Just days after the teaser, Kia has released the first images of the Vision Meta Turismo design. The design is one-of-a-kind. It looks like a torpedo, has a fancy glass top, and fins that run from the front to hold the camera-based side-view mirrors and lights. Kia says the car focuses on “performance driving,” and that an augmented-reality head-up display can make the driving experience more realistic. The Korean car company made its move just days after showing a strange, high-tech model car. The idea, called Vision Meta Turismo, has nothing to do with Facebook’s parent company or the Vision Gran Turismo cars that have been popular in the Gran Turismo racing simulator for almost 10 years, despite sharing a name. Instead, the idea honors Kia’s 80th anniversary and shows what a sedan-like, performance-focused car might look like in the future when everything is electric. Kia says the idea is “our first bold glimpse into the future of mobility,” which makes you wonder what their previous concept cars were meant to be. There isn’t much information about the Vision Meta Turismo, and Kia hasn’t said it is an EV, but it is designed to run on electricity rather than gas. Kia’s only claim is to give “performance driving.” The Vision Meta Turismo uses “human-centered design with advanced technology,” including a head-up augmented reality display that projects virtual images onto the windshield across three digital modes: Gamer, Dreamer, and Speedster. But Kia doesn’t give a good reason for these options. Even though there isn’t much technical information available, the design has gotten a lot of attention. It makes the cabin longer, like a torpedo’s shape, and is based on a sports car. A black strip in front of the long window makes the hood, which is already short, look even shorter. There are two LED strips in each headlight. One is a shorter line that curves up along the bumper, and the other is a longer strip that runs from the back of an aerodynamic fin (which sticks out from the chassis and looks like a pair of ears) to the side-view cameras. The roof stands out for its unique cross-pattern of angled glass panels, yellow bars, and strips that make it appear darker. The glass extends all the way to the back of the front doors, creating a fighter-plane-like canopy effect. The unique look is finished off with a blocky side and headlights set far apart, like those on new Kia models, especially the K4. Even though the inside is called a “lounge” in current concept-vehicle language, it seems more focused on driving than on relaxing. The yellow leather driver’s seat, steering wheel, and dash all match the outside of the car. The front passenger seat and back bench are off-white. The turning wheel comes from a floating binnacle shaped like a large hexagon; it’s called a “yoke.” The joystick on the driver’s right armrest looks like it could launch missiles in a Bond movie, but it might also be used to pick gears. There is a speedometer and a boost level meter on the windshield, just two of the many pieces of information displayed there. Also, there are video game stats like score, world ranking, and skill level. There is a small glass panel behind the steering wheel that shows gears and an “M,” indicating that manual gear shifting is possible. We want to know more about this bold new take on the sports car, and Kia says more information will be shared soon.
