Kia Forte Koup

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This turns out to be a really nice looking car.
I like the Civic Coupe, and this seems to be about as nice looking. And, I hope,cheaper.

All the specs seem fine too.
I would rather have the smaller 2.0 Liter engine myself. 156hp should be plenty for a car this size. Plus it is rated at 25/34 mpg (city/highway).
But you can even order it with a larger 2.4 Liter with 173hp!

Here is the whole thing from the suits.
For those of you who don’t mind reading a bit:

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Kia Forte Koup: design

Based on the design styling of the KOUP concept vehicle shown during last year’s show, Forte Koup’s fluid lines and balanced proportions, meant to evoke an emotional driving experience, closely mirror the powerful design cues of the concept vehicle and offer the same aggressive stance with swept-back wrap-around headlamps, aggressive air intakes and a low, sleek profile.

Available in two trim levels (EX and SX), Forte Koup offers a muscular yet sophisticated design. Even from behind, Forte Koup exudes attitude with slim, wrapped tail lights, duel exhaust outlets and a rear diffuser.

Athleticism and convenience are standard for the Forte Koup EX with body-color bumpers, power heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and 16-inch alloy wheels outfitted with P205/55R16 tires. The SX trim offers an even sportier profile with 17-inch alloy wheels paired with P215/45R17-sized premium tires.

Smooth and Sporty Ride

With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 176.4 inches, an overall width of 69.5 inches and overall height of 55.1 inches, Forte Koup is slightly shorter in length and height than the Forte sedan, but still boasts comfortable seating for up to five passengers. Koup’s lowered stance provides better aerodynamics for those looking for a more exciting ride.

The Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness giving Forte Koup better handling, smoother ride quality and greater refinement than its competitors, with a specially tuned suspension developed to optimize responsive handling on curvy roads. Additional refinements are fitted throughout to help ensure a comfortable ride with good noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction qualities.

Built on a front-wheel-drive unibody frame, Kia Forte Koup utilizes the same platform as the sedan, with an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar and a torsion beam rear suspension with struts and coil springs. This combination helps provide the optimal balance of handling and comfort.
An engine-speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system adds the finishing touch for precise handling to help provide the most advantageous amount of assist for varying road conditions. The SX trim also comes with a sport-tuned suspension providing for a firmer ride with reduced body roll and improved handling.

Lively Performance

Base 2010 Kia Koup EX is more powerful than the Ford Focus Coupe, or Chevrolet Cobalt or Honda Civic Coupe. It is driven by a 156 horsepower, 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, that generates 144 pound-feet of torque and features CVVT – Continuously Variable Valve Timing and multi-port electronic fuel injection to provide greater fuel economy and performance.

The SX features an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, also with CVVT, which delivers 173 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque, more than the Scion tC. Expanding upon the dynamic look and feel, Forte Koup’s engine hums powerfully courtesy of the dual exhaust outlets outfitted on both EX and SX trims.

Like the Forte sedan, two transmission options are available for both 2010 Forte Koup models: a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission (EX models). The SX model features a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic®.

Forte Koup fuel economy is not sacrificed for sportiness, as both engines deliver at least 31 miles per gallon (highway). The 2.0-liter engine offers 25/34 mpg (city/highway) when mated with either the five-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. Those opting for the more powerful 2.4-liter engine also can expect an economical 22/32 mpg with the six-speed manual and 23/31 when paired with the five-speed automatic transmission.

Striking Interior

With a surprisingly spacious interior for a two-door coupe, Forte Koup provides a comfortable 90.7 cubic feet of interior volume, larger than the 2009 Scion tC, Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe and Honda Civic Coupe, .

Driver and passengers have an impressive 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. Trips to the beach and weekend getaways will be a breeze with ample cargo space of 12.6 cubic feet, enough to accommodate luggage and belongings of all passengers.

Kia Forte Koup continues the luxury treatment with a host of standard interior features, beginning with supportive, nicely appointed sport seats outfitted with more aggressive bolsters on the seat cushion and seat back for optimal comfort. Air conditioning, a driver’s seat height adjuster, adjustable rear seat headrests, tilt steering column, rear defroster, center console with dual cup holders, map lamps and variable intermittent wipers are also just some of the myriad amenities standard on every vehicle.

Also standard on all models are power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry and cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls for added convenience.

Progressing to the SX trim offers additional standard touches such as: unique sport cloth seats with vibrant red stitching, a tilt and telescoping steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, metal pedals and metal finish trim and a Supervision™ gauge cluster with trip computer further enhancing its energetic personality. Both EX and SX trims also offer an optional power moonroof.

An optional Leather Package is available for both EX and SX trims. When combined with the EX trim the Leather Package adds leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and heated seats. When paired with the SX trim it includes leather and heated seats in addition to the standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Kia Forte Safety

Forte Koup offers a class-leading level of standard safety equipment, with features such as dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

For inside entertainment while cruising down the road, Forte Koup comes with a standard six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service¹.

For added listening convenience steering wheel-mounted audio controls also come standard on all models, as well as USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod® and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit. Standard Bluetooth® connectivity enables hands-free operation for compatible cell phones.

Conversation 19 comments

  1. Exterior is perfect.

    Interior is nice, but why are the seats already trashed-looking? Trashed seats in promo pics? Huh??

    Too bad they couldn’t get 200hp from the 2.4.

  2. Alot of standard features even on the base ex, i sure hope it aint overpriced cause i want one ! but really why do they feel the need to offer 4 seperate trannys for this one car ? couldnt they have dropped the price a little bit by only offering 2 transmissions ?
    I have a feeling in 2 years there gonna bring out a stripper price leader model and drop the abs, cruise, mp3, cheaper stereo, and only a 6 speed manual, and hopefully drop the price by 2k.. WHO KNOWS….

  3. If they overprice this car, i feel like its gonna be 18-19k for them (loaded ), just wait one year and let someone else take the depreciation hit (40%) on it like i did with my current KIA, my KIA retailed for 13.7k and i bought it with 16k miles for 7995.00 on a 1 year old car and got one hell of a deal, the car has been bulletproof and is alot more quiet than any of my hondas or toyotas ive had in the past and a ton of standard features on it..

  4. I would never consider a Kia in a million years. Too many problems. But it does look very good. I think it looks a little better than a Civic coupe, which I also like a lot.

  5. diarreah of the mouth for a car that doesn’t exist from a company that shouldn’t exist….junk is junk baby!

  6. copy copy copy…Civic Front End + Mistubishi Rear End… put together by KIA…you got yourself a nice KIA.. you get what you paid for!!!

  7. Pretty nice! Kia’s are rated better then Nissan’s these days so I can see myself in a Kia if the price is right. Honda’s are over rated anyway. 20k+ for a Civic? Yea…ok.

  8. I really like this vehicle. It should sell pretty well.

    “Anonymous said…

    The beginning of the end for Honda.”

    Hardly.

    “Anonymous said…

    Pretty nice! Kia’s are rated better then Nissan’s these days so I can see myself in a Kia if the price is right. Honda’s are over rated anyway. 20k+ for a Civic? Yea…ok.”

    That is why they are selling so poorly, right?

    That is why they are rated so highly, right?

    Overrated, right.

    Moronic comment, sir.

  9. Nissan Versa, Sentra etc.. these are unrealiable French Renault rebadged as Nissan and pumped out from Mexico. what do you expect?

    —————————–
    Anonymous said…
    Pretty nice! Kia’s are rated better then Nissan’s these days so I can see myself in a Kia if the price is right. Honda’s are over rated anyway. 20k+ for a Civic? Yea…ok.

    April 14, 2009 10:02 AM

  10. kia and nissan cannot be mentioned together. it’s against automotive law. it’s like saying rolls royce (Nissan) and ccm supercycle ( Kia) compare. I can’t go for that, noooo can doo.

  11. I agree with Darryl, Nissan is a mainstay Japanese nameplate that always stood for performance and quality….hoonday and Kea ( however they spell it) are an embarassment to the industry, much like their defunct brother Daewoo. No can doooo.

  12. “Darryl Hall said…
    kia and nissan cannot be mentioned together. it’s against automotive law. it’s like saying rolls royce (Nissan) and ccm supercycle ( Kia) compare. I can’t go for that, noooo can doo.”

    “John Oates said…
    I agree with Darryl, Nissan is a mainstay Japanese nameplate that always stood for performance and quality….hoonday and Kea ( however they spell it) are an embarassment to the industry, much like their defunct brother Daewoo. No can doooo.”

    Moronic comments all from the same ignorant Nissan fanboy.

    Nissan is not a great company. JD Power rates Kia AND Hyundai above Nissan. What do you have to say about that one, killer?

    I’d take any model Hyundai over any Nissan product short of the GT-R and 370Z.

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