First look Kia No3 concept

After years of being in the styling doldrums, Kia looks as though it has seized the day with design.

It has followed up the C'eed and surprising new-look Cerato with the No3 concept, which will be unveiled at next Tuesday's Geneva Motor Show.

The No3 concept hatch, described as a multi-purpose vehicle, is one of three new Kias to be at the show.

Apart from the No3, Kia will show off a range of cars with what it calls ISG for “idle, stop and go”, as well as an innovative hybrid.

Kia executives say the No3 concept “redefines the small MPV genre by creating a beautiful car that is also fun-to-drive”.

The concept looks almost production ready and could end up battling the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Getz in the ultra-competitive light-car class.

The concept features an extended windscreen and panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the new Kia corporate grille treatment, headlights and brand logo in a new constellation.

At 4045 mm long, the concept is 95mm longer than a Ford Fiesta concept.

The No3 is finished in matt Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents.

The ISG system will be previewed in the Kia Cee'd.

It delivers about to 15 oper cent fuel savings in city driving.

The device is already on sale in many countries across Europe.

The system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in traffic and restarts the engine instantly when the driver moves off.

ISG cars are available with a choice of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines.

The 1.4-litre ISG models at Geneva have a 137 g/km CO2 rating.

In keeping with an emerging green theme at Geneva, the Korean carmaker has built a fleet of prototype Kia Cee'd hybrids especially for testing and evaluation in Europe.

The Cee'd Hybrid uses an upgraded powertrain with Kia's Gamma 1.6-litre petrol engine, mated to a 15kW, 105Nm AC synchronised electric motor, CVT transmission and ISG.

The hybrid hits 100km/h in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 185 km/h.

The prototype achieves fuel consumption of 4.81 litres/100km and a CO2 figure of 109 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the standard 1.6-litre petrol Cee'd.

The 79th Salon International de l'Auto which opens next Tuesday.

The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...