This nice red coupe which reminds me a little of the European market Honda Civic hatch was showcased by Kia Motors at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, and it is called the Kia KOUP Concept. It actually looks very production ready, and only needs a more toned down interior (or maybe not?) with more production ready head lamps and tail lamps and you can already imagine it being driven on roads.
The front wheel drive, front engined coupe is powered by a turbocharged direct injected version of the 2.0 litre Hyundai/Kia Theta II engine (derived from the GEMA engine family), which produces 290 horsepower and a wide torque spread of 392Nm over 2,000rpm to 4,000rpm.
The front suspension is the usual MacPherson strut system while the rear is an independent dual link design. The Kia KOUP also features Continuous Damping Control – not sure what it does but Kia says it helps with the vehicle’s handling.
Check out more photos and a video after the jump.
VIDEO: Kia KOUP Concept
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Nice!!! But sayang only 2 door
the front looks good,but the rear….too dull and awkward
Woi KIA! Try to beat EVO arr??? Nice try but Evo X is still the one I love.
Hei !! will Naza bring this in…? Please do so it so cool and cheap went CKD in M’sia. Hope so . With 290 horse.Watch out Type R!
well..not bad. but it looks just like the civic type r hatchback. almost..
civic front + cadillac (BLX coupe) side + lancer rear?
interior is moto razr + ford fiesta + transformer?
haha.. i was being sarcastic.. but d koreans are really coming up real fast!
sorry.. its d caddy CTS coupe.. not the BLX…
Transformer? Autobots?
Yea Paul, it looks production ready, wonder when… Noe Coupe might look like that too. In terms of handling, which is better, Hatches or Coupes? Why? If one is no good, why auto makers keep makin em?
Will KIA be using this car to compete with Hyundai Coupe?
Look like it’s gonna slip into Pontiac and Mustang slots in US. The Korean really catching up in the fast mode nowadays. This design derived from their American studio right, not in the Korea.
WATCH OUT !!! da KOREANs comin up..
perfect man ~ hyper advance interior ~ … how it come true with sedan mod
WTF?.. the design is identical to USDM 2006 Civic Coupe
+1
IMO it looks quite abit like the USDM Civic Coupe from the outside.
But that interior is super nice… Take away the fancy “cyber” dials and abit of the fancy stuffs and you’ll have a production-ready interior… Nice indeed
looks great, but fwd again
Damn it! damn Koreans had done it again & the best i’ve ever seen! looks the the organic kimchi’s are working! hee! hee!
only one word: WOW!
Concept car, will not come out. Will not even look close like that. Also 4 seater. Less appeal there.
Sight..
I think this one won’t bring into Malaysia
Cz korean car that bring into Malaysia all poweless…
Eg Kia Spectra…
cool~~
make it next hyndai coupe aka triburon
nice.. i’m amazed of what Kia has produce.. remarkable..
very cartoon-ish, esp the interior, i’d describe it as overt, gaudy and tasteless; but a good effort none the less.
This KOUP should fill up the void left by Honda’s Integra / Acura RSX in North America and elsewhere.
this car is super sexy!!!! and it is all we ever wanted.
i like this koup…