Kia has unveiled the 2-door coupe version of the good looking Kia Forte at the NYIAS 2009 ongoing in the US this week. The 2-door Forte called the Forte Koup (Cerato Koup in some countries) will be Kia’s first 2-door coupe, and measures 176.4 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 55.1 inches tall with a wheelbase of 104.3 inches.
It uses the same platform as the Forte sedan, using MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. Two trims are available, the EX and SX, with the SX also featuring a sports suspension among other various equipment level differences like leather steering wheel and shifter, metal pedals, Supervision self-illuminating meter panel, and sports cloth seats. Interestingly in the US, tilt and telescopic steering is only available on the SX – if the car ever makes it here it better have that option, even on the Forte sedan!
Under the Forte Koup’s hood is a choice of either a 2.0 litre CVVT engine with 156 horsepower and 195Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto for the EX or a 173 horsepower 2.4 litre engine with 228Nm of torque for the sports SX version with a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission (with 2 overdrives, meaning more like Civic’s 5-speed rather than Mazda’s 5-speed).
Kia says the Forte Koup trumps its competitors like the Civic Coupe, the Scion tC and the Chevy Cobalt Coupe with a larger 90.7 cubic feet interior volume. It has 38.7 inches of headroom and 43.6 inches of legroom in the front seats, and 35.3 inches of headroom and 33.9 inches of legroom in the rear seats. The provision of such data clearly shows interior spaciousness is one of the factors that Kia is pushing for this car, since some people may think C-segment coupes are cramped.
Look after the jump for a full hi-res image gallery of the Koup, including multiple exterior angles and interior shots.
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 looking coupe….
civic coupe?
oh wait..
Lancer coupe?
ooh.. sorry.. its Kia Koup.
wow it retain all element of the KOUP concept…even the wheels…
Is it just me or…the front looks like FD2
Really good looking. One for me please. =)
Sent a picture to Chrysler yet?
Looks as if KIA ripped off the current Civic's front fascia
proton see what you miss!! this cars are image cleaner..
proton never think on a 2door satria neo coupe, sleep dont wake up..!!
and one question to kia:
Whats with diesel? will be a diesel available?
i want one i want one !bring it here …nice posterior
where are the interior shots?
Sweet! I think I've got a suggestion for Theophilus Chin – cook up a "sports" version of the Forte sedan by taking the coupe's front fascia…
A sexy macho looking car. Those Korean have hired the right person. Do you notice there is a small add from Naza in few days on Kia Forte? The price will be competetive. i hope there will be a 1.8l model price around RM65k. Sure sell like hot cakes or pisang goreng.
nice design .. i think it is a combination of Civic (front) + lancer (back) + kia (as enhancement of the design)
Btw still look nice but no identity
Dat's so nice… I want one… =(
Mitsu Lancer rear light?
come on….
beautiful…
but does look like a mix and match of the Civi's front end and the Lancer GT's rear end..
but then again, in today's automotive design world rarely can a car's design avoid from being similar to another..
Hope Naza will bring machine in soon to replace current spectra
nice body curve…
look at thise rims…
wise…!
looks really sweet…! at last, a car to look forward to other than a T or H.
arghhhhh…sooooo lovely looking forte…i'm still waiting the 4 door version forte comin to m'sia…yesterday saw the s'pore registered red forte….wat can i say…classssssssssss!!!
Thats a nice looking car.
yep, the koreans are definately raising the bar.
fuhh..cantek!
Look nice and presentable…
Now that people says it, it does look like front end with Civic + Focus RS, with Alfa/Lancer rear end, plus Audi A5 side profile.
interesting car. nice looking. kia are really looking very "un-korean" already.. i've sat in a ceed in europe.. very european.
[quote comment="228471"]Look nice and presentable…
Now that people says it, it does look like front end with Civic + Focus RS, with Alfa/Lancer rear end, plus Audi A5 side profile.[/quote]
Yup… 5 in 1 car. it's look interesting. other robot from cybertron ?.
DEPAN DIE MACAM ALA2 CIVIC GITU….
HMMMMMMMMMMM
CIVIC CLONE MAYBE…………..
Kia Honda Civic Forte.
reminds me of those days of Ford TX3 Laser in Coupe version
Sell like hot cake !!!!
Forsure..hot cakes for KIA..credit
A bit Looks like Chevy Volts
A bit looks like Chevy Volt
Got doubts in the handling..Such kinda coupe using torsiom beam susupension?? Not for me..
[quote comment="228409"]proton see what you miss!! this cars are image cleaner..
proton never think on a 2door satria neo coupe, sleep dont wake up..!!
[/quote]
Not the best time for proton to come up with ne coupe model. Proton need to sell by volume and bulid its cash reseve. As long as the new models still have good handling factor, it is ok.
I don't know about this 'torsiom beam susupension' but I'm sure they've put it through its paces on their track and it didn't flip over. Hahaha! As for design, it's really cool. I want one! God Bless Peter Schreyer!
back light something like alfa 156
whoa!
Updated pix with lots more!
[quote comment="228523"]Updated pix with lots more![/quote]
Paul Tan for President!
[quote comment="228494"][quote comment="228409"]proton see what you miss!! this cars are image cleaner..
proton never think on a 2door satria neo coupe, sleep dont wake up..!!
[/quote]
Not the best time for proton to come up with ne coupe model. Proton need to sell by volume and bulid its cash reseve. As long as the new models still have good handling factor, it is ok.[/quote]
Proton never good time to introduce new model …..been selling by the volume and building the cash reserve ever since i can remembered.
Anyway great car KIA … hopes its fast!!
[quote comment="228530"][quote comment="228523"]Updated pix with lots more![/quote]
Paul Tan for President![/quote]
Change has come to Malaysia!!!
Ladies and gentleman the President of Malaysia
President Paul Tan!!
Nice design.
When will Kia bring in to Malaysia?
Wish to get one soon..
Good job,Kia..!
[quote comment="228530"][quote comment="228523"]Updated pix with lots more![/quote]
Paul Tan for President![/quote]
Yup. Paul Tan should be our new automotive minister….
sure lower prices for foreign car and all cars must have ISOFIX
The Koreans will catch up with Japanese & Chinese catch up with Koreans, down with the Americans!
That looks very nice. Would not mind having that over the civic
jus a great looking car with very normal type of engines. Fall asleep reading thru the specs. ill have civic type r
gorgeous design!!
They should have plonked the 2.0 liter turbo from the Genesis Coupe in here… I suspect that's coming soon.
[quote comment="228721"]They should have plonked the 2.0 liter turbo from the Genesis Coupe in here… I suspect that's coming soon.[/quote]
Any prediction when paul? Btw.. any link to the engine u mentioned? Is it good?
For me the car exterior is applausible, but yet it is lacking on the "under the hood" segment.
btw.. how much will it be priced?
Nice! At least the rear is nicer than a Civic! Good aHem* "improvisation"…
This is an amazing product. Can't wait to get one.
It will be a Heavenly ride
shape is nice.. dimension should be smaller for more hot-chick / teens / old-but want to feel-young market (fight with MX-5/Miata)
if same size like CIVIC / LANCER
then really no identity…should be like CLK-sized
hope they come-out with convertible later on…(affordable and nicer then Peugeot's)
nice!
the second Kia that i'd like to have…XD
not in m'sia yet?
Civic??Lancer???Gosh…with Audi designer in it, not only this car looks good but really handles like a conti.
lindo este carro e muito lindo !!!
melhor que new civic !
sleek…fast and furious….