Antenna magazine works with Kia to come up with the modern surf buggy.
We’re still waiting to see who comes up with the first dune buggy based on the latest generation of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the meantime, we’ll be happy to head for the beach in this tricked-out 2012 Kia Rio5 pulled together by Antenna magazine – which will make its debut at the upcoming SEMA Show.
We’re not quite sure what the green stuff growing in the corner is, but we’re assuming it’s not medical marijuana. As for the rest of the revisions, Antenna and Kia seem to believe that surfers are an organized bunch, incorporating some well-placed shelves and drawers for sneakers, swimsuits and, we’re assuming, wet suits.
What we don’t seem to see is a place for surfboards. Perhaps the rack will be added in time for the SEMA event, which begins later this month in Las Vegas.
There’s a retro touch, the Antenna Kia Rio5 working in not only an old Atari game console but also a turntable. Remember records?
The stock 2012 Kia Rio5.
Based on the all-new Kia Rio hatchback, (Click Here for TheDetroitBureau.com’s review), the surf wagon gets a sunset-metallic paint job and the modified front splitter is appropriately made of wood, like the classic surfboards.
The driveline is standard-issue, with a 1.6-liter inline-four that makes 138 horsepower and is rated at 30 mpg City, 40 Highway. The new Kia Rio line is the first mainstream product in the U.S. market to feature Stop/Start technology that briefly shuts the engine off rather than idling, the engine restarting when the driver’s foot lifts off the brake.