In its second on-stage appearance, Kia showcased the Multi S concept crossover vehicle at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. The 7-seater first debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in late '05 and Multi S was again displayed on the Kia stand in Chicago, giving consumers worldwide a possible taste of Kia's future product-design direction.

Joining automakers like Ford, Lexus, and Lincoln, Kia's newest concept is a crossover sport-utility vehicle or CUV. The 4-door wagon is designed to support the lifestyles of active families, without carrying the trucklike stigma of conventional, boxy SUVs. According to Kia, Multi S stands for "sportiness, spaciousness, and smartness." It rides on a 106.2-inch wheelbase and is 178.9 inches long, 72.8 inches wide, and 64.9 inches tall. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. The concept CUV features an electronic stability program, adaptive front-light system, full-length curtain side airbags, active head restraints, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Above the first two rows of seats is a dual-paneled glass roof. Other interior features include an oversized center console storage area, luggage box, overhead storage compartment, USB port for iPod connection, full-length glass roof panels, and a rear-seat entertainment system. Kia currently has no plans to put Multi S into production, but it's worth noting that executives did say that Multi S is closer to production than other Kia concepts.

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