The second concept vehicle from Kia's California design center, Kia's KCD-II "Mesa" provides a North American commitment to a potential new product segment for the company, presenting a modern, rugged body-on-frame SUV that features three rows of six individual bucket seats and dual full-length sunroofs. "Like Hummer and Jeep, Kia has a history of building military vehicles, and we drew on that legacy to bring utility to life in the Mesa," says Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia Design. A turret-style wraparound windshield provides maximum visibility from inside, and features a center-roof-mounted LED searchlight. Its high beltline offers passengers a sense of security and protection. Built on a long 116-inch wheelbase, the vehicle spans 192 inches in overall length; its massive 22-inch alloy wheels have been pushed to the very corners to maximize interior space, creating stable responsive handling characteristics, and lending to its athletic appearance. Underhood is Kia's existing 3.5-liter/192-horse V-6 (also seen in the Sorento), though the compartment is sized to accept Kia's next generation of powerplants. Mesa features full-time four-wheel drive with an Active Torque Transfer system that shifts power between the front and rear wheels according to road conditions (from a maximum 100 percent front to 50/50 split). Insiders confide there is significant corporate interest in producing such a vehicle, and that it could be built in the U.S. While there has been no official production approval, the fact that the media page says an MSRP is coming soon might be a hint towards its true destiny.
