Kia would benefit from a small, rear-drive coupé, according to the boss of Kia's California design studio

The head of Kia's California design studio would like the firm to produce a small rear-wheel-drive sports car to rival the Toyota GT86.

Speaking at the New York motor show, Tom Kearns gave a resounding "yes" when asked if he thought Kia needed a sports car to help push the emotional appeal of the brand, and move Kia away from being a rational purchase.

"We'd definitely make one if we had my way," he said, stressing it was a personal opinion, rather than a company one.

"I think we should do a coupé over a convertible. A cabrio would be fun, but an affordable coupé in the US would prove more popular.

"Something like a Scion FR-S (the US version of the Toyota GT86) that's youthful, fun, affordable and rear-wheel drive would be great."

Kearns said he had "drawn one and made a model of one" in his design studio.

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Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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CarCluster 4 April 2013

Misleading Image

The photo isn't of an intended coupe - just a concept something conceivably with more emotional pull. unless it's called a Kia Mulls?

Suzuki QT 4 April 2013

Hmmm ...

Strangely enough, I always thought the Kia Soul would suit a bit of a "hot rod" make-over ...

rocketscience 4 April 2013

They are just dreaming -

-for the moment,, but would be good if they do one for real. (It will be a great image changing tool)