Car News: "Koreans take on the kei car culture with the Kia Ray"

**ghosthunter** · November 14th, 2011 11:51 AM

[SIZE=4]Koreans take on the kei car culture with the Kia Ray[/SIZE]
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of Kia Motors Corporation

After the second World War ended, Kei cars were born out of necessity in a war-stricken Japan as a cheap means of transport for the people. Most of them ran on just three cylinders and stood on less than 1/3 of a regular sedan's footprint, which exempted them from local tax and insurance regulations. Today, the Kei car culture is still very much alive in Japan. And from the looks of it, they have inspired the creative minds at Kia.

Feast your eyes on the all-new Kia Ray compact vehicle, which is about to enter production. Take a good look now, because there's only a slight chance that you'll ever see one in the flesh. Why, you ask? Well, the selective - and almost possessive - big wigs at Kia's headquarters decided that this cute little number will only be sold exclusively in the company's home market of Korea....

click the link to continue: Koreans take on the kei car culture with the Kia Ray

LINK: Koreans take on the kei car culture with the Kia Ray

**leopaul** · November 17th, 2011 03:48 PM

Unbelievable. This is a complete knock-off of the Daihatsu Tanto!

**jave** · November 17th, 2011 03:56 PM

Or maybe it's built under license.

**niky** · November 17th, 2011 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by leopaul

Unbelievable. This is a complete knock-off of the Daihatsu Tanto!

Unbelievable! That Daihatsu is a complete knock-off of the Suzuki Wagon R!

If two (or, in this case, three) different manufacturers try to make the most spacious car they can make within the same size envelope they're obviously going to look similar.

Next you're going to tell me the Nissan NV350 is a complete knock-off of the Toyota HiAce.

**Ry_Tower** · November 17th, 2011 07:12 PM

^ hahaha, kala mo sinasadyang gayahin ah.

**Ginnova** · November 17th, 2011 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by niky

Unbelievable! That Daihatsu is a complete knock-off of the Suzuki Wagon R!

If two (or, in this case, three) different manufacturers try to make the most spacious car they can make within the same size envelope they're obviously going to look similar.

eto pa isang kamuka. toyota BB.