Kia Venga shown ahead of official Frankfurt debut

Excitement from this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show is reaching the U.S. in abundance. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to attend this year, I’ve been keeping up with the reports, and I have to say that this year has been jam-packed with extraordinary innovations from some of the world’s top manufacturers.

One item that caught my attention was a delightful Kia preview. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Kia’s mix of class and style, and I’ve been looking for something new and big from these guys for a few years now. At this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Kia unveiled its 2010 Venga, an MPV that makes its mark in a young automotive segment.

While Waukegan dealers might not get a look at this vehicle for a few years, the Kia Venga is a step in the right direction for the South Korean manufacturer. The strikingly handsome design elements and detail touches are reminiscent of the buzz-worthy Kia No3 concept car. A long wheelbase and wide track contribute to the vehicle’s unique but attractive and stable sporty design. This isn’t your typical ‘minivan’ concept; in fact, the Kia seems to purposefully neglect the boxy profile associated with other B-segment MPVs.

I’d like to highlight the Kia Venga’s spacious and comfortable interior; a new-style four-spoke steering wheel that can be adjusted for height and reach frames the car’s “three-cylinder” instrument cluster. The unusually long wheelbase, high roofline, and best-in-class width helps facilitate an undeniably roomy driving experience. The information panel leverages a Dot Matrix presentation, offering drivers information about the audio system, outside temperature, time, day and date. The Kia Venga adds an extra touch of class at Waukegan Kia dealers.

While the 2010 Kia Venga won’t be immediately available in the United States, Waukegan new car dealers are stoked about the vehicle’s development because it represents a logical and innovative next step for the manufacturer. If we never see the Venga on U.S. shores, we’re sure to at least see an even more refined vehicle that will benefit from the Venga’s overseas experience.

In the midst of international outcry over reform of the automotive industry, Kia is striving to stay on the cutting-edge in automotive excellence. Fuel-stretching technology is a big win for Waukegan dealers and Kia lovers alike; a Start/Stop (ISG) system helps reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions by automatically switching off and restarting the engine in clogged city driving. The Venga also includes a power-saving alternator management system and a gear-shift up/down indicator to help drivers practice a more economical driving style.