Other cars at Chicago: Kia Mojave

[Rex Raider]

CHICAGO, February 5, 2004 – Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) has rapidly expanded its product line-up in North America into several new segments, including the midsize SUV, large sedan and minivan categories, but today at the Chicago International Auto Show, the fastest-growing Korean car company held a world premier for something entirely different -- a concept mid-size pick-up truck dubbed the KCV4 “Mojave.”

The first pick-up truck -- concept or production -- Kia has ever shown in the United States, the Mojave is specifically designed to meet the needs and tastes of North American consumers. However, due to the fact that KMC does not have a suitable manufacturing location to build a truck for North America, there are no production plans at this time.

[vicious1]

Wow..Did you really expect this from them? And I see a little bit of the Chevrolet Cheyenne Concept in this vehicle.

[alvbazan]

More like a Cheyenne ripoff read here:

http://www.autoextremist.com/page6.shtml#table

[paul8488]

yeah, totally cheyenne. kia's 'midgate' looks interesting though... looks like the rear seats fold and slide up against the fronts, and the back wall (midgate) slides up to expand the cargo bed length... now if only the rear window would slide up and lock in place and make it a sealed-cabin 2-seater truck. THAT'D be useful.

[Mr_Pringle]

yep, yep, Cheyenne was my first thought-- it's rather blatent.-- maybe with a touch af Titan.

[frenstall]

Ha ha, ceyenne in the lights and Bronco concept in the grill. Oh well, at least KIA is braver then Honda by releasing truck concepts earlier in their NA life.

[mcroto97]

Does anyone know why car companies always do those crazy interiors that never ever make it to production? Just wondering.

C6 rules!

[babershah]

What the hell??? Kia truck, Asian automakers better not take over the American-dominated truck market

Pretty soon we'll be seeing German trucks
Introducing the Volkswagen AAC!!! Stupid name but its on vw.com under concepts

With the American automakers dominating (GM with Chevy and GMC, Ford with Ford, and Chrysler Group with Dodge) AMERICAN trucks must update their interiors to catch up to the Asian trucks (TOYOTA, HONDA (sut), NISSAN)

THIS INTERIOR UPDATE I WOULD LIKE does NOT apply to Ford's new gorgeous upscale F-150!!!! OMG!!! It a better interior than ANY Ford car!!!

[gmwsag]

You must be kidding me...this is a KIA?
Boy, it looks so much like a Chevy Cheyenne Concept a year or two ago...
And not only that, what a stupid name, 'Mojave?

[awalbert88]

Originally posted by gmwsag@Feb 5 2004, 05:05 PM
You must be kidding me...this is a KIA?
Boy, it looks so much like a Chevy Cheyenne Concept a year or two ago...
And not only that, what a stupid name, 'Mojave?

The name is equally as stupid as Cheyenne.

If it makes production, it will just be another hunk of junk for the yuppie crowd that thinks trucks are cool. But I'm not convinced that market exists.

As for interior styling.. obviously this isn't production. You'd never meet impact standards for the occupants. I haven't seen the interior of the GM or Dodge trucks, but the F-150 definately has an interior that is world-class.

[Artie]

they need a pick-up they sould make one

[bakerna]

I know everyone's bashing it...but I kinda like it...sure it's a clone of the cheyenne...but the interior is uber slick...futuristic but slick...gm could could take a lesson or two...not only that but the doors are a good idea...they're a bit large but they give quite a bit of entry space...especially to the back seats

[R.E Sanchez]

For-shame...such a ripoff.

[SteveWallace]

Originally posted by alvbazan@Feb 5 2004, 02:15 PM
More like a Cheyenne ripoff read here:

http://www.autoextremist.com/page6.shtml#table

How did I miss that on Weds......hmmm

[tgagneguam]

This is a pretty nice design, mostly because it's derivative of what others have done. However, I would hardly consider it a real threat [yet]; this looks very 'tinny' and not quite manly like the real FS trucks out there. Check out the thinness of the midgate, the tailgate, the seats... just about everything. I cannot imagine that this inspires FS pickup confidence behind the wheel.

As a first attempt, there are definitely things done right, but overall trucks like the Titan and the [Toyota] FTX worry me much more than this.

Unfortunately, I think it's only a matter of time before the Koreans get into the game. It could benefit GM and Ford, though. They'll be scared into making their trucks even better (eg, interiors), like they should have been doing all along. In a phrase: competition is good.