Kia Forte Revealed; On Road Spy Shots!

[Joey D]

Stunning Kia Forte revealed!

Just the other day we were all looking at a teaser pic and speculating wildly, and now, here it is. Kia dropped official images of its Spectra successor, the Forte, on the interwebs, and it is one sharp little car. The styling that the Forte introduces is Kia's new look, from the pen of Peter Schreyer, also responsible for the first-gen New Beetle and TT. The face of the Forte combines chunkily flared front fenders with a new corporate grille, and there's a distinctive depression down the lower part of the flanks that works well with the prominent swage line to lend a stone hewn look to the car. The term Forte in musical notation means "play loud," but this new Kia is restrained and maturely drawn. Additionally, the two-door variant of the Forte should look even better.

While there's no new design ground being broken, the overall effect is clean and handsome, reminiscent of many other higher-end vehicles. Check out those rear lamps, remind you of any 40-something thousand dollar luxury car? When the Forte hits Korean showrooms in August, a new four cylinder engine will be under the hood, employing 1.6 liters of swept volume. A 2.0 liter will follow on directly, and may be the only engine we get in the US when the Forte arrives on North American highways and byways in 2009. Compared to the Spectra, the Forte looks worlds better, and even on its own, we think it looks like a million bucks. Okay, $500,000. Let the endless string of "it looks like" comments begin

It looks like the love child between a Civic and a Lexus IS350 to be honest, but it's really one of the better looking Kia's to make an appearance I think.

 

[Jim Prower]

IS 350 is being too generous.

the back is very, very Hyundai Sonata. The front, on the other hand, apes the Civic enough to raise concerns about copyright infringement. (Actually, might be better, since the Honda 'Wings" are missing from the grille)

 

[Rotary Junkie]

They stole DRZ_PERSON's Civic!

(DRZ_PERSON is a Honda-humping fanboy from another forum)

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

To me the headlights and grill look similar to a Mitsubishi Pajeros (The newer model)

 

[superberkut]

Either a Honda or a Toyota (the front grille).

The rear end is definitely Lexus, but that says something about the companies, because the car is not bad-looking at all on its own even with these elements cobbled together.

 

[Dave A]

I agree, if you just forget trying to look for what other cars it looks like this is a pretty good looking car. I'm not convinced it will actually be a good car, KIA has a lot to do on the quality front imo. Even the newer cars like the Ceed, which I had to put up with for a couple of weeks not long ago, while not complete and utter rubbish, are just lower in overall quality than thier competition. I can't see this being any different, it looks good, but will it be good?

 

[Joey D]

Oh I think it's a great looking car, it's sort of how the Civic should look.

 

[Keef]

Well, there goes Honda's plans for a Civic facelift...

What's with the latest fad of fog lights or grilles on the front of the car that start small and flare out to look all angry?

Ford is the biggest user I can think of, but there's now countless cars on the market with these mean venty lighty things. It's the new Hoffmeister Kink, and it's all happened within 2 or so years.

 

[YSSMAN]

The front clearly steals from the American Honda Accord, the side profile is definitely of the Lexus IS just a bit, and the tail reminds me of the newer 3-series. In all, its really a good-looking car... I'm just hoping the interior matches the outside, and for that matter, we're given some competitive engines and transmissions.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

The first thing I thought is Honda Accord and Mitisubishi Lancer. The rear-lights probably remind me of the Lancer.

 

[MustangSVT]

Looks to me like they took a new Civic, Lancer and Lexus IS350 and mashed it all together.

 

[Tornado]

I think the funny thing is, like the Koup concept from a couple of months ago, Kia has managed to dramatically improve the design elements they are stealing when they are implemented into their cars. I don't see any IS in it (I see plenty of Azera/Sonata), but that front end is what Honda should have done with the Accord.

 

[Jim Prower]

You and I seem to see alike.

 

[ND4SPD]

New Civic smashed into an Acura TSX.

 

[wrcsti]

The rear lights are from a impreza hatch back.

 

[1X83Z]

What the **** is this scary ass unfortunate thing?

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Sort of off-topic: but who exactly is responsible for the New Beetle and TT? It says Peter Schreyer, but a recent interview of J Mays in Car has both of them in his resume. Hmmm.

Anywho, it looks good, shares a platform with the Elantra, no? Doesn't bode well for the engine/transmission combos, then.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I see some Subaru Liberty in the rear, and some Proton in the side profile.

PS- I think it's ugly, poor Kia, always 5 years behind the times.

 

[Robin]

The front is a US Civic with a hint of new Impreza...

The rear is a carbon copy of the new Audi A6..

Robin

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I have to disagree with you on that, I don't see any of that Audi in any of the Kia.

 

[Jay]

Carbon copy of the A6 rear? No way, I see much more Lexus IS in it.

 

[Robin]

I have to disagree with you on that, I don't see any of that Audi in any of the Kia.

The back rear lights, the boot lip and the sticking out squarish rear bumber... even the creace line running off the lights down the side is the same.. I dunno, it looks really similar to me.

Robin

 

[Duke]

I think it's pretty nice looking. It manages to be proportioned much better than the current Lancer, which it obviously takes cues from. Overall, I'd rather see this than the Mitsubishi. Maybe styling is crawling out of the pit it threw itself in a few years ago.

And it's not exactly 'stealing' design cues if it is from Hyundai, since that's Kia's parent company.

 

[Azuremen]

The back rear lights, the boot lip and the sticking out squarish rear bumber... even the creace line running off the lights down the side is the same.. I dunno, it looks really similar to me.

Robin

Neh, they didn't copy it that directly. It's more that Kia just copied the upscale car rear end in general, because I see Lexus and BMW style influences there more than Audi ones.

 

[Joey D]

Spy Shots from Michigan!

Autoblog writer and videographer extraordinaire, the ShunkMaster, is currently en-route to Pennsylvania with his wife and kids for the long holiday weekend, but that doesn't mean he's turned off his obsession for all things automotive. As he passed through the outskirts of Motown, the not uncommon sight of a camo-covered car appeared on the horizon. Chris's iPhone-wielding wife, Sara, snapped off a few pics of the cloaked mule, and being in the Dearborn area, the first obvious thought was a prototype Fiesta sedan. However, closer inspection revealed that it's the Kia Forte that was officially announced yesterday. The Spectra replacement proved to be a handsome little sedan that wears the Kia Koup clothes well. We're looking to catch in person -- uncovered -- soon.

[Source: Chris and Sara Shunk]

The real question is why was a grandma driving the car?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Maybe she stole it?

 

[Tornado]

The real question is why was a grandma driving the car?

Probably doing focus group testing of the likely clientele.

 

[superberkut]

I agree with Toronado. That, or they wanted a cautious driver so as not to destroy the prototype...

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm thinking it's an older guy with long hair.

 

[1X83Z]

Probably doing focus group testing of the likely clientele.

OUCH!!!!!!!!