03-09-2018, 05:41 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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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:
2017: "Fake grille" ...
Designed to look like a conventional grille, but it's almost 100% blocked:
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:
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.
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03-09-2018, 06:38 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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They are getting their consumer base used to a no grill look when they eventually move over to electric. 
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03-09-2018, 07:25 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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(:
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Should be used to the "grille-less" look by now since Ford had it 35 years ago
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03-10-2018, 12:23 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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It's all about Diesel
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
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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"...
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03-10-2018, 02:27 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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35-years
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
Should be used to the "grille-less" look by now since Ford had it 35 years ago
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yep,'n Cd 0.29 to boot! Go Jack Telnack go!
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03-10-2018, 05:08 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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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?
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03-10-2018, 05:17 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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gap
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
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?
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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! 
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03-10-2018, 05:56 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Master EcoWalker
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Ahem. '63 Studebaker Avanti:
Still looks kinda modern. Not over 50 years old like.
Raymond Loewy strikes again!
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03-10-2018, 07:56 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
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:.
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Acute observation.
Thanks for posting this.
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You cannot sell aerodynamics in a can............
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03-10-2018, 10:55 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamZipPow
They are getting their consumer base used to a no grill look when they eventually move over to electric. |
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).
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