2009 Kia Forte first details

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By George Skentzos | July 02nd, 2008

Kia has released the first official images of its 2009 Forte sedan, based on the striking Kia Koup concept revealed earlier this year.

The new Forte will act as a replacement for the aging Cerato, and certainly looks the part of an executive sedan.

Currently a brand new 1.6-litre petrol engine along with a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine have been confirmed for the range, although a flagship performance model has not yet been ruled out.

The Koup concept from which it is derived featured a 216kW turbocharged 2.0-litre engine which could potentially find its way into a production model – especially with a two-door coupe model confirmed for some overseas markets.

The new Forte is the work of acclaimed designer Peter Schreyer, the same mind behind the first-generation Audi TT and new Volkswagen Beetle.

Reckless1

Pity they can’t get the interior plastics to smell, feel, and look right – that’s all that separates the latest Korean vehicles from 1st class ones.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

It does look good guys!
realcars

very classy.
Golfschwein

I wouldn’t be ashamed in this. That’s what I try to avoid in life, mostly – shame.
Tom

I can see european styling cue’s. But it still comes off as fairly appliance looking.

It’s no civic style wise.
Richo

well hot dog! The Koreans have well and truly come to the party now! Any doubts left over Hyundai/KIA’s ability to make properly good cars must surely be over (kia is owned by hyundai incase you where wondering why i was combining the two)
Phillip

It actually looks quite nice. I can see traces of Honda and Volvo there. But of course the thing that lets it down is that big KIA badge on the grill, to constantly remind you and everyone around you that you’re a massive tightarse.
D 1 0 N

Lexus IS300 anyone?
Myke

Very good looking sedan, the overall appearance reminds me of the Lancer, for some reason. The back IMO looks a lot like the new Citroen C5.
Myke

It does make me question, how Kia can make a nice looking vehicle, yet their parent company Hyundai, make the Elantra one pig of a car in terms of appearance. Really awful.
Pablo

Looks at bit like a Lancer at first glace.
Will Ford block the Forte name if it comes here?
Golfschwein

Lexus IS300, D10N?

Nope. Nowhere. Where do you see it?
technofreak

Bloddy! quite a looker init!? We’ll see what the overall quality is like when it lands….
http://tvr topdog

looks bit like the old honda euro just a bit
GTRmon

I like it. Much better looking than a Civic.

The back looks like a Lancer and Liberty mated.

Good call on the shame thing Golfschwein.
milobob

looks pretty good!

somewhat accord euro front with lancer sides and erm.. i swear i’ve seen the back somewhere!
Andy

yeah agree with top dog, specially midsection is spot on Accord Euro 03. in any case, if price is right and equipment matches, i’ve got no problems buying it.
PoisonEagle

An amalgam of cues from other cars executed in a fabulously neat manner.
PoisonEagle

Golfschwein, the rear light assembly is very similar to IS, and Citroen C5(just released model) too for that matter.
http://deleted Alex

Im not sure but I think D1ON might have ment the current Lexus IS which is actually the IS250. The IS300 was the previous generation and if you ment that D1ON, then go and compare pictures of them. I do think the rear has a taste of the current IS. Over all I think its a good looking car. I wouldn’t buy one, but thats just badge snobbery!
Ben Dova

It has a lot of Honda in the front end, and a lot of Lexus from the rear quarter. Overall, very nicely done. Take not Subaru! Either way, i would not go anywhere near the thing with my own money.
Eddy The Expert

Tom Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I can see european styling cue’s. But it still comes off as fairly appliance looking.
It’s no civic style wise.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

If the Civic is the bar by which you judge style buy, you obviously have very low expectations.
Golfschwein

Okay, the tail lights, then. As for similarities to the previous generation Lexus IS, as much as I try, I can’t remember what it looks like.

How can that be?
Allan

Nice actually, hopefully the interior (and overall) quality is as good as the car looks. If its priced right, im sure it will sell pretty well. Now if only it had a different badge on it…
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

CLASSY AND SPOT ON STYLE AS LOOKS THE GOODS EASY…..Kia and Hyundai alliance is nailing some great lookers and turning over updates much more readily the others!

Beware of Kia / Hyundai and Ford in particular as they will hit hard withing minimum 15months Iam tipping!
Martin

I don’t understand why people are saying “it looks like this” or “it looks like that” In its own right, it doesn’t look a thing like any of the other cars mentioned.

It looks like agreat car, hopefully Kia will give it the ride and handling to match the looks, and they will be on to a real winner.
si1982

nice! i like it. I like it a lot more than the Toyota Corolla and I bet it will be cheaper than the corolla.

Its got nice proportions.

I think it looks a lot better than the Nissan Tiida Sedan too.

Wonder what pricing is expected for this here?
Eddy The Expert

Si1982, my Grandfathers right testicle poking out his shorts and sitting on the lounge looks better than the Tiida Sedan.
D 1 0 N

Ahh yeah I meant the current generation IS250, sorry, I thought the IS300 was the new one cos it had the higher number

But yeah, the rear is very similar, as are the overall impression of the grille and headlights
Yianni

Wow this is actually a very good looking medium sedan. Hopefully the quality and reliability will be on par with Hyundai since KIA is owned by them.

I see big things from Hyundai and KIA in the future.

Front end is definitely Accord Euro/Civic and rear Civic/Lexus IS250.

All those are very good looking cars. Hopefully they can keep the prices at a reasonable level at ~ $20.000 and they will have a winner.

KIA also needs to being the CEED and PRO CEED over from Europe. I have no idea why they haven’t since its rated very highly in Europe and is a fantastic car. And more and more people are downsizing their cars and this would be perfect.
Myke

They haven’t brought over the Ceed as at this stage it is only built in Europe and therefore you’d have to pay an extra premium over the i30, which is pretty much the same car underneath.
Hugo

Given that this’ll replace the Cerato down under, it’s logical competitor is the Toyota Corolla.

And it’ll be a couple of grand cheaper (Cerato begins at $16,990) and better equipped (ESP, anyone?) to boot. If Kia can pinch a couple of sales from Toyota and show us Aussies that Korean cars aren’t all tacky plastics and poor drivability; well more power to them.
ScottB

Looks good. Definitely some Honda influence there, but all in all it looks good. Much better than any of their current offerings.
Mike

“Martin Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm

I don’t understand why people are saying “it looks like this” or “it looks like that” In its own right, it doesn’t look a thing like any of the other cars mentioned.”

You are joking right? Use google, you’ll soon find the exact opposite.

There is nothing worse than a car brand trying to make their way by stealing designs and selling them as their own.

This is clearly a Honda Euro/Civic Type R front and Lexus back and I sure as heck would be buying either of those cars before touching this rip-off piece of junk.
Owen

The significant advance of the i30 personifies Hyundai’s development as a mainstream quality builder (the manual diesel is fabulous value for money). Should this new Kia be the equivalent leap ahead in terms of engineering and build quality (interior ‘feel’ being a major selling point personally) then Kia are on to a good thing. Critics dismissing this model on the basis of three photos are not the market Kia is aiming for. Judge whether this is rip-off junk ‘after’ you have driven it, sensed it and seen it in the flesh. We are most fortunate in having healthy competition in this market segment. Bring it on!
Lee

Hi guys, because I was interested too, I asked Kia Australia’s PR guy about this car about this and this was the reply I got (July 29):

“We hope to launch a replacement for the current Cerato in Australia by the end of the year. When launched next month in Korea, the Forte will be the local market replacement for the current model Cerato. We have already indicated that the Cerato currently on sale in Australia will be replaced towards the end of this year, although I expect there will be styling changes for export versions.”

So it isn’t too far off by the looks of things. I wonder what will change though styling-wise.
Neil

Is there some reason why this latest pile of Korean crap is impressing all you morons?
Buy one….. then regret the crappy plastic that cracks under aussie conditions…..then try and get spares for the damn thing….. then watch the paint fade and craze…… then take it in for a service and get it back with a head bolt GLUED in place because it snapped……
Yep…hope you all enjoy it……. suckers.
ian

lol….funny thing is that…koreans are the one who “decided” to sell, not “designed” the car… So if you guys think its a copy of civic, why dont you guys say that to the person who designed first generation of audi tt….?
ian

and neil….lets see if you have that skill to make this kind of “PLASTIC CRAP”
Blondie

I have this car since November and it is a PEICE OF JUNK!!!!!!! I totally regret getting rid of my Honda and would advise all of you to think twice.

Problems include but not limited to:
horrible parking brake
gas cap attachment faulty
HORRIBLE suspension. Hit that first bump in the road and you’ll see what I mean.
Cheap cloth interior

Bottom line: LOOKS ARE VERY DECIEVING

Ken

Blondie, the name says it all. Here’s some points for you.

How can a park brake be horrible? Is it in need of an adjustment or is it in the wrong place for you? Visit the dealer and they’ll adjust it for you for free under warranty. If you don’t like the positioning, next time try driving it before buying.

Gas Cap attachment faulty – Easily rectified under warranty.

Horrible Suspension – Try inflating your tyres to the recommended tyre pressure. Better still, look out for the potholes and avoid them to keep the wheel alignment correct.

Cheap Cloth Interior – The seats on the KIA are no worse than other cars in that price range. I have owned KIA’s over the years and the seats have not worn through yet. My current drive is the Magentis with leather and after 74,000kms, the seats still look good without any rips, tears or wear marks and i’m 6″ tall weighing over 100kg. My wife drives a 2006 Cerato Hatch and after 43,000kms, the interior is still like new.

Looks are very decieving – Pretty stupid statement to make for a blonde. The KIA is a well built car with loads of equipment and sold for a competative price. These small issues you have mentioned are nothing compared to the current recalls Toyota and your beloved Honda have going at the moment.

Try looking after your car a bit and don’t expect a Rolls Royce on a Daewoo budget Blondie.

toxic_horse

There is a radical new thing called a test drive. I think next time you should try it.
Nankano

AGREE

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN LIFE……..
Nankano

Where is the hatch version?

What about a 5 speed auto and trip computer on the base model?

Noticed [LIKE I SAID IT WOULD] they have slashed $2000 of its price and also $2000 off the price of the Soul

NEED TO BE REALISTIC with prices in the beginning Kia, not go into damage control after the fact and runi the already poor resale further for the early buyers..[burnt]