Irish Car+Travel Oct. 2013 | Page 37

JAGUAR Lots of praise doing the rounds of the stands, but we weren't really taken with this crossover C-X17 Concept from Jaguar. Too much Mazda in the front, a lack of litheness in the profile. But we'll wait and see if they modify it when the production version comes along. More important, the design study shows off the company's new aluminium unibody architecture, on which a compact saloon will be built in 2015. KIA The small urban crossover segment is big business across Europe and Kia signalled strongly that it's going to get into the game, with its chunky Niro Concept. The car has an AWD hybrid drivetrain, the 1.6 four running the front wheels, the electric motor the back ones when needed. Designed around the corner at Kia's European design HQ, a toned down version is likely for production soon. The new generation Soul comes to Ireland next spring and shows a bit more attitude than the current model, especially with the SUV Styling Pack option. A bit longer outside and in thanks to a lengthened wheelbase, power still comes from a 1.6 diesel for Ireland. 37