Special Edition - Kia Milan Design Week
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Concept
Transcend Journey
Transcend Journey is a theme that Kia used to show how their cars can work well in both city and outdoor settings. It's about how their vehicles can adapt to different lifestyles.
Car
PBV
PBV is a type of electric van made by Kia. It's designed to be flexible and can be used for different purposes, showing how Kia is focusing on electric vehicles.
Car
EV2
EV2 is a concept car from Kia that shows what their future electric vehicles might look like. It was first shown in Europe at the Design Week.
Car
PV5
PV5 is a campervan made by Kia that is designed for people who love outdoor adventures. It shows how Kia is making vehicles for different lifestyles.
Concept
crossover
A crossover is a vehicle that mixes the features of a car and an SUV. It usually has a higher seating position and more space for stuff, making it good for families and city driving.
Concept
B segment SUV
A B segment SUV is a small type of SUV that is easier to drive in cities. It's not as big as regular SUVs, making it more convenient for everyday use.
Term
suicide door
A suicide door is a door that opens backward instead of forward. It makes getting in and out easier, especially for backseat passengers, but can be less safe in some situations.
Car
Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is a new electric SUV from Kia. It is designed to be environmentally friendly and has a modern look.
Term
electric vehicle
An electric vehicle is a type of car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. They are better for the environment because they produce no exhaust fumes.
Car
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is a small car that looks a bit like a box. It's popular because it's roomy inside, easy to drive, and doesn't cost too much, which makes it great for city living.
Concept
EV2 concept
The EV2 concept is a prototype car that Kia is showing off to give people an idea of what future electric cars might look like. It's not a car you can buy yet, but it shows what they are planning.
Concept
PV Weekender
The PV Weekender is a concept for an electric van by Kia, aimed at people who want a vehicle for weekend trips and adventures. It's still in the idea stage and not available for sale yet.
Car
PV5 passenger
The PV5 passenger is a new electric van that is being released. Electric vans are designed to be better for the environment and are becoming more popular for transporting people and goods.
Car
Volkswagen Transporter
The Volkswagen Transporter is a popular van that can carry people or cargo. It's known for being roomy and useful for various needs.
Car
Ford Transit Custom
The Transit Custom is a medium-sized van made by Ford. It's great for carrying people or things and is commonly used by businesses.
Term
boot
The 'boot' is the part of a car where you can put your bags and other stuff. It's like a trunk for storage.
Car
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The S-Class is a fancy car made by Mercedes-Benz. It's designed to be very comfortable and has a lot of high-tech features, making it a popular choice for wealthy people.
Car
BMW 7 Series
The 7 Series is a luxury car made by BMW. It's similar to the S-Class and is designed for comfort and advanced technology, often used by business people and wealthy individuals.
Car
Mitsubishi Delica
The Mitsubishi Delica is a type of vehicle that can be used for both family trips and off-road adventures, known for being spacious and practical.
Car
Volkswagen T4
The Volkswagen T4 is a type of minivan made by Volkswagen, popular for its roominess and ability to carry many passengers or cargo.
Term
off-road camper
An off-road camper is a special kind of vehicle that you can use for camping in places that are not smooth or easy to drive on, like dirt roads or mountains.
Car
Volkswagen California
The Volkswagen California is a van that can be used for camping. It has a roof that can pop up to give you more space inside, making it comfortable for sleeping and moving around.
Car
Renault Wind
The Renault Wind is a small car that can turn into a convertible, meaning the roof can open up to let the sun in. It's made for people who want to have fun driving and enjoy the outdoors.
Concept
overlanding
Overlanding is a type of travel where you drive to faraway places, often in rugged vehicles, and camp along the way. It's about the journey and adventure, not just getting to a location.
Car
Kia EV3
The Kia EV3 is a new electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas. It's designed to be good for the environment and has lots of modern features that people like.
LIVE
Welcome to the motoring podcast, a Kia, Milan, Design Week, Special Edition. Yes, that sounds a lot like us, doesn't it? Hello, I'm Alan. Hello, I'm Andrew. Even more so than it was I who went. Well, that was what I was going to say next. It wasn't the person who was the designer who went. It was Joe Sote there. It was the man who mocks everyone for wielding crayons and everything. Great. Yes. And Milan, Design Week, by the way, used to be called Milan Fashion Week, which just makes it even funnier.
Anyway, yes, why I went is because for the last now three years, Kia has commissioned artwork and an exhibition during Design Week in Milan. And this year, they did the same, but they also brought some vehicles to for the first time, some of them. For the first time, they were shown off in Europe. And the title for their installations was Transcend Journey.
Now, prepare yourselves because I'm going to read some of the wording that has been prepared by Kia themselves for this. So do buckle up a little bit. I've just heard you distance yourself as quickly as possible from what you're about to read out. This is not me. Clearly.
The whole idea of apparently behind Transcend Journey is that is to, and I'm quoting here, explore the evolution of ability highlighting how Kia's innovative vehicles break the boundaries between urban and outdoor experiences.
I'm not going to discuss the artwork, although it was fabulous to go and experience it and to see it. And it really was a full experience as well. It wasn't just a case of looking at something.
Yeah, you said it was multi sensory. Multi sensory definitely. It was excellent. I would have loved to spend longer just absorbing some of that.
But what they did is that they, the car side of things, which is what we're all, if you're listening is probably what you're more interested in, is how they wanted to show that the vehicles were adaptable.
And there was the customization potential of, particularly the PBV, which is their electric, new electric van.
But also they wanted to show off the concept for the EV2, which was excellent. See, because it's the first time that's been in Europe, as well as the PV5 weekend, where someone had stolen all the valves, which was a campervan take or overland campervan take on the PV5.
If you listen to the normal, the normal news show, of course, you'll have heard us talk about this over the last little while as these were released and announced and we recovered them as part of new new car news.
So it was as a concept, it's always doubly cool to then see them in real life and check that what you thought before, from pictures and words on screens is still valid.
So that was a great opportunity as well. Yeah, absolutely.
I'm going to start off first with the EV2 concept. And this is a B segment SUV, yes, OK, SUV, but it's it's not that tall though. So this is more like a crossover.
So it's more yarris cross type size. It's not taller than that. OK, it's not a particularly has been in the news in the last 24 hours if you were on social media when we record this.
It's not a big hulking SUV that will mo down passengers it's actually a very friendly small city SUV urban SUV.
Now, what we got to see but not touch what we got to see was only a concept and it is clear some of the elements will not make it to production.
The overall design is pretty much there. I mean, they had things like actual realistic sized wing mirrors, stuff like that.
But there was no B pillar and a suicide door. So that's not going to make it no door handles or even into the door handle, which is how you know something's a concept.
Yeah, the a pillars were very thin that won't make it because of structural requirements and safety requirements.
Those little touches that will change when it comes to but the overall shape and it will be interesting to see what they transfer from the what was shown on the interior to the exterior because that was.
Quite a quite a thing the interior is definitely more concept you than the exterior you know yes you've got the basically nothing.
Dashboard a bench front see very stylistic pedals all of these kinds of things.
And yet the sort of key and I double screen display which looks kind of production.
Yes across the middle but everything else you know there's no air there's no face fences nothing like that.
It's just texture fabric. Yeah, I'm going to stick with the outside.
If you look at this and there will be pictures in the show notes.
If you look at this then you will recognize that it's an electric vehicle from Kia, particularly if you've seen the nine and the three.
It's got that very much that face where it's quite a blunt front end but it's sort of curved and molded.
So it's not like a full on slab.
It's got the vertical lights which is very recognizable and it's just quite a clean design.
There isn't a huge dense and slashes in the sides they haven't done anything ridiculous with a grill up the front either.
It's very recognizably a Kia which is an interesting move from Kia who had previously until the last couple of years.
It's gone very much each individual model is an individual thing.
Yes.
And now there is a more common design language coming through.
I think that that's important in the EV space.
Not so much to differentiate them but to make to increase awareness.
Possibly.
And we've talked before about the more boxy shape is being considered or is thought to be considered as a more luxury type design from consumers.
There's been what the model was we were talking about but they were specifically saying it wasn't a Kia car but they were specifically saying that it was considered luxury by consumers that this more boxy look compared to sort of melted soap.
OK.
I mean it's a really nice looking car.
I have to say and the blue was really phenomenal.
I'm not sure that it will make it to production because it's a sort of satiny finish.
Yeah.
It's a kind of satiny sort of powder blue isn't it?
Yeah.
And really nice.
Yeah, as you say it's a bit different and distinctive and it's a man just to not be silver or grey which is always a winner.
Yeah, absolutely.
As you mentioned before though Alan the interior was a was a real big deal for them.
They talked a lot about how they they fear well they one of the principles behind the EV 2 concept was the urban picnic.
And this is where it was explained to us that you rock up in a car park.
You open the side doors.
You've moved the front seats because the front seat bench moves backwards and forwards on the rail or go into that in a minute.
As you create this sort of outdoor indoor space, you're able to again a concept you're able to take the speakers and move them out of the doors and everything so you can.
You can have a little party on the edge of your car.
I'm not sure that's going to work so well in say none eaten.
No, me neither.
I like the thought behind it.
And I can see sort of if you're say Australia or America where there is more space and people do more stuff outside because the weather is a bit more clever.
And perhaps.
Well, no, it actually works a little quote quite well. I think it's not so fun.
But you can open it and it's like having your own little cabin.
Yeah, that you can take along and then you can set up a barbecue just outside you know in the space that's left and all that kind of thing.
It's like having a beach hut on wheels and not necessarily at the beach.
Yes, it is a more idealistic life which perhaps we'd all really prefer to be able to enjoy to be fair.
It's aspirational. That's one of the points of concept.
Yeah, here's something that will help you have the life you aspire to.
But it is actually a really big space on the inside moving on particularly the way that it's completely flat floor.
And it's still surprising how many EVs don't make more of that.
I think it depends on the platform.
Yeah.
And this feels that they were really exploring that with this concept.
Materials is also a really big deal.
They've done a lot of work with companies that use recyclable material as well as plant based materials.
So you've got the likes of B-Comp who we've discussed recently on the Motron Podcast News Show.
And they've worked with them with their Flax fibers which is their Amply Text trademark composite manufacturing process
where they have made the back seat shells and the front seat substructures.
So it's actually being used in a structural environment.
Then they also have worked with other companies such as BioMic which is using biodegradable Mycelium Components Mushroom.
Yes, that's what I read.
Including Hempand Mushroom.
And that was used to help make some of the panels on the inside but also they use some of it for insulation in the door cards and the door panels as well.
So that was an interesting use and it's very light obviously.
Not only were these materials recyclable or of recycled material or plant based but also there was a thought had gone into the weight of the car as well.
Yeah.
Pretty easy it makes all the difference because if you've got less weight you need less power to carry around which means you're about to get smaller.
Which all these other things that people like near car have been preaching to us for years.
Yeah, it's bee segment isn't it so there is only so much battery they can cram in there anyway.
They need to think around that otherwise it's hello here's this SUV with 150 mile range which people still today understandably Borkat when you look at equivalent ice or hybrid.
Because we've been programmed through marketing to believe we need all the range in the world.
But the interior was fun there's lots of LED lighting as well internal stuff so there was some around various aspects of the door cards.
There was some around the underside of the seats it was it was all to make it and it really was it did look it from just standing outside and peering it it did look a big airy space even though the footprint wasn't big.
And that was that was really interesting and something that I did actually manage to ask the designers about because what will come up in a moment on the podcast is an interview.
Where we discussed some of the aspects of the EV2 concept which you get to listen to but just be warned I recorded this on site in the open environment that was the exhibition.
Yes there are exhibition noises in the background but it's worth sticking with it because it is really it's really interesting.
It's always great when we can have first person witness statements on here you know from people explaining their actual intent as opposed to our understanding of their intent.
Have a little listen to that but do note that I interviewed them before they gave the presentation to explain all aspects of the car.
The questioning I have is a bit more general than too much specificness about what they have explained.
My name is Jochen Pasen. I'm head of future design for Kia and I'm based in the soul the soul studio.
My name is Andre Frank Louise and I'm the head of future design for the US.
And my name is Tom Kerns and I'm the chief designer for Kia Design Center America in Southern California.
Thank you very much. We've got two vehicles to talk about today to really interesting vehicles. Sorry I was spending so much time looking around because it's the first time they've been into Europe.
Is this not true isn't it? Both the concepts. So we've got the EV2 concept and we've got the PV Weekender which is a take on the electric van that was shown by Kia earlier in the year.
If we can start with the EV2 it says concept on it. How much of what we see is concept-y.
You're starting with a good question. So as you will know with all our Kia concepts that we do, there is some truth behind it.
It's not that far away. I think for us what was important is to introduce a small Kia, a Kia that basically sits underneath what we've done so far.
And I think what you will be seeing in the near future will be pretty close to what you see here today.
There's obviously some bits that clearly are concept-y but it's nice to see wing mirrors for example that look like real wing mirrors.
That's always a tell. You can see how close that is. But on the interior side of things with that I was very interested to see it.
It looks like there's a lot of composite recyclable materials. Is that correct?
That's correct. So for the interior what was important was that we create something that feels large on a relatively small footprint.
So I think that, that visual identity was very, very important to us.
But we wanted to make sure it's super clean, super-reduced. And once you do that, the materials you use or the way you do things becomes much more important.
You can't hide anything. You can't embellish things. You have to really start to look at each material, each finish, each area and really thinking through.
And so we wanted to use the concept as also for us a platform to look at and to demonstrate all the work we're doing and sustainability.
So be it the biomaterials, be it the centre beam on the interior, which is actually created from repurposed materials from our cars.
So another that's been repurposed has been molded together and has been created into a new form.
These are all studies for us to look at how can we within design in the near future start to bring some of these things to life.
The concept card does two things. One, it shows what's coming in the near future, but also it shows all the work we're doing, all the things we're working on, studying, trying to bring into production.
I think that's something that perhaps us on the outside do forget is the concept card is very important internally for a company as well, because you've been given the chance to explore something that obviously you don't have the same commercial pressure.
Should we say on a car where that has to work, the car that comes out to us, that has to work as it were.
I was very interested with the amount of space in there, and that's something that this is a personal thing.
I felt has not really been explored yet with electric vehicles is the freedom of space.
Do you think in the, and then this is not a Kia specific here because I think you do make your cars very airy and they're very roomy, but there is still, feels a little bit of a hangover from internals and bushing engine.
Is it because we're in an adjustment period for us consumers and it's a case of not scaring.
We are conservative with a small C car buyers, we're not usually up for going for something outrageous, particularly if you look at the driveways of Britain, they know what they like and they go for it.
So is it a case of helping us get to the stage where we can go actually, this is hugely different from what we had 15, 20 years ago.
I think it's a combination of all those things, right? I think if you look at this vehicle or some of the recent vehicles compared to 10 years ago, it is much more spacious.
There is a lot more room, there's a lot more features and functions and possibilities than I'd say 10 years ago.
I do believe we're in a little bit of a transition period still.
It's important this case needs to remain affordable, we need to be able to produce great products at an affordable price.
So it's always this trade off, this balance. What is the maximum I can do with my limitations, be it safety, be it engineering, be it price and how do I make the most of them?
I think our designers, they spend a lot of time looking at that sort of combination of limitations or actually opportunities, as we always say.
And making sure that we actually make the most. So small footprint, not a lot of space, but through its design, be it styling, through its features, product design areas, through how we design the interior.
We're also able to give it that spacious feeling and sort of make steps in the right direction.
Is there in, within Kia, a lot of crossover between the various teams, like the engineering design and that?
Because you look at other brands and other cars and sometimes you go, you guys didn't talk.
So I'm presuming this does happen in Kia because of the way that you can, as you say, you know, economies of scale, you've got to go for, it's got to work financially at the end of the day.
The way that Kia is positioned in the UK market certainly is that it's attracting, you're in a position where you are attracting from both ends and the middle of the market, which is quite a trick you're pulling off, I have to say.
I've just transitioned actually from interior design, head of interior design to head of future design.
So I spent five years in Korea working on the production work.
And in that, you get to see that communication is key.
The way we work, there are very little visual programs, we do sketch through production in about three years, which is pretty quick.
It means you have to be efficient in your decision making and what you bring to the table and why you're doing something.
And if you get the buy-in, if people understand it and they say, yeah, this is the right thing for the car, everybody will be behind you and they will push.
And I think that's quite unique. I don't think there is many places I've worked where you can get and make a significant difference within a production project in such a short time.
So that's quite, quite special, I would say, and that only works through communication and collaboration.
That's interesting today.
I think also to your initial question, any EV architecture is perfect to create opportunity space, everything above the battery.
And I think that the EV2 is one of these great examples showcasing that, what is possible?
And actually also, with moving the seats back and forth so that it creates way more space than what we're used to from an ice platform.
It really struck me that you could, that suddenly there is this actual platform.
You're in the front, you're in the back, there's a platform to work with, which must be exciting.
I was going to say play, that's not the right word.
No, we do. We do.
We put it down, and it makes it sound a bit frivolous, but the ability that you've got freedom, sorry, probably a better word.
No, but play is also a good word because we don't take it too seriously.
We like to try new things, do new things, play around with things.
So, yeah, we can definitely use that word.
Other problem.
That was my interview regarding the EV2 concept.
Hopefully you got something from that.
But now, let us move on to the PV5 passenger.
Wasn't expecting the PV5 passenger to be there.
Now, this, we have seen before, this is their electric van that Keira bringing out.
But it was set up in Guess what, Alan?
Pass and just spec.
So, that makes sense.
It's nice to see that they have actually followed the motoring podcast scheme of naming things.
Oh, was that literally its name?
Yes.
It is PV5 passenger.
Does exactly what it says on the tin, doesn't it?
What's to argue with on that?
Absolutely.
Oh, this was the one vehicle we were actually allowed to hook around and prod out.
We could open the doors, we could have a good look around and see some of the details from it.
But this is a, what do you call it?
Typically, normal transit sized van.
Volkswagen transporter, Caraville, whatever the equivalent name is now for the passenger one.
That's the size and scale, but we're looking at here, transit custom.
Yes.
Yeah, absolutely.
This was set up on display to take five people.
Therefore, there was a bench behind the front two seats that had three individual seats in them.
And then there was an enormous boot.
I think there were seats in the boot, but whilst we could prod, we couldn't prod too much.
Or if there weren't seats in the boot, I'm sure there is an option that there are seats in the boot.
Likewise, captain's chairs, if you're going to do super executive transporting and stuff.
Let's face it, that's all going to be available because I'm sure a key market for this is going to be airport transfers, hotel transfers, all of that kind of thing.
And off you go to enjoy the configurator at that point.
Basically, yes.
I mean, you can see it's meant to be there.
There's markings in the floor and everything.
Yeah.
Cup holders and stuff tend to be a bit of a giveaway, yeah.
Looking around the car, they have clearly given this some thought.
Beyond just how do we enter into the market?
Do we just copy?
There's little design touches here and there, such as behind the front seats, at the bottom of the front seats, there's little trays
in which you can put stuff rather than the pocket behind the seat.
And they actually look much more useful than me just describing there's a tray below the seat.
They look like they will hold stuff, hopefully, like the Hold Your Wallet keys, a phone, and it won't bounce around everywhere either.
It does look handy from that point of view up front.
There's lots of little spaces and areas in which to put things, as you would imagine, from a normal, just working them.
Copy of a tabloid newspaper.
MTI brew bottle, coffee cups.
The dashboard is plenty, plenty deep enough to do that.
But actually talking of the cups and stuff in the door cards, there are lots of space for various size drinks and everything.
They've gone and thought about it.
Up front has not been ignored either.
They've got an inbuilt phone holder.
So you don't have to try and stick one on a windscreen or try and put it through an air vent or something like that.
That's already built into the car, which is, when you think about it, it's mad that others don't do that.
Well, that's so important for the band market.
That kind of thing, along with places to store paperwork, places to store drinks bottles,
where people are using these all day, every day, that kind of thing.
It really brings in new customers, because it's obviously a new segment for Kia in the UK.
And it also just makes people happy to be there, want to buy another one, all of these kind of things.
I'm really impressed, by the way, in the back.
So often, when you see these sort of passenger versions of fans for one of a better term, I'm sure someone's going to say,
but we designed it this way from the script, from the start, and obviously it did.
But there isn't always a lot of attention given to things like the door cards.
Yeah.
Often it says, right, okay, let's cloud this in plastic, because it can't just be metal.
Right, that's all we've got rid of them for in order to fit these three seats across.
Whereas here, there are proper car like door bins, handles, all of these kinds of things.
Even though they're slightly doors.
Yes, absolutely.
And they were very keen to point that sort of stuff out to us.
But not only that, as this one set up, in the backer, in the boot, which was obviously huge,
you would hope it would be huge, it's a van, but it really was an enormous space.
Again with some useful cubby holes, which as you indicated, give a very strong hint that there could be seats in the back there.
But this one had a bar, a rail across the full width just behind the back row seat.
By the way, that's from the roof just behind the front seats.
It's not down at floor level, because at first I thought Andrew was about to go and describe some sort of pike rack or something
which you can put back there, which I have seen before.
But now having a rail like that, so you can, I don't know, hang shirts.
Well, they said they said in their home country, obviously businessmen are all very much wearing suits all the time.
And it was there as a rail to hang the suits on the suit jackets whilst they're being transported along.
Yeah, they've really thought down to who is going to use this.
Why are they going to use it?
And what will, what touches can we put in that will benefit them, that make them interested?
A long time ago when I was at a university still, I spent summer teaching maths and English in Bangkok in Thailand.
And I would love to say that it was teaching poor children who wouldn't have had education otherwise,
not these things, but it wasn't, it was teaching little rich kids.
And lots of them got driven to the school.
And sure enough, they had an S class and they had all these, you know, seven series or something like that.
And, you know, maybe a small trip to hatchback as well or something for people to ferry folk around it,
not to claim or whether they were going to park.
But they also, many of these families in the Far East, they also had very often it was a Volkswagen T4 minibus or a Mitsubishi Delica
or one of these type of vehicles to carry the family records.
They have driver and they would take them around or do some multi-stops with people.
And that's exactly the kind of market outside of the UK and outside of Europe.
That's exactly the kind of market I can see this aiming for.
Especially with that kind of thing in the back, especially those kinds of situations I think that that's where I would expect to see this.
And again, that detail, those little bits of usefulness like you're delivering,
blowing someone to the office in the morning.
Yeah.
And then, okay, right, put Jack on, get out and then go into the offices where you're a big businessman or head to the police force
or any of these rules.
You know, that's the kind of stuff.
Yeah, I can see that certainly.
Please, let's see that.
Yep.
One last final thing I wanted to say about upfront is I was astonished at how much glass there was for the driver.
The side windows go down really low, which I think is brilliant.
Great nerve in environments.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I really like the external design.
I like the way that they've got the lights running vertical that lead up into the A pillars that we, as you said before,
as we've discussed on the show when we've mentioned them.
But it was really nice to see it up close.
I think this is serious competition for the likes of Mercedes and VW and Ford.
Yeah.
Particularly because it just got announced this week the technical specifications of the PV5.
And weight wise, it will remain a light commercial vehicle.
Like commercial vehicle, yeah, it's under the three and a half tons.
It stays under the three and a half tons and it's got a decent range and the price point for the PV5s.
I'm not sure on the passenger, but for the PV5s is really good compared to the competition.
Yeah.
The thing is, here is a very successful brand at the moment.
It is doing well globally.
The whole group is doing well globally.
So they can afford to do that to push into into a new segment and to take advantage of that.
And to not make as big a profit as they might need to make a per unit if they weren't quite as successful and push it that way.
We've liked the PV5 for quite a long time since we saw the first concept.
Yeah.
So it's really cool that you got a chance to see one up close and personal very, very early on in its sort of launch and reveal.
Yeah.
But that wasn't the only version of the PV5s that was there, was it?
No.
No.
Saving the Weekender, which is spelled WKNDR.
Sounds like some kind of American radio station, doesn't it?
WKNDR.
Well, yes.
Funny you should mention, it was designed by the California studio.
And no, they wouldn't confirm that they had found their vowels that had gone missing.
But this is the overland version of the PV5.
And they have really gone to town in a, well, I felt very cool way.
They've tricked it out.
They've raised it up.
They've put it on chunky tires.
They've added plastic cladding that's always a win for us.
Yay.
They've explored what you could do or maybe want to do with an off-road camper.
On the outside, okay, here we go, just strapping for some of these.
On the outside, there is a, at the front, a winch.
But they're not only just a winch, there's a screen on the winch that tells you how much force it's using
or power in which to pull either yourself or someone else out of trouble or whatever it is that you're doing.
Which I thought was a really interesting touch, not that I've ever used a winch,
but I don't know how useful one might find that.
The one that's useful is actually how much, how much line do you have left?
Okay, right.
Yeah, well.
Bring your pull out.
I mean, mostly it's used as because you just look through the little slot and see.
But it's really cool.
Yeah.
Doesn't mean I don't like it or want it.
Yeah.
And then if you move up towards the A-pillers, they've got the obligatory branch deflectors.
Yeah, all right.
Move on.
Perfect.
For jungle exploration.
Quite.
On the roof, there's a pop-up tent element with the solar panel on the top of it,
which they were confident that they had information of how much power that could generate.
But also, what it meant was it's one of those that helps you able to walk around the back
without having to bend over, but also you can then add a bed element in the evening,
and it's a sleeping quarters for some people there.
So it wasn't a separate roof tent?
No, it was a big span.
Yeah, it was that sort of raising roof type thing.
Yeah, it's the triangle version where the back pops up, but the front's hinged.
You see them on Volkswagen California, isn't it?
Yeah, that's the stuff.
When you get to the sides though, it starts to get a bit different because on one side,
there was a sliding rear door that slid down the length of the vehicle.
And that was on the passenger side.
Remember, this is a left-hand drive vehicle because it was designed in California.
The passenger side slid down, and then the passenger door would open,
and that whole space was pillarless again.
And that's an enormous entrance into the side there.
But also allows for so much ease of access.
But on the opposite side, there is a panel that slides at 90 degrees out from the...
So like an extending segment in an RV or something?
Yes, absolutely that.
And with that, what the designers had envisaged is it would be,
say, like a cooking space down the side there.
And that panel that slid out would have storage so it would have your pots and pans,
your herbs, your herbs because it's America.
Or such like, but they would like, no, this is just a different way of doing things,
creating more space.
There was a lot of bringing the inside out and the outside in the whole scheme of this.
Yeah, so lots of the sort of lightweight off-road camping trailer type things have that,
where you have a bed area that's enclosed,
but then the kitchen and stuff is external.
Yeah, all these kind of things.
I can see where they've carried that over.
They've carried stuff over from that or ideas over from that.
And incorporate it all into the van.
Yeah, there was a lot of talk as well about how easy they felt it would be
to have temporary awnings over certain areas of the vehicle
so that you even though you're outside, you are undercover,
which is important depending on where you are in the world with the climate.
So that was really interesting that they thought that through as well.
I mean, I'm glad I don't, I don't have one of those or anything.
And then you get to the back.
And as the aim is to go into the deep wilderness,
or at least you're not going to be near any normal amenities, shall we say?
You should go to Utah or any of these places,
where there's an out towards Moab or all that kind of stuff.
The types of YouTube channels I see regularly,
you see two-wheel drive, ram van, so that's a fiat jicato type thing getting towed out.
And again, it's these kinds of things but not in as professional integrated away
and also much a much bigger van doing it.
So yeah, this is, again, it's great to see them really thinking about it.
It's a very fashionable moment.
Yeah, well because they realize you're not going to be near anywhere,
there's an external battery pack that could be used to power
and silvery items, which would take the charge from the solar panel
off the roof to top that up.
So you could do things like you could have lights hanging up in the evening,
you could have the hub could be an electric halogen rather than gas,
which probably makes it space saving and better to use in windy conditions or outside.
Yeah.
Because the temperature is more controllable.
More efficient as well, induction hubs and stuff.
Yeah, I've done some research into this.
You basically charge up your devices, you think of it
that you need something to plug in, it will be able to do it.
And that's excellent.
But part of the concept was that the battery pack
would be charged by wind turbines in the wheels.
Yes, you heard that correct.
Wind turbines in the wheels.
Now, this was designed in California.
And over there, they have a problem of taking advantage of gusting wind,
which isn't good for the typical wind generators
that are out on the market at the moment.
They've got this idea of using a particular design
that stuck in the actual hubs of the wheels
or that would be able to take advantage of the gusting.
It's very much an on-paper idea at this stage,
which not all the journalists there could grasp
when they were told that, so they wanted finite technical details on the spot.
Yeah.
No, they're going to want to be patenting that kind of idea.
On-paper, it technically could do it
and they feel confident that it would be able to produce a fair amount of electricity,
but it is a paper exercise at the moment.
But I love the fact that they'd thought to that extent
that they go hang on.
Why can't we take advantage of these things
or can't we use that that nobody else is?
And put them in the wheels.
That's a really interesting place to locate them as well
because it's not taking up any extra space on the vehicle.
You're not having to put something up.
You're not having to pull out a panel
or anything like that is just, it's constantly there.
So that was an interesting way to approach that issue,
whether we ever see it or not, who knows?
No.
Something that seems a bit more familiar, though,
was the module system for hanging stuff and transporting stuff,
which sounds remarkably like the Milwaukee Packout system
for tools and screws and gear,
where you can hang it on your wall and your garage,
you can hang it on the wall and your van.
You can click clack it all together,
and it's super cool.
This is a great use of a concept like that.
Well, they actually used the off-the-shelf system
that is available in America.
They didn't name what it was,
so I don't know if it was that exact one.
It's probably the Milwaukee, it's the most famous one.
They said it's the one that's in garages, typically, for them.
The idea behind that was, how can we make it as easy as possible
for you to go from?
Let's go to actually going,
because what's one of the major hurdles it's packing, isn't it?
It's taking stuff and putting it in another thing
and then securing it,
but they've put all that in place,
where you just take it off the slot in your garage
and slot it in the appropriate place in the inside of the van
and off you go.
That was interesting, because they've looked at pain points
all along the way here.
If I were smarter than I would have invested in that particular system,
I didn't.
But again, I've done similar.
I have a box full of camping stuff.
I have a box of car stuff,
and they are modular and of the same brand,
because it's me,
and so the idea is I can just go,
because I suck at packing.
Yeah, nobody wants to pack it.
Nobody wants to,
you just want to just go, don't you?
And the other thing as well,
some of the rails are actually electrified.
You know, that sounds horrific.
Don't get me wrong.
You actually have to have the right connector for it to activate
and be using the electricity,
but that's where you could slot in a radio
or speakers or lights or whatever,
and they were marked up with yellow,
and there we green paint,
that showed which ones were electrified.
And I thought that was a really interesting idea as well,
of how to take advantage of the renewable energy
that they would be generating there.
Awesome.
And it makes a lot of sense when you've got an electric fan,
you've got on board battery power,
all these things, why not take advantage of that?
And you've got the ability to,
to just trickle charge with solar and the wind and all that kind of thing.
Yeah.
The floor wasn't ignored either.
That was using,
and it was a recycled composite material
out of old-nike trainers.
There was apparently a bit of a give in the floor as well.
Again, no idea how much give because we didn't do it.
We weren't allowed in here enough to touch it,
so don't worry.
The way you go,
there would have had to wipe it down afterwards anyway.
Well, no, just to steal it, do it.
You'll never take me live, et cetera, et cetera.
No, you didn't even make it out of Milan.
Will these fit in the building, go?
But in the floor, there were channels
where elements of the vehicle could be slid around.
So the front seat could be changed,
the front passenger seat, that is,
could be changed in how it was looking,
so you could lay it all flat.
And then you could slide it into the back along the channel
so that it would create like a bench seat or a small table.
There was what looked like the rear bench in there
had been lane flat,
folded over and lane flat and was a table
for the rear compartment,
but also there was seating panels that dropped down
from the side of the walls of the van.
So you had the seats there as well.
You could eat inside or whatever it was
or having a drink if the weather wasn't clean and outside.
Again, they thought to that extent.
If you listen, there will be another interview segment
that's going to come after this.
And if you listen to that,
you will understand how much effort
they put into designing this.
How much thought they've gone into this.
And I was really interested to hear them discuss that
because it was...
Really?
Yes.
Because it's one thing to slap big chunky tyres
on the load of cladding
and some fancy paintwork
and make it look cool.
And oh yes, I'm sitting there happy
clapping like a sea lion waiting for some fish
at that point generally.
He is, by the way,
so you can't see what he's doing at the other end of this video call.
That is exactly what's happening.
But they'd actually thought the details through again
and this was a running theme through the day for me
was how much thought they put into the details,
how much thought they put into the end use of it.
Even though this is only a concept
and even if they can bring out a weekender,
it's not going to have all the elements they've shown clearly.
They won't have that in turbines and the wheels.
And I question whether it would have
like the front screens on the winch
all that sort of stuff.
What you're trying to say is you would be delighted
if they brought out a slightly cladded tougher
looking feeling inside trim level called weekend
and that would make you a happy bunny.
It would very much make me a happy bunny.
It was just great, but they thought through
what's going to make it easier better, more fun.
They thought that through
and I really like that.
But we have to budget gear.
All of us has the budget gear
to say we love this.
Please make us close in approximation to this as possible.
Yeah.
Because at the minute there are no plans,
but they were very cagey when they were pushed upon this.
And I feel that if enough noise was made,
here would seriously consider
because they're not a company that is
adverse to listening to what people want,
which is an interesting,
which I think possibly suggests
the success at the moment.
Basically they're not against the whole idea.
They just somebody has to prove that it's bought,
but it is actually that you can write a business case
for it beyond who that's cool.
Yes, although that works just enough for me.
Yeah, I know.
But you chatted to the designers again, didn't you?
Yeah, I did.
We got to discuss the weekend.
And also elements of the PV5 as well.
There was a little bit of discussion about that.
Which was really interesting again.
It just reinforces that we've talked to people
who are going to use this.
We're going to discuss,
what are your pain points?
Do you know this is a pain point or not?
And that sort of stuff.
Please do listen to that.
I think it was fascinating.
And I'm really thankful to everybody
who gave up their time to speak to me
and enable me to bring that to you guys to listen to.
Well, talking of play,
the PV5 Weekender,
that looks amazing.
You don't have to wrap it up.
I'll just take it with me.
It's fine.
No, that does look like fun to have worked on.
That is definitely we were playing with that one.
And you know the whole idea with that project
was we took the PV5,
which is a great vehicle in its own right,
and serves a purpose,
which I think is going to be very significant.
But, you know, Andre and I sitting in the California studio,
we were like,
how can we do with that
to make it ripe for what's happening
in our area of the world?
And, you know, it's such a big,
I know it's a worldwide trend,
but especially in Southern California,
with overlanding, venture vehicles,
and the desert, and the beach,
and...
So you've got all the environments to be fair?
You are a bit spoiled.
So we're like...
Let's just take that foundation of a great vehicle
and tune it to what we would do with our own vehicle.
Yeah.
It looks interesting as well in there,
because it looks like you've explored future possibilities
with, look, hang on.
Can we make this a long life vehicle
where it can be adapted over time,
or it's going to serve lots of different purposes,
but still the same core.
The same core vehicle is there,
but it could do...
Like, it's going to be a people carrier,
or it's a fabulous off-road adventure van.
That I found very interesting as well.
So there are multiple levels of design, right?
And obviously, you know, from an extra perspective,
you want to make a rugged, looking, cool van
that actually shines by the stands when it's closed.
But I think the big challenge on that car also was
to create something that is very efficient to package-wise,
and then create kinematics
that actually when it opens up,
it creates a lot more space, right?
And I think this combination of
going from classic extra design, classic inter-design,
but saying, like, how can we create a holistic product
that is actually clever,
like creating beyond organization?
I don't know if you have looked at it precisely,
but we have the rail concept on the vehicle.
That actually adheres to a rail concept
that we find in the U.S. and provide.
And it's a bit the idea to actually,
when this vehicle is catered specifically
to whatever your lifestyle is, you know,
active outdoor, or you just like cooking with a view,
is that we actually create elements and accessories
that you could have neatly stored in your garage,
but it actually just takes you a second by plug and plane
to set you up for the next adventure
and really giving that time back to the customer.
It reminded me a lot,
if this is nothing to,
remind me a lot of air streams,
stayed in a couple,
and it's the way that so much of what was in there
was at least dual purpose,
having three purposes.
And that really struck me that what you've done there,
and I love seeing that sort of design,
where I love seeing clever design anyway.
But that, the level of thought,
did you get,
and I don't know if this is still a dirty word in the industry,
but where you had focus groups,
or was this all you guys internally working together
and going, right,
and this would be awesome.
Wow, about this.
So one of my briefings was,
I don't want to find anything that you research on the internet.
And we actually,
part of this,
we sent out four designers
into the desert to explore the paint points.
But also because we have that in our backyard,
a lot of us also drive jeeps on the weekends,
and all of that experience.
So this is a vehicle that's built in experience.
It's not built on something that you see in the internet,
and it's just a fancy picture.
It's really about going out
and understanding paint points,
understanding how long it takes to set up for camping,
which is substantial,
and that all fuels into this design that we then created
to capture really the essence of it.
That is interesting hearing that it's
from lived experiences.
And because it must be a trick for all of you
between a very fine balance between
we've created something that we know the customer wants,
but also we want to show them
because they don't know yet.
And when they experience it,
they'll go,
oh, even better.
Well, why wasn't this done years ago?
That's the challenge.
That's the challenge of our job, basically.
I think, you know, that's also, you know,
PV5 was created in a similar way
so that the actual production car,
we spent a lot of time inviting potential users
to care for the designs to you,
to talk with them about the plus points, the minus points,
what are the things that they, in their job,
and what they do works well,
what doesn't work well,
so that we could tap into their experiences,
but also we presented them things
that maybe they didn't expect.
To see, is this answering a problem
that you didn't know you had,
or you just got used to,
because you've always done it that way.
So we try to use these sessions
really to understand a little bit
in both directions where can we learn
because of course we're new in that area.
But also, what can we bring that maybe
is not thought about
because people are just used to it.
And I think that mindset or the way
we've done that has been really, really enriching.
Now designers actually were very excited about that,
because you're designing with a purpose,
you're designing with a problem to solve.
And I think when you do things in that way,
you come up with a product that makes a lot of sense
and that really sets you on to new things
and new ideas and finding new solutions.
So it's been very, very helpful.
You know, before we did the weekend,
we showcased the four PVVs,
actually at CS last year.
And the way we set it up,
we didn't show them an isolation.
We knew that we're there to serve a purpose.
So we created these four individual elements,
placeholders in the booth,
talking about the urban environment,
talking about the plant,
the right healing that picks you up from a park,
and also home integration,
to really key to every customer
and to the press that actually these cars
are not isolated.
And they shouldn't be perceived isolated,
they actually designed for an environment.
That's a big, big step,
I think, for, say, the car owner
to understanding and appreciating
that there is a crossover
and what are the benefits of the crossover?
And I don't think anyone
to date successfully pulled it off
because unfortunately,
I think the first thing that people see
what's happened is it,
oh, it's a subscription, hang on.
And I think the narrative needs to be changed.
And it will be interesting to see how
the lights of yourselves and the car industry
can get the message across
that it can be a positive thing,
that it's not,
it is not a negative,
or it is not just one-sided,
it is actually four
to make your life easier
as the owner and the user.
There are things in there
that know this is to make your life easier.
Just because on a whim.
And that's really interesting.
And it also sounds like
you guys really enjoy your job.
You really want to go into the office
when you do.
And that's awesome to hear.
Thank you very much for your time.
I could prattle on it you for so long now.
But I realise there are other people here
and I can't be that selfish.
Thank you very much for your time
and speaking to the Merchant Podcast.
So that was the interview there.
If you want to learn more about the Weekender,
there is an excellent article written
by Sam Huff on Average James,
which will be linked in the show notes.
Do click that.
There's a bunch of pictures as well.
Obviously our show notes
are going to be full of pictures.
Thank you to Kia for the pictures
of the various vehicles.
We were not supposed to be using our own phones
to take photos.
A photographer was assigned to help us out.
There's some photos there
that are very grateful for Kia
for taking in situ.
We're able to share with you.
Excellent.
So come on then.
You got shuffled off to Milan.
Yes.
I'm sure you got fed nice food.
You got shown art.
Yes.
You got to speak to designers.
I'm so cultured.
You got to get yourself all excited
about the Weekender.
Yeah.
What were your takeaways from the day
from the jolly?
First and foremost,
the cars look really good.
I really like the designs.
And I can see on the PV5,
I could see it with the Weekender as well,
but that's not real yet.
And it's just as importantly the EV2 concept.
I can see people rushing to buy them.
Good looking vehicles.
That's what people keep saying.
And EV3 is very popular.
If the technical specs
and the real world abilities match up
to the looks and what we have been told
as much as we have been told,
or as we feel would be realistic,
then they will.
I am sure they are going to...
And there's nothing to suggest
that Kia claim a certain thing
and provide something else
because up to now they've been pretty close
to what they've officially announced.
I'm sure they're going to sell like hotcakes.
But another thing really struck me
in the second interview segment
I touched on the word play
when talking to the designers.
And whilst I changed that to freedom,
they were happy with that word.
And they clearly love what they do.
Even though they're so senior,
because it's very easy to have been worn down
by the business side of things
when you get senior,
that all you do is sit in a presentation
that's been delivered by somebody
that's not very interesting
or have to stare at spreadsheets all day
or you're in meetings of very serious matters.
These guys really loved their designs
and they get a kick out of going into work.
They get a kick out of design
of solving problems, thinking up solutions,
and helping their team to do the same.
And I came away feeling optimistic.
And that's not like me.
It's normally me to find something negative to be.
To talk about that.
I know my role in the world.
Don't worry, everyone.
You don't have to tell me.
But yeah, I came up with a really optimistic
about the vehicles themselves
and the thought that it's gone behind them.
Good.
I'm glad you had a good time on it.
I'm glad you learned locks
and hopefully,
hopefully all of you listening
have learned locks
and possibly had a good time as well.
Thank you, of course, to Kia for the invite.
I'd appreciate it.
It's not something that everybody was invited to.
So it's always quick.
Let me get some of that.
And we can provide something
maybe a little bit different
from what many of the big mags and stuff
can share with you.
I hope you enjoyed that.
Don't forget,
if you're now in the next site,
you can give us any feedback.
Share your thoughts with the show at motoringpodcast.com
on the Blue Sky, on Instagram,
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and on the contact age of www.motoringpodcast.com
the hub of all our activities.
Please don't forget to leave a review
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Google Podcast,
or however your podcast app lets you do such a thing.
In the meantime,
Andrew, what's the best way to get in touch with you
and ask you a little bit more
about these people?
I think you've missed something.
Yeah, feel free.
Best way is either via Blue Sky
if you search for current windscreen.
Alternatively, I am on LinkedIn
under my proper name
if that is your preferred platform.
And Alan, if people would like to get in touch with you personally,
what's the best way for them to do that?
Best way to get in touch with me
is really via Blue Sky,
where I'm at AJP Bradley,
that's B-I-D-E-L-E-Y,
dot B-Sky, dot social.
We'll be back before very long,
but until then,
I'd be now Bradley.
I've been Andrew Clues,
and safe motoring.
About this episode
Kia's presence at Milan Design Week showcased their innovative concepts, including the EV2 and PV5 vehicles. The EV2, a compact SUV, emphasizes adaptability and urban functionality, featuring a unique interior design aimed at creating a spacious feel. The PV5 Weekender, an electric van, is designed for outdoor adventures with features like a pop-up tent and modular storage solutions. Designers discussed their approach to sustainability and user experience, highlighting the importance of thoughtful design in creating vehicles that cater to modern lifestyles.
Original notes
Earlier in the year Andrew was invited, by Kia, to attend the Milan Design Week and their Eclipse of Perceptions exhibition. In this they showed off the Concept EV2, the PV5 electric van in passenger form and the PV5 WKNDR concept.
You can hear about all three and listen to the designers involved as they tell you more about the vehicles and ideas behind them. Do note, that the interview took place at the exhibition, therefore the sound quality is different.
Special thanks to Kia and their photographer for supplying the majority of the photos you see. The copywrite to the images lies with Kia and the Motoring Podcast, dependent on who took them, they cannot be reproduced without permission.
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