For the first time in...
For the first time in the history of this column, Iò€™m shamelessly inventing and promoting a conspiracy theory. It goes like this: the Government is sabotaging the roads and deliberately causing traffic congestion.
That"s where it took...
That"s where it took the wraps off the KND-4 Concept - the first model to preview the manufacturer"s new styling dubbed Designology.
The four-wheel drive was created at Kia"s Namyang Design (KND) Centre. It previews SUVs of the future, with a rounded appearance, smart LED headlamps and flared wheel-arches filled with 20-inch alloys.
There"s a full-width rear screen, which extends to incorporate LED back lights, and a pair of exhausts which protrude from the integrated bumper. Despite its three-door body and show car looks, the KND-4"s short overhangs and tall ground clearance ensure that it can cope off-road, while alloy underbody protection is also visible at both the front and rear.
The metal-trimmed cabin can carry four and is packed full of technology. A next-generation high-contrast LED screen dominates the centre console, and the built-in hard drive allows music and film footage to be stored digitally. The KND-4 even has the latest Blu-ray DVD and Bluetooth systems.
Under the bonnet, a 2.2-litre diesel drives all four wheels. The firm"s latest Active Torque Transfer (ATT) system optimises off-road performance.