Created at Kia's European design center in Frankfurt, the No3 concept is the Korean carmaker's first foray into the B-MPV segment. Speaking with CDN, chief designer Gregory Guillaume told us how development of the vehicle stemmed from research conducted on MPV buyers, citing that while variability, interior space and value were top factors in their purchasing decision, emotion was not high on the list. Designers at Kia "wanted to steer away from the normal MPV while still retaining space and functionality," Guillaume said.

The result is a vehicle built around a 'ski equipment' theme, based on the same platform and with the same length as the new Soul. The No3's grille and headlamps previews the automaker's new front face, which will see adaptations across the range. Guillaume said the variations will still yield an "instantly recognizable" familial look and an identical grille design. The car's sporting proportions and short overhangs are obvious in profile. Though the trendy matte 'rock star' black exterior color  - which contrasts with white accents around the DLO, grille and front spoiler - isn't the ideal choice to show off the wedge shape elements, rising shoulder leading off the pronounced front wheelarch and lightcatcher recess, its dynamic form language is expressed nonetheless.

Beneath the large expanse of glass that constitutes the roof, the interior continues the exterior ski theme with more clarity: the seat stitching evokes images of ski tracks on a snow-covered slope, the sliding gold-colored visor is akin to goggles worn in the winter sport, and the white plastic seatbacks call to mind a helmet. Stark contrasts in color, aesthetics and tactility bring a quality feel to the interior: the door panels feature a technical material beside micro velvet elements and the IP gauges recall a chronograph watch, with lines and subtle identifiers on the inside of the binnacle reinforcing the sporting theme.

As most recent concepts from Kia the No3 is a near production-ready vehicle, which is certain be an attractive alternative in the B-MPV segment when it hits European roads in 2010.

This is not the usual one-off for a wealthy collector, but rather a cut-price limited-edition two-seater model that will be produced in South Africa at the rate of 999 per year and retail for ‘under €50,000,' according to Zagato publicity. Construction will be a simple GRP on a tubular chassis - rather than the traditional hand-made metal body - and it will be powered by a Corvette engine producing 440bhp.

In the past CDN has been critical of Zagato Atelier's reliance on retro themes, so it was encouraging to see this contemporary approach by chief designer Norihiko Harada. In some ways it's a development of ideas for the Ferrari 575GT Zagato special from three years ago, with its series of lozenge-shaped openings in the fenders, but the form language and detailing here are altogether crisper and more modern.

The side view is characterized by powerful convex surfaces in the rear fender wheelarch that develop into a flatter bodyside section featuring concave upper and lower surfaces, punctuated by two lozenge-shaped extractors. This lozenge theme is repeated throughout the design: the rear taillamps and exhaust finishers repeat this shape, while the headlamps and even the basic DLO shape continue this motif. The long hood ends in a Maserati-like snout, slightly reminiscent of old Shelby racers in the USA. It also features a recessed section that opens to reveal the 6.2-liter V8 engine, mounted well behind the front axle line. The dark gray interior has a simple symmetrical IP with bright blue leather inserts and quilted leather seats, while the small trunk is accessed through the glass hatch.

Zagato is proud that the project was done in just four months using only digital methods and no full-size conventional modeling, but to our eyes the Perana Z-One would have benefited from rather more of Zagato's traditional development methods to refine the surfacing before release.

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The Yeti is Skoda's new production small ‘soft-roader' offering two-wheel and four-wheel drive variants that aim to compete with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Soul this year. Squarer and blunter than the estate car-with-cladding Fabia Scout also launched at the 2009 Geneva Show, the long-awaited production car is nonetheless much less chunky in exterior appearance than the 2005 concept that prefaced it.

The 2009 Yeti appears to have a longer nose, a less bold grille treatment with body-colored panels below the front lights instead of the more off-road grey/black plastic cladding of the concept, plus a body-colored roof rather than a contrasting white one. The production car gets only one rubbing strip as opposed to the more 4x4-feeling twin horizontal strips of the concept and even the production roof rails seem less defined. Part black clad, part silver and disconnected from the front and rear pillars by the body-colored roof section, the result is much less coherent than the concept's rails, which gave the illusion of a smart continuous black handle-shaped graphic from the A-pillar right over to the D-pillar.

Boasting neither the full curves of the Qashqai nor the upright stance and unusual rounded-off square window graphics and asymmetry of the Nissan Cube, or even the clamshell roof and chunky high sides of the Kia Soul, the Skoda Yeti seems a dull fish indeed. Inside is standard pared down VW - functional and decent quality - but uninspiring. The comic name will surely be problematic to sales too. Through our eyes, this is a poor 'me-too' design with more in common with anonymous estates than niche-defining compact SUVs.

More Geneva Motor Show Highlights coming soon...