Evolution of the Kia Rio's upper grille: from functional, to fake, to ornamental
 

I happened to be in a Kia dealership recently, helping a friend shop for a new econobox.

I noticed that in 3 generations, the Rio upper grille has changed quite a bit:

2007: functional, normal grille ...

Functional, normal upper grille:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1520631095

2017: "Fake grille" ...

Designed to look like a conventional grille, but it's almost 100% blocked:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1520631396

2018: "Ornamental grille" ...

It's fully blocked, but aside from location, it's not really pretending to be a conventional grille -- there's no fake grillework / crosshatching pattern. It's smooth:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1520631521

I've seen a similar smooth ornamental grille on the Kia Soul too. (And not just the EV version.)

Also interesting: those are actually functional air inlets (by the fog lamps) for the front wheel "air curtains". Interesting that the base Rio & Accent have such a thing.

They are getting their consumer base used to a no grill look when they eventually move over to electric. ;)

Should be used to the "grille-less" look by now since Ford had it 35 years ago

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0001_large.jpg

I have seen a similar setup in some Kia vans. No wonder whenever I see any vehicle with auxiliary lighting in the place where a grille would be supposed to be located I think "that's so Asian"...

35-years
 

yep,'n Cd 0.29 to boot! Go Jack Telnack go!

I always liked the look of the Mercury's "light bar" grille.

I wonder if the gap between the lights & hood is functional for cooling flow. Didn't those cars come with a V6?

gap
 

I suspect that it was sealed.
The upper grille opening on the Taurus actually had air 'leaving' the grille,as it was situated in a region of rapidly-accelerating,low-pressure air.
Quirky!:p

Ahem. '63 Studebaker Avanti:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.hage...27774_1741.jpg
Still looks kinda modern. Not over 50 years old like.
Raymond Loewy strikes again!

Acute observation.

Thanks for posting this.

Even Tesla started out with a shiny, smooth "ornamental grille" (same aesthetic as the 2018 Kia) on the original Model S.

Took them a couple of years to get brave enough to delete it (and on the Model 3).

Yes, and all their Hyundai platform-mates. It's "curtains" for Hyundai/Kia's entire lineup.

Frank Lee — Needs the badge replaced with a Grateful Dead sticker. :)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...-outa-town.jpg

The only things I have left out of that picture are the five-speed and the Wink mirror.