FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Kia's baby SUV

Kia has revealed teaser images of a sleek new Frankfurt motor show concept car that could preview an all-new compact crossover from the audacious Korean car-maker.

Although Kia has revealed no specific details, it says the “playful but gutsy, sturdy yet impish” show car “hints at a possible future B-segment contender ready to take on the urban environment with style and tenacity”.

“Accepting any challenge that the assured modern motorist may throw at it, this concept car combines a mischievous character in a clearly robust and substantial yet stylish bodyshape featuring a mix of contrasting materials in compact, purposeful dimensions,” said Kia.

“Born out of Kia’s determination to seek new compact-car options for the individualistic and demanding driver for whom size is an issue, the concept features intriguing elements not always associated with smaller cars and has been created in Europe with European tastes and expectations very much in mind.

“Although there are no current plans for production the vehicle’s unveiling in Frankfurt will be used to gauge potential customer response for future showroom models.”

Kia Australia spokesman would not be drawn on details, but confirmed the unnamed concept could herald Kia’s first entrant in the burgeoning compact SUV segment, adding that: “Kia rarely produces a concept without a basis in reality”.

If the concept, which will be revealed in full in Germany on September 10, proves to be a compact SUV, expect it to be positioned beneath the mid-size Sportage as a direct rival for circa-$25,000 city-SUVs like the Nissan Dualis, Mitsubishi ASX and Ford’s upcoming EcoSport, plus conceptually similar models from Holden, Honda, Mazda and Volkswagen.

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