Kia Mesa

Is Kia trampling all over parent company Hyundai's nomenclature?

Word from American enthusiast web sites and the Hyundai Exchange forum, is that a large Kia SUV based on the KCD-II concept from 2004 is going into production and will reach the US early next year.

This vehicle is rumoured to be named 'Mesa', which apart from being the Spanish word for 'table' or 'plateau' is also the name of a town in Arizona.

Hyundai has marked its proprietary interest in towns in the south west of the US with models named 'Santa Fe' and 'Tucson', so we're not sure how they'll feel about a company they own stealing their thunder.

Of course Kia can always argue that the precedent-setting Rio is short for Rio Grande...

The Mesa is said to be a Ford Explorer-sized ('mid-sized' in the US) SUV that's likely to be powered by a 3.8-litre V6, although there's also the chance of a V8 option. According to the websites, it's built on a light truck chassis.

Kia flogged the KCD-II concept around motor shows some years back, but the decision to delay production came as a result of softer SUV sales in the US -- an outcome of rising petrol prices.

There's no telling whether the Mesa might come to Australia. If it did, sales would possibly cut into the Sorento's. Judging by the styling of the Mesa, it's a vehicle tailored for the American market, so it would appeal to a demographic slightly removed from the Sorento's.

Whether that means both vehicles can share nicely in the Australian market remains to be seen.

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