The veil has been lifted on the new Kia K5. Upon unveiling, its sporty exterior, with almost bladelike sharpness, did not disappoint the consumers who had come to expect a high standard for design in the series. But K5’s reputation was not built just for its exterior design; the sporty interior also accounts for quite a bit. How will the interior design of the new K5 contribute to the model’s continuing excellence? We talked with Research Engineer Jung Inho of Kia Interior Design Team 2 to explore the crux of the new K5’s interior.
Q. What is the overall design concept of the new 3rd-gen K5’s interior?
The new K5’s interior seeks to provide a maximally “driver-centered” experience in a futuristic sporty sedan. To that end, we set three objectives of spaciousness (wide & horizontal), volume (pure volume), and detail (solid & refined). We wanted to apply straight lines everywhere to generate a sense of wide open space. And instead of using complicated, skewed surfaces, we maximized the volume inside the car by using straight and honest proportions. Onto that space we added solid yet refined details to give the car its sporty flavor.
Q. What are the differences from the previous generation?
The new K5 maintained the elements that made the old generation so good. The existing model was praised for its horizontally oriented design and the neat layout for the controls. These elements were applied to the new K5 as well. The difference is that the new model put the focus on the driver. The old interior design felt a little static, and it could not really appeal to the sportiness or individuality that the makers envisioned in the model. With that in mind, we revamped the molds and layouts to feel more three-dimensional and sporty. We feel that the drivers will much better connect to the car emotionally as a result.
Q. The recent interior design changes in Kia seem to employ the ‘select-and-concentrate’ strategy on customer preferences. Does K5 partake in this trend as well?
In the past, high-quality, luxurious finishes were popular. For example, there was a time when stitched leather was the choice material for vehicle interior. But modern consumers have grown to prefer practicality over looks―they would prioritize convenience in usage, like a larger display for example. The new K5’s interior was designed with these market needs in mind. Large built-in display was applied, and touch-type interface of the control panels made for a high-tech kind of image. We also added soft, high-quality materials to the parts that come in contact with the driver’s hands so as to ensure a satisfying driving experience.
Q. The large AVN display almost seems to be a continuation of the instrument cluster. Was this intentional?
Well, the AVN being seamlessly connected to the instrument cluster is not something new. Many other makers have employed this type of design already. But in keeping with the trend for an integrated display, the new K5 nonetheless sets itself apart by having the AVN almost stretch out from the cluster. That’s where the sportiness really oozes out. In addition, by minimizing manual buttons for display and AC control panels and mostly relying on touch-type buttons, we could bring out the sporty high-tech image we wanted for the car.
Q. The view from the driver’s and passenger’s seats seems to have become wider.
We wanted to draw a horizontally oriented character line from the dashboard to the door and create a long open horizontal space. Slim air vents were appointed for this purpose too. You can see that the two air vents at the edge of the dashboard are protruding a little, and that has the effect of widening the front view.
Q. When we drive, we touch the floor console almost as often as we maneuver the steering wheel―what was your focus in designing this area?
Our design focus, again, was “driver-centered sportiness.” That, in addition to optimizing user comfort, was the element we focused on. The new console is positioned higher and is also wider than the previous model’s. The console’s position was also moved off the center toward the driver in consideration of design and convenience.
Perhaps one interesting new feature in the floor console design is that the position of the smartphone charger was moved to a vertical mount in front of the central armrest. The existing models typically have put wireless charging devices on the frontal console trays, but this not only required the drivers to extend their arms all the way, but also took away the front tray’s storage capacity for small items. So we restored the tray to do its original storage function and made wireless charging more user friendly.
Q. The recently released Hyundai Sonata employed a button-style transmission system. Any reason why K5 used a dial-style transmission system instead?
The dial certainly is one distinguishing point of the K5. We wanted it to feel different not only from the traditional cable transmission levers but also the digital transmission buttons that Hyundai has been using of late. The dial-style is already in use for Kia’s existing models Nero EV and Soul Booster EV, but the K5’s dial looks more refined and feels more high-quality to the touch.
*the new K5’s transmission comes in either the dial-style (SBW) mentioned or the traditional lever-style (SBC), depending on the specs.
Q. What is noteworthy in the K5’s door trim design?
As mentioned, the long character line that extends from the dashboard is the most noticeable feature. The front and the sides are connected through a single line, giving a sense of unity to the interior space and maximizing the roomy feel. The linear garnish on the top of the armrest is another interesting point that adds to the sportiness. The center of the armrest has a long mood light with a stripe pattern, which along with the shape of the bezels on the air vent symbolizes the flow of the air through the vehicle.
Q. Could you elaborate a bit on the mood lamp?
The mood lamps change their colors according to the driving mode. When the driving mode changes, the cluster and info-tainment display change colors. At that point, the mood lamps on the front of the passenger’s seat and on the door also change their colors. Signature colors of each mode allows the users to experience a variety in the interior feel. Of course, the colors can be set to the user’s preference.
Q. Of all the elements of the new K5’s interior design, which do you hope the users to focus on the most?
The new K5 had ‘sporty’ as its main theme, under the umbrella of which driver-centered convenience was the focal point of design. All controls were repositioned according to the driver’s convenience, and the resulting lack of symmetry was utilized to add to the sense of sportiness. True to its identity as a mid-level sedan, the model was designed to give that roomy feel to both the passenger’s seat and the backseats. I just wish that everyone who gets to ride on this marvelous vehicle would feel what we intended.
