Autoblog

LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Etc., Kia

2010 Kia Forte - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a brief press release and a trophy handoff at the LA Auto Show, car pricing authority NADAguides.com has heaped the first of what we could be many accolades upon the stylish and affordable 2010 Kia Forte and Kia Forte Koup by naming the duo their Car of the Year for 2009. Citing the pair's "best in class" features and stylish interior and exterior design, the group said these Kia compacts were standout vehicles in a pretty impressive field. Other contenders for the crown included such significant and praiseworthy vehicles as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz E350 and Nissan 370Z Roadster.

In our own review of the Kia Forte, we praised its styling, build, layout and performance, and especially its budget-minded pricing, so we see where NADA is coming from. Sometimes, we have to scratch our heads a bit when one of these sorts of awards are announced, but in this case, we certainly think the cars are deserving.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Forte SX

[Source: NADAguides.com]

Continue reading LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY

LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Kia

Kia Forte Koup Grand-Am racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time in its history in the U.S. market, Kia is going racing in 2010. Kia announced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that it has partnered with the Kinetic Group to build and compete with a pair of new Forte Koups in the 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series. The Koups will be driven by Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson in the Street Tuner class of the Koni Challenge. Kia says it chose the Kinetic Group for its experience working in NASCAR, ALMS, IndyCar and, of course, the Koni Challenge.

The front-wheel-drive Kias are based on the production Forte Koup and will be running against the likes of the Mazda MX-5, Honda Civic Si and MINI Cooper. The Kias will make their debut January 8-10 at the Grand-Am test days at Daytona and then really hit the track in anger at the end of the month for the season opener as part of the Daytona 24 Hours weekend. Will the little two-door from South Korea have the racing chops to hang with other, more experienced production-based racers? Time will tell, but it's great to see Kia hop into motorsports with both feet and choose a series where its actual cars have the potential to shine.

Gallery: Kia Forte Koup Grand-Am Koni Challenge

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series

Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea

Dan Roth — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Kia, Reviews

2010 Kia Forte SX - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not that there was much wrong with the Forte's predecessor. In fact, the last time we drove a Kia Spectra, we walked away wondering if anything more might be overkill. The Spectra was good but tended to blend in with a crowd, and Kia's not into playing the role of wallflower anymore. In contrast, the Forte boldly saunters into the middle of the dance floor, comfortable in the hot glow of the pin spot, with the confidence of Tony Manero after a trip to the tailor.

Clearly, the Kia Forte looks remarkably better than the econobox it replaces and attracts the right kind of attention to the brand. Everywhere it goes, the Forte is a surprising conversation piece, though many aren't sure exactly what it is. With Kia's value pricing, you also get a lot for your dollar. So does it have the hat trick of style, value and performance? When the key to this black Forte SX tester was pressed into the palm of our hand, we were ready to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Forte SX

Continue reading Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea

Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia prices 2010 Forte Koup at $16,595*

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Budget, Kia

2010 Kia Forte Koup - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in July, Kia announced that its two-door Forte would begin hitting dealerships across the United States later this summer. Well, that time is now, and the Korean automaker has just announced pricing on its fashionable ~~coupe~~ Koup. Pricing for the 2010 Forte Koupe will begin at $16,595, to which you can immediately add $695 for destination.

For those paying attention, that's puts the Koup a not-insignificant $2,900 over the base cost of the Forte sedan, which we found to be a credible entry into the popular compact car segment currently dominated by the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Add another grand if you'd like an automatic transmission (with just four forward ratios on the EX, sadly).

Stepping up to the SX model will cost you $17,695 to start with a manual transmission or $18,695 with a five-speed auto (plus destination) and will put a 173-hp 2.4 liter four cylinder underhood. A leather interior will add $1,000 to any trim level and a sunroof goes for $600. Click here to build your own - we added every option to our Koup and came up with an asking price of $21,505, which runs right in line with the car's intended competition.

Gallery: Kia Forte Koup

Kia prices 2010 Forte Koup at $16,595* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: First Kia Koup commercial hits the interwebs

Chris Shunk — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Kia

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Kia came strong with some good looking hardware when it introduced the production Koup in New York. The Koup is a stylish, fun-looking two-door that will likely draw the attention of the much coveted younger car buyer demographic. To seed the minds of said youngins, Kia is embarking on the prerequisite pre-launch ad blitz that starts with a single commercial.

Beyond the jump is the first commercial offering to tout the wares of the all-new Kia Koup. While the car may look ready for action, we're not quite so sure about this 30 second spot. The theme? Two. As in two doors. We kinda thought that calling the Forte-variant the Koup was more than enough of a hint for customers that it was, in fact, a coupe. On the bright side, the Koup looks as good in moving pictures as it does on the New York Auto Show. Hit the jump to judge from yourself, and let us know what you think of the ad in the comments. Thanks for the tip, Christian!

Gallery: New York: Kia Forte Koup

[Source: Paultan]

Continue reading VIDEO: First Kia Koup commercial hits the interwebs

VIDEO: First Kia Koup commercial hits the interwebs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte a compelling new compact sedan option

Drew Phillips — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Kia, First Drive

2010 Kia Forte - Click above for high-res image gallery

If there's one thing we can say about Kia, it's that it keeps making progress. In the 15 years the brand has been selling cars in the United States, South Korea's second largest auto manufacturer has increased its market share every single year. The future looks bright as well, with new vehicles like the Soul receiving rave reviews and a new billion dollar production facility set to open this year. Hoping to build on that success, Kia has launched its new 2010 Forte, replacing the Spectra that failed to stand out among cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. With a new name, a new face, upgraded powertrains and aspirations to exceed consumer expectations about the brand, can the Forte help Kia finally make its mark in the compact sedan segment? Read on to find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte a compelling new compact sedan option

First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte a compelling new compact sedan option originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Kia Forte Sedan priced from $14,390*

John Neff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Kia

2010 Kia Forte - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the ill-timed Borrego and ultra chic Soul is the new 2010 Kia Forte Sedan. This compact four-door, soon to be joined by a Koup, will replace the Spectra in Kia's line up and wind up being only a couple hundred dollars more expensive. Kia announced today that the 2010 Forte Sedan will start at $14,200 in base LX trim, which includes a delivery charge of $695. The mid-level Forte EX will start at $16,490 and the top shelf SX model will begin at $17,890.

The SX model will be the sportiest trim level and has a sport tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels and larger front brakes along with a black interior trimmed in red stitching. What really gets the Forte SX going is its 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at a healthy 173 horsepower; it's paired with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The LX and EX make do with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque that's paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Our choice would clearly be the SX, and we wouldn't necessarily be penalized at the pump with its 22 city/32 highway mpg rating. LX and EX models with the smaller 2.0-liter engine achieve a slightly better rating of 25/34 mpg, while a special Fuel Economy Package can be ordered on the EX model that includes Motor Drive Power Steering, a "smart alternator", silica tires and special aero enhancements to achieve 27/36 mpg.

Check out Kia's official press release after the jump for more info.

Gallery: 2010 Kia Forte

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading 2010 Kia Forte Sedan priced from $14,390*

2010 Kia Forte Sedan priced from $14,390* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York: Kia goes 2-door, debuts Forte Koup

Drew Phillips — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Kia

Kia Forte Koup - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the introduction of its all-new Forte compact sedan at the Chicago Auto Show in February, Kia unveiled the 2-door variant here at the New York Auto Show today. The car takes not only the name, but also plenty of styling cues from the KOUP Concept that make it distinctively different from its sedan brother. Up front the Koup receives a more aggressive design, featuring a bespoke front end with a larger lower intake and more vertical side intakes. At the rear are wider and thinner taillights with a larger rear fascia and dual exhaust tips.

Powertrains are identical to the sedan; the base EX model gets Kia's 2.0-liter inline-4 producing 156 horsepower and 144 lb-ft torque while the SX features a 2.4-liter four-banger with 173 horsepower and 168 lb-ft torque. Transmission options are a standard 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic on the EX, and a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic on the SX. Inside the Forte Koup features standard sport seats, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry and cruise control, and a leather package is an option on both models. Follow the jump for full details in the press release and check out plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: New York: Kia Forte Koup

Gallery: Kia Forte Koup

Continue reading New York: Kia goes 2-door, debuts Forte Koup

New York: Kia goes 2-door, debuts Forte Koup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Kia Forte brochure leaked

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Kia

Click above for high-res gallery of the Kia Forte

The Kia Forte has been caught out again, this time in more press photos and the official Korean-market brochure. The 2009 Spectra replacement is a looker... even if it borrows some of those looks from other vehicles. Regardless, those shapely front fenders, strong shoulder line that terminates into the A-pillar and concave space right above the sills are definitely elements not usually found in the economy car class. The car will probably come to the U.S. with a slight price bump over the $13,000 Spectra, but there'll be more power, space, and fuel economy to go with it. Check out the gallery of hi-res photos below, and if you read Korean and see anything newsworthy in the brochure feel free to let us know in the comments.

Gallery: 2009 Kia Forte Brochure

[Source: Carscoop]

Official Kia Forte brochure leaked originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stunning Kia Forte revealed!

Dan Roth — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Kia

click the picture to view a high resolution gallery of the 2009 Kia Forte

Just the other day, we were all looking at a teaser pic and speculating wildly, and now, here it is. Kia dropped official images of its Spectra successor, the Forte, on the interwebs, and it is one sharp little car. The styling that the Forte introduces is Kia's new look, from the pen of Peter Schreyer, also responsible for the first-gen New Beetle and TT. The face of the Forte combines chunkily-flared front fenders with a new corporate grille, and there's a distinctive depression down the lower part of the flanks that works well with the prominent swage line to lend a stone-hewn look to the car. The term Forte in musical notation means "play loud," but this new Kia is restrained and maturely drawn. Additionally, the two-door variant of the Forte should look even better.

While there's no new design ground being broken, the overall effect is clean and handsome, reminiscent of many other higher-end vehicles. Check out those rear lamps -- remind you of any 40-something thousand dollar luxury car? When the Forte hits Korean showrooms in August, a new four-cylinder engine will be under the hood, employing 1.6 liters of swept volume. A 2.0 liter will follow on directly, and may be the only engine we get in the US when the Forte arrives on North American highways and byways in 2009. Compared to the Spectra, the Forte looks worlds better, and even on its own, we think it looks like a million bucks. Okay, $500,000. Let the endless string of "it looks like" comments begin. Thanks for the tip, William!

Gallery: 2009 Kia Forte

[Source: The Car Blogger]

Stunning Kia Forte revealed! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Winding Road sees the (possible) future of Pentastar products

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Chrysler, Dodge

Over the past decade, Chrysler has hosted a number of college students interested in pursing a career in car design through its internship program. And while few among us haven't sketched our dream machine in the margins of our notebooks during our formative years, these students take it two steps beyond the next level. Not only do they get to intern on the project throughout the summer, they get to present their concepts to Chrysler's design team and executives at the end.

Winding Road had the opportunity to check out what these budding designers came up with, and they brought back over 30 renderings, along with details outlining everything from drivetrain components to interior elements.

The two concepts, dubbed the Chrysler Forte and Dodge Decept, are beautifully rendered and detailed here. Check it out and tell us what you think.

[Source: Winding Road]

Winding Road sees the (possible) future of Pentastar products originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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