Kia coupe headed to production mid-2009, replacing Spectra
click above for high-res gallery of the Kia Koup Concept
Wave goodbye to the Spectra name; Kia's planning on sending the moniker packing when the car is replaced in mid-2009. Kicking up the style as a way to grab the dollars of younger buyers, Kia will introduce the styling paradigm laid out by the Koup Concept at last year's New York Auto Show, which will grace a production sedan and coupe. The sedan will hit the market first, with the coupe following within a couple months. The hatchback Spectra will be out of the U.S. lineup entirely; Kia thinks the coupe and its sexier lines will move more units. European buyers will still be able to purchase the Spectra hatch as the cee'd, though. More style in this instance is a good thing. We've seen the Koup, and we like it. We've driven the Spectra, and we like that, too. If Kia can successfully match the chassis to the expectations set by the body, the Spectra's successor should have no problem maintaing that model's best-seller status in the Kia lineup.
Gallery: Kia KOUP concept
[Source: Automotive News - sub req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Neil 10:16AM (6/30/2008)
It looks pretty good, but I kinda wish Kia didn't copy so many different elements from other companies. Its got the Subaru grill/hood, Honda/Acura headlights and Euro Ford's lower fascia. Just seems they could have been a bit more original.
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Pete 10:20AM (6/30/2008)
It looks like a damn 2006+ Honda Civic.
MJL 10:50AM (6/30/2008)
Yeah...it really really looks like a Civic.
psarhjinian 11:26AM (6/30/2008)
Normally, I get really annoyed with the "this car looks like _____" posts because, well, everything looks like everything else.
But in this case, yeah, the above car really looks like an eighth-gen Civic. Distractingly so.
Neon Jebus 11:36AM (6/30/2008)
I was thinking a touch of the old Saturn SC2 myself.
Vintage 11:53AM (6/30/2008)
Holy civic coupe ripoff!
They have no shame! That's just BLATENT!
Soul Shinobi 12:47PM (6/30/2008)
Vintage, I was going to say the EXACT same thing.
Torrent 12:56PM (6/30/2008)
Honda Civic poser, but a good looking one, which most can't pull off...
Wasn't there supposed to be a new spectra coming out? The spectra has good sales, and will continue if they keep a good design. Why ruin a good thing?
FRagmit 12:57PM (6/30/2008)
Looks like a Chinatown Civic.
Should go great with my Folex watch.
ML 1:13PM (6/30/2008)
Well . . . okay, it looks like a combination of a lot of other relatively successful designs. So what?! If it's a 'clean' look with decent packaging, an acceptable power-to-weight ratio and gets good mileage . . . again . . . so what? We're going to need as many good small cars on the market in the next few years as possible. The industry is trying to scramble to meet the looming demand that's potentially out there now that gas prices are racing towards $5.00/gallon and they've got to sell SOMETHING other than SUVs. Personally, I'm not a great fan of the KIA brand and would consider a Hyundai, Saturn, Toyota or Nissan before buying one. But I admire their effort to bring a decent small coupe to market that will at least give people another small-car choice that looks decent. Maybe to many critics it looks to derivative, but to me it looks just fine.
The Talking Hamburger 12:32AM (7/01/2008)
For all of the useless complaining about the cars that Kia's Koup borrows cues from, this is a fine looking car. If it undercuts (in price) all of the brands and models it steals design cues from and proves to be reliable, it'll be a hit.
This looks to be a great salvo at some of the young adult buyers that Civics and Scions attract.
Alex 10:18AM (6/30/2008)
"Spectra's successor should have no problem maintaing [sic] that model's best-seller status in the Kia lineup."
Is that like being the skinniest girl at the obesity clinic?
Jokes aside, that is a pretty decent looking car.
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Soccer Mom 10:21AM (6/30/2008)
That is actually looks good. I never thought I would say it about KIA/Hyundai, but it is a nice looking vehicle.
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inteller 10:23AM (6/30/2008)
I guarantee it won't come with those wheels.
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iSpec 10:24AM (6/30/2008)
We are finally seeing the differentiation of the Hyundai/Kia brands that we heard so much about from the corporate brass who said Kia would be the sportier version of the two. Me likes the direction of Kia, especially with the substantiated improvements in quality and design.
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MKIV 10:28AM (6/30/2008)
Nice Civic... eh car.
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ML 1:18PM (6/30/2008)
Damn(!) MKIV . . . nice photo yourself(!).
Sean 10:28AM (6/30/2008)
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but... hire some R&D people! You obviously don't have any!
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AngeloD 10:30AM (6/30/2008)
Looks like a cramped, watered down version of Pontiac G-6.
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andrew 11:28AM (6/30/2008)
You mean the G5? =P