Frankfurt LIVE: Kia Niro concept

The Niro previews a Juke-fighting crossover.

Kia's new crossover-previewing Niro concept has greeted the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Penned by Kia's European design studio in Frankfurt, the Niro is a two-door crossover with a high ground clearance, butterfly doors and a sculpted body. The front end is equipped with LED headlights, square fog lamps similar to the ones found on the GTI-fighting cee'd GT and a carbon fiber version of Kia's trademark grille. Out back, twin exhaust pipes mounted in the middle of a lower fascia crafted out of carbon fiber add a finishing touch to the crossover's sporty appearance.

The Niro packs a futuristic interior with a clean and simple dashboard that boasts a retro-styled three-spoke steering wheel with shift paddles, aircraft-inspired switches and a large touch screen. Interestingly, the gear selector takes the form of a ring mounted on a long tube that runs from the transmission tunnel to the dashboard.

Technical details are not available but the four-wheel drive concept will preview a new drivetrain that will find its way to Kia's lineup over the coming years.

Kia explains the Niro will spawn a production-bound Juke-fighting crossover if it generates a positive reaction among the show-going public. The South Korean firm's European division offers two SUVs but it is a late-comer to the small crossover segment that has been steadily growing over the past couple of years.