- Kia debuts the Slam Dunk Blake Griffin Optima Hybrid and the Hat Trick Forte as it pulls out every sports metaphor it can think of for the 2011 SEMA Show.
- It also introduced the Hole-in-One Michelle Wie Kia Soul complete with a virtual driving range in the rear hatch.
- The Hat Trick Forte gets a custom hockey stick holder and color-coordinated hockey jerseys.
LAS VEGAS — Last year, the Kia Soul Hamstar Concept took center stage at the 2010 SEMA Show. This year the Korean automaker is mothballing its hip-hop hamsters and putting the emphasis on sport-themed vehicles. At this week's 2011 SEMA Show, it rolled out such offerings as the Slam Dunk Blake Griffin Optima Hybrid, the Hat Trick Forte Five-Door and the Hole-in-One Michelle Wie Kia Soul.
The Slam Dunk Blake Griffin Optima Hybrid gets a custom orange paint job, basketball-court flooring in the front and rear and a "Pop-A-Shot" basketball hoop mounted in the trunk. Other details include two flat-screen TVs mounted in the back of the front headrests connected to an Xbox video game console and 20-inch matte black wheels.
The Kia Hat Trick Forte Five-Door gets a custom hockey stick holder, rubberized flooring in the cabin and a mini air hockey table mounted in the rear hatch. It gets a custom ice-metallic exterior gray paint job, 19-inch blue alloy wheels and LED "hockey stick" foglights. The rear cargo area is supposed to look like a locker room, with built-in compartments that hold four hockey sticks and two jerseys that match the car's exterior color. There's also an ice skate rack and glove hooks.
The Hole-in-One Michelle Wie Kia Soul gets artificial grass flooring in the cabin and a virtual driving range in the rear hatch along with a 26-inch LED TV monitor and an Xbox 360 game console.
Other sports-themed Kia vehicles at the SEMA show include the Retro Surf Kia Rio five-door, which gets a juicing station in the rear and shelves for sandals; a Rio five-Door B-Spec Racer and the USTCC Optima Hybrid Pace Car.
Inside Line says: What? No Grand Slam Kia Sportage?
Add A Comment »
k55 says:
10:08 AM, 11/02/2011
so bad taste is gaining in popularity?
biglee13m says:
10:52 PM, 11/01/2011
@BD
Honda is losing sales and the Koreans are gaining... in case you weren't aware
twistedrider says:
02:31 PM, 11/01/2011
The Forte's front light treatment looks like the new Toyota Camry. So I guess Schreyer's designs are having an influence.
blackdynamite1 says:
01:31 PM, 11/01/2011
rayzor
Accord and Civic EASILY outperformed the Koreans last month
This is still Honda Country, son!
BD
rayzor says:
01:16 PM, 11/01/2011
This is the year for the Korean auto makers!!! Where is Honda? Back on their drawing boards, I hope...