Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News

2-door Kia Forte Koup unveiled at NYIAS!

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Kia Forte Koup

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!

Kia Forte Koup

Under the Forte Koup’s hood is a choice of either a 2.0 liter 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 liter 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.

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55 Comments »

  1. mockviper said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:17 am

    nice looking coupe….

  2. mockviper said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:18 am

    civic coupe?
    oh wait..
    Lancer coupe?

    ooh.. sorry.. its Kia Koup.

  3. chaku said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:20 am

    wow it retain all element of the KOUP concept…even the wheels…

  4. Eric said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:20 am

    Is it just me or…the front looks like FD2

  5. laxxion said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:45 am

    Really good looking. One for me please. =)

  6. George said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:56 am

    Sent a picture to Chrysler yet?

  7. Analyzer said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 1:17 am

    Looks as if KIA ripped off the current Civic’s front fascia

  8. ali38hak said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 1:36 am

    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?

  9. Bodow said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 4:14 am

    i want one i want one !bring it here …nice posterior

  10. droll said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 7:02 am

    where are the interior shots?

  11. Noname Takadanama said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 7:28 am

    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…

  12. azrai said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:14 am

    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.

  13. wisedriver said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:24 am

    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

  14. raptorclans said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:30 am

    Dat’s so nice… I want one… =(

  15. bmpower said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:38 am

    Mitsu Lancer rear light?
    come on….

  16. d3sign3r said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:38 am

    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..

  17. dreamwork said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:49 am

    Hope Naza will bring machine in soon to replace current spectra

  18. mkrafz said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:50 am

    nice body curve…
    look at thise rims…
    wise…!

  19. barca said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 8:58 am

    looks really sweet…! at last, a car to look forward to other than a T or H.

  20. azhar said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 9:20 am

    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!!!

  21. 4G63T DSM said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 9:26 am

    Thats a nice looking car.

    yep, the koreans are definately raising the bar.

  22. farghmee said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 9:51 am

    fuhh..cantek!

  23. NA said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:04 am

    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.

  24. BanyakMasukWorkshop said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:10 am

    interesting car. nice looking. kia are really looking very “un-korean” already.. i’ve sat in a ceed in europe.. very european.

  25. initial R said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:11 am

    [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 ?.

  26. zack_keyme988 said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:20 am

    DEPAN DIE MACAM ALA2 CIVIC GITU….

    HMMMMMMMMMMM

    CIVIC CLONE MAYBE…………..

  27. Perotiga said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:28 am

    Kia Honda Civic Forte.

  28. a18 said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:33 am

    reminds me of those days of Ford TX3 Laser in Coupe version

    Sell like hot cake !!!!

  29. rezqi_perunding said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:45 am

    Forsure..hot cakes for KIA..credit

  30. Fufu said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 10:55 am

    A bit Looks like Chevy Volts

  31. Fufu said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:04 am

    A bit looks like Chevy Volt

  32. Alifz said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:12 am

    Got doubts in the handling..Such kinda coupe using torsiom beam susupension?? Not for me..

  33. madboy said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:15 am

    [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.

  34. Maibatsu_Thunder said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:44 am

    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!

  35. stroller said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:50 am

    back light something like alfa 156

  36. ali said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

    whoa!

  37. Paul Tan said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 1:48 pm

    Updated pix with lots more!

  38. Noname Takadanama said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

    [quote comment="228523"]Updated pix with lots more![/quote]
    Paul Tan for President!

  39. stephenstreets said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

    [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!!

  40. stephenstreets said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 2:47 pm

    [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!!

  41. ago87 said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

    Nice design.
    When will Kia bring in to Malaysia?
    Wish to get one soon..
    Good job,Kia..!

  42. kimi_ said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 4:33 pm

    [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 :)

  43. Black Dog said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 6:45 pm

    The Koreans will catch up with Japanese & Chinese catch up with Koreans, down with the Americans!

  44. mystvearn said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

    That looks very nice. Would not mind having that over the civic

  45. KS_Phang said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:47 pm

    jus a great looking car with very normal type of engines. Fall asleep reading thru the specs. ill have civic type r

  46. mitlanevo said,

    April 10, 2009 @ 11:49 pm

    gorgeous design!!

  47. Paul Tan said,

    April 11, 2009 @ 12:07 am

    They should have plonked the 2.0 liter turbo from the Genesis Coupe in here… I suspect that’s coming soon.

  48. Bosz1551 said,

    April 11, 2009 @ 1:15 am

    [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?

  49. Vern said,

    April 11, 2009 @ 2:24 am

    Nice! At least the rear is nicer than a Civic! Good aHem* “improvisation”…

  50. John said,

    April 11, 2009 @ 6:04 am

    This is an amazing product. Can’t wait to get one.
    It will be a Heavenly ride :)

  51. Ken Lam said,

    April 11, 2009 @ 6:10 pm

    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)

  52. nick said,

    April 12, 2009 @ 4:51 pm

    nice!
    the second Kia that i’d like to have…XD
    not in m’sia yet?

  53. wallstreet said,

    April 16, 2009 @ 11:27 am

    Civic??Lancer???Gosh…with Audi designer in it, not only this car looks good but really handles like a conti.

  54. LUIS HENRIQUE said,

    April 16, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

    lindo este carro e muito lindo !!!
    melhor que new civic !

  55. alpha999 said,

    November 19, 2009 @ 5:07 pm

    sleek…fast and furious….

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