Kia is a brand that is looking to distinguish itself. When the company recently unveiled the Soul, it made functionality fun and now with the debut of the No. 3 Concept at the Geneva Auto Show, the Korean manufacturer intends to make basic transportation sporty and aggressive.

Created at Kia’s Design Centre Europe, under Chief Designer Gregory Guillaume, the project involved input from all of Kia’s worldwide design departments, from Korea to California. The focus of this model, however, is on the European market.

The No. 3 MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) Concept features a long wheelbase for improved driving dynamics with massive 19-inch wheels. The body of the car has been sprayed in “RockStar Titanium Grey” paint, with white detailing. 

While the interior is a bit much with the gold seats, it looks close to what a production model might be like; and that’s the whole point. Kia plans to release a production model based on this car in Europe before the end of the year.

The most important feature of the No. 3 Concept, however, is the front fascia design. Kia says that this new design, including the grille, headlights and brand logo, will be featured across all vehicles in the Kia family in the future.

GALLERY: Kia No. 3 Concept

More on the Kia No. 3 after the jump:

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Kia Motors will have a big presence at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show this year with 18 different vehicles including the new Soul. Sportage and Magentis (Optima).

The focal point of the display, however, will be three micro-cars, the No 3 Concept, the cee’d ISG and the cee’d Hybrid.

The No 3 (we’re not sure where the first two went) is an MPV that Kia says is both functional and fun to drive. At just 13.5-feet long it’s perfect for the European urban market. And the fact that it’s a concept means it is likely to see production.The car also features Kia’s new “face of Kia” grille.

The other two cars are new versions of Kia’s cee’d, which was launched in Europe in 2007. The first is the cee’d ISG (Idle Stop & Go) and features a new technology that shuts down the engine when the car is at a stop and immediately restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. The cee’d ISG will be available with a 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter gasoline engine, in either the five-door hatchback or the three-door pro_cee’d. Kia claims its ISG technology will account for a 15 percent savings in fuel during city driving.

The final new vehicle from Kia at Geneva will be the cee’d Hybri, which uses a 15kw and 77 ft-lb bump to the standard 1.6-liter engine. The car also features a CVT transmission and Kia’s ISG technology for a total fuel savings of 25 percent. Kia claims the cee’d Hybrid is capable of hitting 62 mph in 11.8 seconds and will get an average of 49 mpg!

Kia No 3 Concept