Just a day after we brought you a teaser shot of 2009 Kia Forte (Spectra successor), Brenda Priddy&Co. spy photographers surprised us and delievered an awesome set of spy pics showcasing Kia Forte prototype undergoing testing on US soil. The higher frequency of the appearance of Kia’s four door sedan indicates that Forte entered the final stage of testing and points at it’s nearing debut.
Despite the camo attached, it’s clear that the upcoming Kia sedan, code-named TD, takes it’s styling cues from Kia’s two door KOUP concept. The automaker’s new design language, set by automobile design guru Peter Schreyer -former Audi employee, will influence every aspect of the four door’s exterior with a clean and sporty lines.
While Kia has already cleared it’s intentions to officially launch Korean-market Forte on 21st of August, it remains unknown when precisely the new model will be hitting US dealerships. Fast spreading rumours indicate Forte will be making an official US debut at the North American International Auto Show next year and should arrive at dealerships early in 2009.
No official information is yet available about possible powerplant options that might be offered on US Kia Forte, however we can speculate that one of the likely engine trim will include the 143hp – 2.0L engine, already used in European Kia cee’d. [Source: Leftlanenews -more pics!!!]
Related link: Forte interior image
Click image to enlarge!
June 25th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Most of the people that comment on LeftLane are ignorant, stupid, and know not much about cars, the way that they keep bashing Kia.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Hey there’s a Genesis coupe parked next to it. anyone know where that regestration plate belongs?
June 26th, 2008 at 12:46 am
HOLY CRAP! I am in the same state as the new Spectra!!!! It is only…..247.07 Miles away from me!! It is in Ann Arbor, Michigan!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Are they serious 290 horses?
June 26th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Just to inform you, directly posting the spy shots is condemned by Leftlane as they purchased the copyrights for a lot of money. Next time you post spyshots, only post a cropped image and link the visitors to the original site. I’m letting you know before legal things start to come in.
William
TheCarBlogger
June 26th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Things I’ve noticed with these pictures: They appear to have removed the side indicator (originally on the fender) that you all know I love and prefer
They also have changed the tail lamp turn signals to red covered housing, rather than the clear housing (and assumed orange/ amber colored bulbs). So I guess the rear signals will be red on the USDM version, just like the USDM Hyundai Elantra (and platform sibling to the new Spectra TD). This is also a frown from Jason 
I also prefer orange/ amber colored turn signals on vehicles, though there’s no rules about that in the USA- the Amanti and Optima both have red signals (and even worse- the Optima uses the brake lamp also as a turn signal). On a different note, they have moved the aerial/ radio antenna to the top, similar to every other Kia without rear window integrated antenna (Optima, long wheel base Sedona and Amanti). I think the next generation Sorento also has the rear roof mounted antenna?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Hummm….it might be just me…but…the things you’re disgusted with mean squat to me. If this is the rig I wanted, I’d buy it. Just like Kia made it. Do you tend to want to turn your cars in to your own quasi-creation, like tuners do? I wouldn’t be surprised if you did. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! =;)
June 26th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Two questions for ya, Jason. 1) Do you signal your intention to change lanes, before changing lanes? I’d guess that you definitely do. 2) Do you, like I, notice the phenomenon sweeping across the U.S., that being this, that moronic U.S. drivers no longer feel the need to follow the driver’s guide and signal their intention to change lanes? Boris and Greg, when you start out on the highway driving, make sure you signal your intention to change lanes. We got a whole lot of dorks in America who feel no need to do just that. It’s getting worse every year. Do these people earn a paycheck? Do they not only text while they drive but talk on their cellphones whilst they drive, too? And they also buy GM products, too! Yikeess and spikeeess! They’re all around me!!!!!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 8:46 am
HOLY CRAP! I am in the same state as the new Spectra!!!!
exactly. I was doubtful at first cuz you didnt say anything about it in your first comment. but it just seems you hadnt noticed it until I gave a hint. Anyway, Jason, I think the turn indicators supossed to be on the fender is optional like on most Kias.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
http://www.kia-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/spectra-1.jpg
The plate says Michigan. There is a Hyundai-Kia Tech Center In Ann Arbor(Canton)
http://www.hatci.com/locations_MI.htm
June 26th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
It isn’t optoinal in the USA (fender signals). Manistee is the worst place for no turn signals. I hate being a pedestrian! People turn, merge, text, and call without blinking. I really don’t get the point of taking 10 minutes to text something that you could call and tell the person and be done with it in under a minute. Driving and talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous, and should be illegal, and those who are caught should get heavily fined. They did it in New York, and Canada, and now, the other 49 states (and 194 countries) need to get their lawmakers into gear!!
June 27th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Nothing better than a 2nd gen soccer mom driving a suburban and texting
June 27th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I’ve seen some horrible pics on the net of a dude who liked texting a bit too much(rammed in to a sitting semi on the freeway) and it cost him his life. Let’s just say he was split in a couple of pieces. I wished I hadn’t looked at those pics.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:55 pm
kais are fuck up
July 31st, 2010 at 11:56 pm
i hate kia pepole
July 31st, 2010 at 11:59 pm
kias souls forte forte coup sorento spetra are stupid
August 1st, 2010 at 12:02 am
kiA OR KAS THATS HOW I CALL IT ARE THE WORST CAR DEELARS SHIP EVER IN THE HISTORY OF WORST CAR DEELAR SHIP THATS WRITE AND HA
August 1st, 2010 at 12:03 am
THRERES NO SUCH THING AS HYUNDAI KIA
August 1st, 2010 at 12:05 am
HYUNDAI VANS AND KIA VANS ARE THE SAME VANS
August 1st, 2010 at 12:08 am
BY THE WAY KIAS STOLE EVERY CAR DEELERS SHIP MODELS EVER
August 1st, 2010 at 12:10 am
It’s ok! I just notified the police about the meth lab in your basement. RUN!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:10 am
KIAS SUCKS WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THATS WRITE
August 1st, 2010 at 12:12 am
IDONT HAVE LAB
August 1st, 2010 at 12:23 am
I LIVE A APARMENT AND I DONT HAVE A BASSEMENT
August 1st, 2010 at 6:00 am
JTZ, I adapted your rant to the situation – hope you don’t mind.
Why else would the Soul’s word be called a “A New Way To Roll” The Soul is a new design that that stands out.
Really? How can the 2011 Kia Optima, the first car in its class to have rear heated and cool seats, panaramic sunroof, 2.0L Turbo with more horses than the Camry, looks better than anything in and above its class, have a 10 year warranty, have an good mpg, starts under $19,000 for a base price, has 18′ rims, and will have UVO installed be one step away from a cardboard box? If that’s so, why in S. Korea is the K5/Optima outselling the Sonata for the first time? You really suck!!! If Kia is one step away from a cardboard box, why did the 2011 Kia Sorento outsell the EDGE and Equinox and the Toyota Rav4? If Kia is one step away from a box, why did HKAG outsell Honda and Toyota in Europe, Why did they outsell Ford for the first time Globally? Why because they cheap, Saturn was cheap too why did they go out of business huh? Why didn’t Daewoo do good in the states under its own badge huh? If they are cardboard boxes, why was the 2011 Kia Optima a hit at the NYAS? Why is the Sorento rated one of the best quality CUVs in its class even better than the Edge? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why is the Soul better than the 2nd generation Scion XB, Why is it outselling the Cube? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why did they build up a plant in the states? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why is it that the K7 has a bigger panoramic sunroof than the LaCrosse? Why is it that the 11′ Sportage has more panoramic sunroof than the GMC Acadia? If Kia is cardborad boxes, why isn’t Toyota no longer treated HKAG like cheap boxes? Why is Toyota now treating Kia like a serious rival then Huh? If they are cardborad boxes, why is it that they are coming out with hybrids that will have more mpg than the Toyota? If Kia ia cardborad boxes why did the Borrego have class leading mpg better than automakers who been making V8s for years? If Kia is cardbroad boxes, why is it that VW is copying kia buy making animal like front bumpers for their faces? Why did Ford design the 2012 Ford Explorer to look like the 2005 Kia Mesa? If Kia is cardborad boexes, why is it that the Forte got a 5 star rating better than the Corolla? Why is it that the Sorento is safer than the EDGE? Why is it that Kia is developing stop and start idle engines? If Kia is cardboard boxes, why is it that the K7 can out perform the Lexus ES? Why is it that the K5 can out perform the Toyota Camry? Explain that? Don’t get so defensive about the lab if in fact you don’t have one. Very suspicious. Kia doesn’t suck. YOU SUCK!
August 1st, 2010 at 6:02 am
So, how was your trip to the Kia dealership? Did you demand they sell you a car for $5,000, and they wouldn’t do it? Oh, boo, Kia must suck now.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
No problem Greg I see you needed it. The Picanto won most reliable in its class over the Toyota. If there is no suchthing as Kia who won the “Red Dot” award two years in a row? Who has a plant in West Point? Why is my ride turning heads? If there is no such thing as HKAG, why are you on here? You well really hate us Kia folks when the next Rio arrives and the RWD sedan and coupe arrives. We’ll see how u feel when HKAG gets from 5th place to 3rd place in global sales. We’ll see how u feel when the Prius will have two more rivals that not only look different but won’t look like the 3 triplets from Japan. We will see how u feel when either the Sonata or K5 dethroned the Accord or Camry in the states. You hate Kia now you really going to hate them when the bring out the new van. And speaking on Your stupid comment about the Sedona and Entourage being the same van. Ture. Just like the VW, Town N’ Country and the Caravan are the same so what’s ur point?
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:23 pm
And Kia has hundreds of dealerships from Maine to California. So how you know Kia dealerships are the worst you been to every one?
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
And don’t get me started about who’s copying I can get designs from copycats you never thought in your life copied.
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:09 pm
“BY THE WAY KIAS STOLE EVERY CAR DEELERS SHIP MODELS EVER”
This commet is the stupidest commet on this entire blog. Dealerships DON’T MAKE CARS THEY SELL THEM DUMMY!!! I don’t even have to commet on copying becuase your commet alone is so stuipd it speaks for itself. BTW, where on earth did you learn to spell?
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Guess what? Toyota had another recall, that’s its 12th recall this year. Imagine buying a Toyota back in March. So if you have an every .5 of second, plain looking, non turning heads seeing on the road Toyota, you get a letter in the mail about a recall right. So you go to the dealership to get it fixed, a week later, you got to take it back because of another recall. Then a month comes by you have to take it back because of another recall. Then another week goes by and you have to take it back to the retailer yet again. Wow, that’s a lot of time off work. Yeap that “STAR SAFETY SYSTEM” is really working. I read it was something with the Avalon’s steering. The K7 will out perform that new facelfited ugly Avalon when the Kia debuts to the states too. Speaking of the Avalon, I see in its commercial they trying to copy Kia by making the base model come with all those featuers. The K7’s standard featuers will dog the Avalon’s standard little features just like the new Sportage, Sorento, Forte, K5 are doing to their Toyota rivals.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Guess what? Nissan sold 1516 cubes. Kia sold, over 8000 Souls in the States in Julay!!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Guess what? Nissan sold 1516 cubes. Kia sold, over 8000 Souls in the States in Julay!!! I guess they do need that Nissan Juke after all. But the next Sportage is ready for that!!!
August 4th, 2010 at 2:07 am
Duh jtz, have you seen the cube. lol. Soul replaced the Forte for second place. I have another tibet for you. I heard Kia will build another vehicle in 2012 in the USA at their new plant in Georgia.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:28 am
Let’s see I did not hear that but you gave me a good hint. So it’s a 2012 huh? Cross the Sportage, K7, and K5 out the list then. So my guess is it could be the next Rio, K9 or the next van. Or it could be a next Hyundai model. I wonder what it could be? Hmmm maybe it’s a Borrego CUV to compete with the 2005 Kia Mesa oops I mean the 2012 Ford Explorer.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Guess what? Toyota and Huh-da sales are down. Maybe it’s because people are tired of over rated Toyotas. I know I am. Those Toyota commercials are stupid!! Big deal your 1987 Toyota has over 100,000 miles on it. GM, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Suzuki, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Daewoo, Saturn, and other cars have old cars that also has over 100,000 miles on U.S. roads. What does that prove? There’s a Oldmobile on the road with over 100k miles and the manufacturer died in 2004. That don’t prove nothing!!! And another thng stupid about their commercials. They interviews this man saying his friend’s car broke down so get a Toyota. WTF!!! Like Toyota didn’t just have deadly accidents because of their lack of responsibility. What when I see those commercials I’m just supposed to forget all that happened? Kia haters don’t forget how Kia was back in the Kia sephia years, why should I forget toyotas deadly recalls? Fair is fair.
August 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
What really annoys me is that the 2011 Rio is NOT available with ESC. 2012 model year vehicles are REQUIRED to have ESC. Kia is waiting until the last minute, and it is really angering me. The Rio needed ESC when it got its facelift last year – Kia is putting their Rio customers in danger.
August 8th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
theres not making 2011 rio
August 8th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
i like kia optima in black
August 8th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
and white
August 8th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
toyota has breaks problem
August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
shut up greg kais suck you suck
August 8th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
@nd by the way gerg would you say sorry and i say sorry ok
August 8th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
sorry gerg
August 9th, 2010 at 12:11 am
gerg i take back what i said about kias
August 9th, 2010 at 12:16 am
guys my favorite kia model is sorento optima forte coup in the color black
August 9th, 2010 at 12:18 am
what is your favorite kia model guys
August 9th, 2010 at 5:06 am
ok, that’s good. new K5/Optima is my favorite.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
in my neigborhood theres a kia optima sorento and a forte in my neigbor hood
August 9th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
im ment 2 optimas one black one white one black sorento one black forte
August 9th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
they use to be 2 sorentos but not anymore now theres only 1 sorento in my neigbor hood
August 9th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
there was a blue kia rio with a spoler and a hemi in my neigbor hood but not anymore gerg
August 9th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
hey greg there making the new 2011 sportage
August 9th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
and 2011 forte 5
August 9th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
greg guess what you know how you told me that you like the optima well there making the 2011 optima configurator
August 14th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
guys what your favorite kia models in what color