Filed under: Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Kia
Kia Forte details hit the web - bigger, more frugal
We've seen the spiffy metal wrapper of Kia's new Forte, the Spectra's successor, now come details about what's underneath. The Forte is larger than the outgoing Spectra, but it also achieves better economy with a given amount of liquid hydrocarbon. South Korean buyers will have the choice between a gasoline or a diesel powertrain. Regardless of fuel, both engines displace 1.6 liters and deliver nearly the same horsepower - 124 hp for gasoline, 128 hp for diesel. The gas engine consumes 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers, while the diesel can go the same distance on 6.1 liters. We'd like to see more frugality out of the diesel, but using 1 liter less per 100km can compound over an entire tank of fuel for a healthy economy boost. A 2.0 liter engine will become available soon, and is likely to be the sole motivator for US-bound Fortes when it arrives in 2009. It will be interesting to contrast the km/liter numbers against EPA fuel economy estimates when the Forte gets to us.
Gallery: 2009 Kia Forte
[Source: Kia-World]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Vintage 11:00AM (7/15/2008)
That honda civic looks nice. Why did they put Kia badges on it?
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Jvijil 11:07AM (7/15/2008)
lmfaoooo
Kimura 11:20AM (7/15/2008)
It looks better than a Honda Civic I think.
ASEVENSEE4 5:01AM (7/16/2008)
When KIA decided that the Civic needed some exterior improvements. I want to see the interior though.
ASEVENSEE4 5:01AM (7/16/2008)
When KIA decided that the Civic needed some exterior improvements. I want to see the interior though.
jsjs 11:52AM (7/15/2008)
People who thinks this looks like the Honda Civic have no sense of automobile design or simply don't have eyes that work well.
The front is not that similar at all, the whole side profile is different and while it has clean lines, it is more reminiscent of Audi's designs (esp. the rear) than anything else (w/ a bit of fairly complex body stamping going on - which is done better than of the 'flame surfacing' in BMW's Bangle-designs).
Overall, it's a nice design, but the front fascia is a bit too bland.
Vintage 12:14PM (7/15/2008)
jsjs: Photoshop comparison of Civic and Forte:
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/197/c/e/Kia_Forte_Honda_Civic_Ripoff_by_cash68.jpg
Look at that. If you don't see the blatent copycat design, you are either insane or blind.
Kimura 3:32PM (7/15/2008)
Vintage, you obviously aren't paying close attention to the detail. To name off some of the many differnces: the grll on the Civic is both much wider and more narrow. The headlighst both have a downkick in relation to the grill, but design and shape is different. The lower fascia of both cars has 3 openings, but show me a modern car that doesn't? The profiles are completely different, as are the rear ends, both of which I thinkKia has done a superior job with, especially when it come to proportions.
There's no doubt Kia designs looked at the Civic and said "hmm, I like some of those elements, I think I'll incorporate them into my design." However, it is not flat out copying. It's the Chinese thatd o that.
jsjs 1:04PM (7/15/2008)
LOL!! If anything that (front) comparison shows that you're blind (and probably dumb as well).
And what? The entire side and rear don’t matter?
Gee, based on that, I would say that the new Accord rips off the Nissan Altima by having the same side profile w/ the “kink” in the C-pillar (which Nissan ripped off of BMW).
Anyway, the front is not that similar, besides having clean lines.
Differences:
1. Forte’s front bumper meets at a point – Civic’s does not.
2. Civic’s grills is (a) much smaller, (b) inset against the headlights and bumper and not flush like the Forte’s and (c) a different shape.
3. The Forte’s headlamps are much bigger and more akin to a no. of other autos than the Civic's "beady", little headlights.
The only real similarity is that it has that raised hoodline over the front side wheel-wells, but (gasp!), the Corolla has that too (as well as a no. of other cars).
jsjs 1:16PM (7/15/2008)
LOL!! If anything, that (front) comparison shows that you're blind (and probably dumb as well).
And what? The entire side and rear don’t matter?
Gee, based on that, I would say that the new Accord shamelessly rips off the Nissan Altima by having the same side profile w/ the “kink” in the C-pillar (which Nissan ripped off of BMW).
Anyway, the front is not that similar besides having clean lines.
Differences:
1. Forte’s front bumper meets at a point – Civic’s does not.
2. Civic’s grills is (a) much smaller, (2) inset against the headlights and bumper and not flush like the Forte’s and (3) a different shape.
3. The Forte’s headlamps are much bigger and more akin to no. of other auto's than the Civic's "beady", little headlamps.
The only real similarity is that it has that raised hoodline over the front side wheel-wells, but (gasp!), the Corolla has that too (as well as a no. of other cars).
Torrent 2:46PM (7/15/2008)
It looks 10 times better. It looks nice, and not dated, like the Civic.
Vintage 4:20PM (7/15/2008)
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/197/a/b/Kia_Forte_Honda_Civic_Ripoff_by_cash68.jpg
Updated graphic showing exactly how Kia ripped off Honda's design. It's blatent and obvious.
Cross 10:34PM (7/15/2008)
+10000000000 to Vintage, I agree with him. Really, if you guys dont see that Kia completely copied the front of the Civic, you're all a bunch of morons, including Kia designers.
Jared 11:06AM (7/15/2008)
With gas at $4/gallon, we need the 1.6, not the 2.0.
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Seoultrain 11:54AM (7/15/2008)
Agreed. America's priorities have changed with the gas prices. for the sub-$20k market, horsepower is a very low priority.
RMc 11:12AM (7/15/2008)
38.5 mpg (US) isn't bad for the diesel engine considering that this isn't some tiny hatchback. Furthermore, it gets more horsepower than the gasoline variety (which converts to 33 mpg - still good.) What is not to like?
Also, I've spent a fair amount of time comparing the EU fuel economy numbers to US EPA numbers. As a rule of thumb, the EPA Highway is roughly equal to EU Combine Cycle and the EPA city is equal to EU Urban. They are usually within about 10% of those numbers. So, anyone here can go to vcacarfueldata.org, look up the numbers of any EU only vehicle and get an idea of what it would translate to if the EPA were to rate it.
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Raghu 11:19AM (7/15/2008)
That's approximately 33 MPG for the petrol and 38 MPG for the diesel... that's a pretty good step up. Even if EPA estimates are different they would probably be proportional.
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Richard S. 11:32AM (7/15/2008)
C'mon Chrysler.....give me a fu......break!!! If KIA can design a simple, good looking subcompact, with a decent interior and good fuel economy, how come all the great minds behind Chrysler can only come up with the Caliber? Enough said.
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P.V. 11:41AM (7/15/2008)
Subcompact? I thought the Spectra/Forte is compact.
Miguel 5:18PM (7/15/2008)
Because the Caliber is a compact crossover, not a compact sedan?
Just sayin'.