Ovaltine Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 (edited) EXCERPT: The Forte sedan will be the first production model to carry Kia’s new corporate look and will feature sportier design overall. It will include more distinctive design elements such as striking side character lines and a subtly designed grille. The H-shapped grille is set to become a Kia trademark in the future. Kia will initially introduce the Forte with two fuel efficient gasoline engines. First avaliable, will be the brand new 1.6L four cylinder rated at 124hp. The other, a more powerfull 2.0L engine, will be avaliable soon after the official launch. This new model will replace the Spectra, or as it’s called on other markets, the Cerato and is expected to enter the U.S. market by mid-2009. A two door variant, reportedly dubbed the Forte Coupe, will follow later in the year. http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2008/07...shows-its-face/ -Ovaltine Edited July 2, 2008 by Ovaltine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 So Kia's new corporate look is that of a Honda Civic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovaltine Posted July 2, 2008 Author Share Posted July 2, 2008 (edited) So Kia's new corporate look is that of a Honda Civic? 2008 Honda Civic: And the similarities are......? -Ovaltine Edited July 2, 2008 by Ovaltine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 (edited) 2008 Honda Civic: And the similarities are......? -Ovaltine If you can't see the similarities in the headlights and grille shape (both VERY Honda), you need to brush the Ovaltine powder off your glasses. I guess it's more Civic headlights and Accord grille. I'm still waiting for the first original design out of South Korea. Edited July 2, 2008 by NickF1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 If you can't see the similarities in the headlights and grille shape (both VERY Honda), you need to brush the Ovaltine powder off your glasses. I guess it's more Civic headlights and Accord grille. I'm still waiting for the first original design out of South Korea. Very much agree... Honda in the front in, and I see a lot of Subaru in the rear. It looks good, it's just seems generic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Not bad looking though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazerdude20 Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 it looks good. the body lines are alot like the <08 tsx. and has an accord looking grill. is the coupe version of this the same as the koup concept? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Nice looking car, but Hyundai/Kia have got to figure out a way to do something original for once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 ALRIGHT!!!!! Who forgot to trademark "Forte" for a future Ford product??? Heads will roll when Mark Fields finds out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 ALRIGHT!!!!! Who forgot to trademark "Forte" for a future Ford product??? Heads will roll when Mark Fields finds out! I thought it would of been a good Ford name! Actually. not a bad looking little car.....good proportions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Its pretty good looking. I see alot of Acura design up front and the new Mitsubishi Galant in the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Tail lights look vaguely 3-series-inspired in their overall shape. It's not an ugly car....but certainly not an original one. Why insist on a name change though? The only Forte this car has is stealing design elements from other cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 that is a nicely proportioned compact - I do not know how they do it - but it looks very very bland compared to the concept - despite having the same exact lines .. can a drop and 20" wheels really make that much difference? Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 So Kia's new corporate look is that of a Honda Civic? I'd say it's more TSX, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I would say it mixes Honda lines with a Nissan grille. The back is Subaru-esqe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I agree, I see quite a bit of TSX, thats the first thing that came to mind before scrolling down to see the comments. And thats fine, it's non-offensive, if anything, forgettable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadBflo Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 not bad. it is nicely proportioned. I saw Subaru from the front and Lexus from the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 So Kia's new corporate look is that of a Honda Civic? I thought the same thing when I first saw it, although I prefer the Forte's more normal looking design over the ugly Civic. I don't think it looks all that bad, just as others have said, it's a little plain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 is the coupe version of this the same as the koup concept? If I've understood what I've read correctly, then yes, the coupe version will look like the Koup concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danglin Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 (edited) :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: Kinda looks like a SAAB in the front. Edited July 4, 2008 by danglin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueblood Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Wow, that actually looks good, horrible name though.. Everything looks like something else, get over it, I wonder what a hatch would look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: Kinda looks like a SAAB in the front. Yeah, I can see a slight Saab influence in the front end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 (edited) If you can't see the similarities in the headlights and grille shape (both VERY Honda), you need to brush the Ovaltine powder off your glasses. I guess it's more Civic headlights and Accord grille. I'm still waiting for the first original design out of South Korea. I beg to differ-- I think this car represents what the Honda Civic would look like if it were executed correctly. The Civic's lines and proportions, especially the front, is very plebian and emasculated. The more chiseled look of this Kia works much better, and reduces the appearance of the front overhang a bit, which looks very sloppy on the Honda. Anyway, having said all that, I think this car will be a success for Kia, especially since it doesn't look like it shares much with Hyundai. Keep in mind that the current Kia Spectra and Hyundai Elantra share just about everything but the sheetmetal. Now, bring on a hatchback! A 1.6L turbo might be nice, too. Edited July 5, 2008 by calypsocoral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Shoulda left da name alone. The car looks like many others, including Subaru. So what? If you're not gonna buy one and you don't like it, move on. My son relies on his '05 Spectra for work and play. He didn't pay much for it and it serves his needs without hiccup. Ya got problem widdat? Well, that's okay because you didn't buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovaltine Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Shoulda left da name alone. I agree. I like the name Spectra. The name change and the starting 'F' must be compliments of one of the many Ford (and other Big 3) refugees that joined H/K. :lol: -Ovaltine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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