2018 Kia GT

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Kia has been testing a production version (top) of the 2011 GT Concept (bottom)for a while.
As you can see, it looks fine and pretty much ready to go.

And, pretty close to the concept.
But it’s been 5 years. Five-years….

So nothing futuristic here.

Seems like it could be based on the Hyundai Genesis sedan. Which will be rebadged the
Genesis G80 or G70 very soon.

Which I guess would then , be… competing with Genesis.
These guys don’t really seem to have a clear separate path for both brands.
Kia and Hyundai.
Looks like Kia now competes with both Hyundai and Genesis.

The good part is, it will probably be yet another really nice design from Kia.
So I really can’t wait to see the final model.

Conversation 14 comments

  1. They seem to be building every (mid to large) car off the 2015 Sonata platform (From Equis to G80 to G90 to this) Which may not be a bad thing.

  2. I would imagine that the Kia might be positioned more towards the sport-4-door-coupe end of the spectrum. The new Genesis G80 is a much more formal car than the 1st gen one seemed.

  3. I'm not sure who is anxiously waiting for an expensive RWD Kia that looks like a $25k Optima. Looks like the results of group thinking managers instead of smart product planning.

  4. This is an entirely different platform. This is the CK platform that will underpin the smaller-than-G80 car and the Genesis Coupe replacement should they decide to build one. Kia is going to lean more toward sporty product in the coming years. Hyundai will be Bread and Butter Toyota competition and Genesis is the Luxury Brand. There will obviously always be some overlap with the difference being in style, packaging, motivation and marketing.

  5. Oh…and in addition to being rear wheel drive, this is rumored to that a turbo 3.3 V6 making nearly 400 hp as its top level engine.

  6. two major problems here….

    1) Sedan market share dropping rapidly as consumers moving in droves over to CUVs

    2) Most importantly, it's a KIA

  7. Looks identical to the concept, which is a good thing, however they wait ed WAY too long to bring it to market. The Optima has penetrated the market quite well, however, looks too much like the Optima to justify the price hike this will have….RWD or not.

  8. That "its a Kia" thing is very 2002. This is the fifth largest automaker in the world now and Kia ranked 8th out of 38 brands in sales last year in the US. Hyundai was 6th. That shit ain't reality anymore. The Koreans have come to play. They have Audi and Bentley designers running the show now and the guy who used to run the M division at BMW is on board to help with the N performance cars and lend expertise to the "sport" in the three brand's line up.

  9. These cars currently lack the sophistication of the better European brands….so maybe "it's a KIA" will eventually disappear BUT right now it is still a thing. My mechanic (who services Mercedes) doesn't feel their quality is up to European standards as well. I think KIA gas great designs but I would not pay premium price as of today.

  10. Of everything I've seen at auto shows in the last few years, this was one of my favorite designs. In the metal, it had a great presence. Add 400 HP, and if the price isn't ridiculous, I'd seriously consider one, although in that class CPO Cadillac CTS V-Sports are amazing values and seriously attractive…

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