Kia Multi-S wows the US

IT first appeared at last September’s Frankfurt motorshow but Kia’s Multi-S gained more interest with the MPV-crazy Americans at this month's Chicago motor show.

It must be said that the Multi-S was grouped in with the other "foreigners" on their own pavillion at Frankfurt so it was easily overlooked.

The seven-seater Multi-S is designed as a crossover vehicle. With an overall length of 4545mm and wheelbase of 2700mm, it melds crossover thinking with the ruggedness associated with a utility vehicle.

Power comes via a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder mated to a five-speed automatic with sequential shift mode.

Blacked out window treatments, 19-inch alloys and a full-length glass sunroof, accentuate the wagon’s sporty presence.

Safety equipment runs to electronic stability control, full-length curtain airbags, active front-seat head restraints, adaptive front headlamps and a tyre pressure monitoring system.