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Kia Kee Concept damaged during transport to North American debut

11/09/2007, 1:59 PM

By Drew Johnson

Kia unveiled its Kee Concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and hailed the car as the “future face” of all Kia vehicles. But on the way to its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, that face was crumpled as the Kee broke free of its restraints and slammed headfirst into the front wall of the transporter.

Needless to say, the Kee’s North American debut will be delayed as Kia had no choice but to pull the car from the LA show. According to Kia spokesperson Alex Fedorak, the Kee has already been sent back to Italy. “We had to send the car back to Italy to get repaired and there is no way it’s going to make it back to the States in time for the LA show,” Fedorak said.

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11/09, 2:06 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

Not a good sign. Very unfortunate.

11/09, 2:08 PM

posted by:

atourya

that’s depressing. I’m rooting for Kia and the other underdogs. I don’t know if LA would be a succesful market for this car anyway.

11/09, 2:11 PM

posted by:

jamaicandude

That’s a shame.

11/09, 2:16 PM

posted by:

cardesigner5

it might actually help the looks, the should put it on show

11/09, 2:19 PM

posted by:

SwerveEarly

They should have done what Hyundai did for the Genesis coupe front end and just steal someone elses.

11/09, 2:21 PM

posted by:

autonut

It should definitely help the show: all Kia needs to do is to pay for Lindsey Lohan and Britney Mother of the Year to stand next to a car! Don’t mention how the car got it looks and it will be success! That luck of creativity at Hyundai/Kia group!

11/09, 2:22 PM

posted by:

CA36GTP

Have they never heard of building more than one show car?

11/09, 2:31 PM

posted by:

CA36GTP

WTF? LLN just ate my comment.

11/09, 2:31 PM

posted by:

CA36GTP

And now it’s back…carry on…

11/09, 2:34 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

autonut: LiLo looks smoked-out now. Josie Maran would be better

11/09, 2:35 PM

posted by:

christianboy10

Hey Kia just bring it to my bodyshop I’ll have it looking like new again in no time

11/09, 2:46 PM

posted by:

RSPINAJR

Ugly as hell anyway

11/09, 3:05 PM

posted by:

autonut

jackjimturkey, I think you are an old geezer and should not be peeking under young chick dresses when they don’t wear underwear (they seem to never wear them anyway). I don’t know really if Josie Maran wrecked any cars lately, but LiLo did and Mama of the Year rolled over some feet (and maybe swallowed few roosters as someone put it here).
If Benz ever end up with wrecked one they should call on service of Billy Joel: he has tendency wrap his(S-class what did you read?) around trees on Long Island

11/09, 3:16 PM

posted by:

6ix

I remember the Chrysler Portofino (the original show car for the cab-forward styling movement of the LH-series) was destroyed when the semi carrying it crashed. Those show cars are typically just clay bucks and considering their high cost, only one is made.

Real shame. It will be very difficult to repair. I’m sure that prototype cost at least $1-million.

11/09, 3:16 PM

posted by:

Veda

“Have they never heard of building more than one show car?”

Concepts are expensive to make. They did state the amount to actually make one in a very old post.

11/09, 3:28 PM

posted by:

autonut

jjt, I am not sure if Josie Maran crashed anything lately. LiLo did and Mom of the Year keep on driving over photographers feet. Why an old geezer like you is even looking at young ‘tang with no panties on?
If Benz ever get their concept damage they should invite Billy Joel: he has tendency to wrap his (S-class what do you think?) around trees on Long Island.

11/09, 3:30 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

thats it autonut i calling it a rooster forever now. :)

11/09, 3:35 PM

posted by:

autonut

I want to neuter this webmaster or whoever edits my comments: they are disappearing/reappearing at random on top being edited. Fcuken communists!

11/09, 3:36 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

Personally, I wish this would happen to all concepts that dont have a chance in hell of being produced.

When I go to an Auto Show, I want to see things that are going to happen soon – not Sci Fi. If I want Sci Fi I’ll flip on the tube and make Spock jokes.

11/09, 3:38 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

BTW – I personally wanna bang that e-surance cartoon babe with the pink hair.

11/09, 3:39 PM

posted by:

autonutt

Honestly, this is probably a good thing for Kia.. why would they put a grille shaped like an “H” on the front of a Kia anyway? They should save that for Hyundai!

11/09, 3:56 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

ricardo i am still hooked on jessica rabbit. ;)

11/09, 3:58 PM

posted by:

LamborghiniZ

autonut: I agree, I think jackjim is the oldest and crankiest of all geezers. I decided this a long time ago. The ID name as a whole just conveys “old man” like nothing else.

11/09, 4:00 PM

posted by:

autonut

Lambo, the old man loves his scotch, notin’ wrong with that

11/09, 4:13 PM

posted by:

Ward Cleaver

You have a good memory 6ix, the Portofino was badly damaged when the driver of the semi hauling the car fell asleep at the wheel and rolled the rig. However it was rebuilt at a cost of around a million dollars. I saw it some years back at DC Headquarters in Auburn Hills. Not sure where it is now. Another Chrysler concept vehicle, the Norseman, didn’t fare nearly as well. It was on its way to the States from Italy aboard the luxury liner Andrea Doria when the ship sank in 1956. It’s been rusting away in her cargo hold for over 50 years.

11/09, 4:22 PM

posted by:

Ward Cleaver

BTW- why send the KIA back to Italy? Couldn’t Boyd Coddington fix it?

11/09, 4:32 PM

posted by:

I Think That

COP OUT

11/09, 5:02 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

autonut: now, I gotcha.
Old geezer?
I was born in ‘69. I ain’t dead.

R-Head: You never know what kind of cartoon STDs are out there. Judy jetson damn near killed me!

autonut: hell, call me jackjimChivascorona!
just don’t give me any buweiser or some other foul ****.

11/09, 5:09 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

Judy Jetson was massively bonable too. Not sure, though, if Astro was hoppin’ her or Elroy.

11/09, 5:35 PM

posted by:

mazdaman

If Kia is lucky, maybe slamming it into a wall fixed this car’s minor styling flaws. If it closed the gaps in the grille and C pillar, then I say it was worth it.

Seriously, this is a shame. Except for the two flaws (gaps) mentioned above, this really was a nice design from Kia.

11/09, 6:42 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Lambo: The fact that i drive an Oldsmobile and am waiting on a Buick doesn’t make me old and cranky

11/09, 7:14 PM

posted by:

gbb

Kia could send this POS to the car crusher for all I care. Yuck!

11/09, 10:20 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Kia’s aren’t all bad. I just bought my kid an ‘02 Spectra to replace his money sucking, piece of **** ‘97 Lumina. Kind of an interesting used car place in the universe: cheap as an equivalent domestic, but with a lot of Japanese quality bits for many thousands less. Time will tell, I suppose, but all the doors would pretty much have to fall off before I would consider it a worse investment than the Lumina.

11/10, 10:15 PM

posted by:

illwill

Poetic justice. ****in (audi) substance stealing hondai/kia losers deserved it.

11/12, 3:37 PM

posted by:

441Zuke

who ever left that unlatched did the world a favor

 
 
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