeply lustrous gold paint, the sleek show car features prominent wheel-arch blisters and a wrap-around windscreen that forms a one-piece, wedge-shaped glasshouse.

Kia has confirmed the four-seat concept was designed at its Californian design studio and it’s possible it heralds a new design direction for the brand, but it’s unclear what production future it might have.

“Conceived and designed by Kia’s California-based team at Irvine, the 2+2 sports car is aimed at delivering head-turning looks whilst providing superb driving enjoyment whether on the road or at the track,” it said.

The Korean car-maker already has the Cerato-based Koup as its sister sports model to the Veloster.

Its next new model is expected to be the Carnival – the last model yet to be redesigned by Peter Schreyer.

However, Schreyer, who is now head of design for both the Hyundai and Kia brands, is in the process of developing design languages to better separate the sister brands.

Hyundai is forging ahead with its latest Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design theme – as seen with the new Genesis sedan.

But Schreyer has told Autocar that Kia’s design language will change more, and concepts like this could point to a more emotional design aimed at younger buyers.

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