Kia made a significant impact at this year's SEMA show, by presenting a variety of "sporty" vehicles. And by sporty, by no stretch of the imagination do we do not mean high-performance race cars. We simply mean - sporty.
The first Kia concept to make a splash at the event was a brown-colored Retro Surf Rio5. Featuring 17-inch, three-piece gold wheels; a wood grain finished surfboard mounted on the roof and a wood front splitter, its a surfers dream car!
The next Kia to make a slam-dunk appearance, quite literally, was the Blake Griffin Kia Optima Hybrid. This vehicle was made in honor of Blake Griffin himself,
and the leap over a brand new Kia Optima to win the 2010 slam dunk competition. You will notice right away that the Optima is painted to look like a basketball. The b-ball theme
continues inside the vehicle, with court-inspired flooring, a
Pop-a-Shot basketball hoop that is stowed away in the trunk!
Any basketball experience would not be complete with a flat-screen TV that can be connected to an
Xbox360., which can safely be stowed away in the trunk.
For those who like to walk down the back 9, Kia has something for you, too. Named the 2012 Kia Soul Hole-In-One, this vehicle is adorned in graphics inspired by Michelle Wie's own customized golf bags. Kia continues to honor Wie, embroidering the golfer's logo into the car's leather headrests. Similar to the Blake Griffin Kia Optima, the Soul also gets an Xbox 360 with Kinect, in addition to two golf bags and a whole mess of speakers.
Don't worry, Kia didn't forget the hockey or racing fans either. For those who can't get enough ice time, they created the brand new 2012 Kia Hat Trick Forte hatch. And, for those who can't get enough speed, Kia presents the Rio5. There also has been news that the Rio5 has been prepped for the forthcoming Sports Car Club of America B-spec racing series.
Given the wide range of customized models Kia presented at SEMA, the automaker is able to generate interest from all niches. The question is whether it's enough to win consumers business. If you want to be among the first to know if it does, be sure to stay tuned. Bald Hill Kia, located at 1021 Bald Hill Road, Warwick RI, 02886, is dedicated to keeping you informed.