Also making its world premiere at New York Auto Show today is a hatchback variant of Kia's Forte (also known as the 'Cerato' in certain markets). The five door model joins the current four-door saloon and two-door (Koup) coupe versions of the Forte.
Stylistically, the hatchback conversion of the Forte is far less adventurous than you'd expect from a company that has churned out some interesting designs lately including the Optima and Sportage.
We don't have photos of the interior yet, but Kia's release makes word of a revised center console, new paddle shifters for the automatic transmission and the addition of a push-button start.
Kia said that when the Forte hatch goes on sale later in the year, North American consumers will have a choice of the 2.0 and 2.4-liter engines while customers in other markets will be able to choose from the 1.6 and 2.0-liter powerplants.
25 Comments:
It still looks more exciting than the new Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
It's not bad looking, but a little boring compared to Mazda 3. I wish they had done a little more to it to make it exciting. Maybe a brighter color will help.
hey honda bring the Civic hatch over now =3
Looks much smarter than the ugly Cee'd we get in Europe
Refreshing change from the 'Over Amped' Mazda-3.
Clean looks.
Matrix Killer !
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/06/kia-koup-to-enter-production-in-2009-no.html
^ Funny that you went in all that trouble to find the article Anonymous, yet you didn't take two seconds to read it:
"According to Lee (that's Lee Hyun-soon, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors' R&D division), the Spectra hatchback will no longer be sold in the U.S. as the Korean automaker believes that the Coupe variant will easily outsell it."
really neat little package!
"It still looks more exciting than the new Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf"
What? It is a cheap copy of the Golf!
This hardly looks exciting at all.
Whatever they did for the Koupe, it's lost on this.
This is awful.
"What? It is a cheap copy of the Golf!"
What? How can you say it's a copy of Golf?
also have 4 wheels? or also a car?
Looks good and will be a very practicle vehicle. Probably would look better in a different color. Nice to see a big 4 cyl and 6 sp auto available. Maybe Detroit (esp GM) s/ clue in to this in the compact class segment. Wish Honda w/ bring us a Matrix type hatchback.
"Maybe Detroit (esp GM) s/ clue in to this in the compact class segment."
Cruze is to have a 4cyl 6 speed. Your argument is moot.
Not too bad! Good job Kia
Nice...liked it!
Nice...another cup of soju to KIA and Peter!
Will we get it in Europe? As mentioned looks a lot better than the boring C'eed, which just looks like a cheap version of the old Toyota Corrola.
@J400uk - isn't it obvious Kia have no plans to bring any of the Forte range to Europe...
1. The Cee'd range is in the same class
@J400uk have you seen the facelifted Cee'd? Does not look cheap at all...
Needs the front end from the Koup, more aggresive wheel/tire set-up and 200hp. Hey, did I just describe a GTI?
In regards to to:
"Maybe Detroit (esp GM) s/ clue in to this in the compact class segment."
Cruze is to have a 4cyl 6 speed. Your argument is moot.
Please reread, see "big" 4 cyl- 1.4 and 1.8 litre are not large 4 cyl, why doesn't GM use a 2.2 or 2.4 litre, which they have.
"Please reread, see "big" 4 cyl- 1.4 and 1.8 litre are not large 4 cyl, why doesn't GM use a 2.2 or 2.4 litre, which they have."
Why use more litres resulting in a thrister engine? Unless the larger 4's are used in sport models (ie: cruze SS), why bother?
Looks a bit boring in the back...not innovative at all..playing it very safe... could have tried a bit more in the back with some clear design innovation.... But still a good all round good effort by Kia designers!
I really prefer the Forté I drove in US than the Cee'd I see everyday here in Europe...
Damn, why can't we have this hatchback ?
Post a Comment