New generation Kia Forte with aggressive look revealed before launch
Not as well known as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, but the Forte is Kia's best-selling car in the US and the new generation is due to debut this week.
The 2019 Forte has undergone many design changes, with much of its inspiration coming from the Stinger. The boxy shape of the current generation has been replaced by the sporty coupe-like swooping tail.
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New generation Kia Forte through sketch photos. The car will be launched at the Detroit Auto Show 2018 taking place from January 13 to 28. Photo:Kia. |
Before introducing the real car at the ongoing Detroit Auto Show (USA), Kia released some sketches of the next generation Forte. The signature tiger nose grille, aggressive air vents on the front bumper, sharp headlights, separate turn signals from the taillights and prominent horizontal moldings on the rear of the car.
The horizontal dashboard design is intended to create a more spacious and airy feel than its actual size. The dashboard is particularly airy, with only the separate infotainment screen and circular air-conditioning vents. The steering wheel also minimizes control buttons, while the two-tone door panels feature contrasting stitching.
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The boxy style is replaced by a bobbed tail style. Photo:Kia. |
Kia hasn’t mentioned engines yet, but the next-generation Forte could use upgraded versions of the current 2.0-liter engine. While the base model will still be a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder with 147 horsepower, higher versions could deliver up to 164 horsepower. The Forte could also add a 1.6-liter turbocharged Gamma GDI with 201 horsepower, but only in the hatchback version.
Compared to the current generation Forte, which starts at $16,800, the new generation could be a bit more expensive, at $17,500 for the base LX. The S version is higher ($20,000) and the most expensive is the EX ($22,500) before options.
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The design of the dashboard and steering wheel minimizes the control knobs. The central screen is vertical and separate from the dashboard. Photo:Kia. |
However, the images provided by Kia are only sketches, so the actual production version of the Forte will not be exactly the same. The Korean brand's popular car can retain its rugged style and some key design elements, but the details will be more practical, according toTopspeed.
The new generation Kia Forte still comes in three versions: sedan, hatchback and coupe. For the sedan, the big competitors are still the formidable duo Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. In the US, Corolla is currently priced at $18,600 for the standard version and $22,800 for the premium version, while Civic is priced from $18,900 for the standard version, $26,700 for the Touring version and the highest is the Si version at $24,100.