Kia is getting ready to expand it’s line-up with the company’s first ever coupe model! The upcoming two-door coupe will reportedly be based on Kia KOUP concept, which was first shown at New York Auto Show a couple of months ago.
Early next year, Kia will be replacing its Spectra with a new sporty sedan -named Forte, and within a couple of months, the production version of Kia KOUP concept will emerge. Automotivenews.com today reported that the coupe will be used to replace the 5-door Spectra hatchback, which hasn’t proven to be the best seller on the U.S. market.
The debut of the company’s first ever 2-door coupe was already hinted by many Kia officials during the press days of 2008 New York Auto Show and more so after the company received an overwhelming response and numerous inquiries as to the viability of KOUP finding its way for production.
When the new sedan and coupe models bow in 2009, they will be renamed to Forte sedan and possibly, the Forte coupe. According to Lee Hyun-soon, president of Kia-Hyundai research and development division, the upcoming Kia models will not retain the Spectra name.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Live from New York auto show. The 2010 Kia Forte Koup debuts!!!
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June 30th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
BINGO!!! well of course they’d move it to the production lines. I knew it. well good bye to the hatch then. I found an article mentioning that this new TD will not be called spectra. So it could be called Forte Coupe!
July 1st, 2008 at 1:42 am
Yes Boris, me too… right above your post lol~
Still won’t win me over cos the Soul is much more appealing to me… when I think of it, its logical that they got rid of the hatchback as they will have too many when they introduce the Soul… yeah~
July 1st, 2008 at 3:34 am
Now is it pronounced Forte as fort or Forte like For-tae? I’m thinking it’s For-tae. Someone correct me.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:40 am
JTZ, I think you are right, that is the way I have interpreted the pronunciation of it, just like the E is used in cafe, caf-ae.
As for the car, BRILLIANT!!! So glad this will go into production, but what are the chances of it coming to Australia.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:36 am
oh. my. god. i can’t believe it! i had my hopes but i was doubting they’d ACTUALLY do it! holy crap i’m ecstatic! There better be spy shots & release dates SOON! (please?)
Ps - i’m getting one in lime green with a nav. it better come in the lime color we saw the first spy shots of spectra/forte in. ever since i’ve vowed to own a kia in green.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:17 am
I dunno about the nav tho… might have to get an in-dash aftermarket unit… its pronounced Forté. Americans just pronounce things without the e often… just like Coupe with the e emphasized. Thats why I didn’t like the name KOUP. It should have been KOUPE or something~
July 1st, 2008 at 8:52 am
why wouldn’t it have nav? the sedan is going to… if kia wants to compete truly, they’ll do it. JD just named the nav a must-have (sort of like whats “in style” with fashion, yes i’m in the industry) & to truly compete with the likes of the Civic, tC & now corolla… they’ll need it. Kia’s not stupid, it’ll have it. I’m betting for paddle shifters as well, among other things.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
i assume its pronounced fort-ae just like Mohav-ae
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 am
[…] Confirmed: Kia KOUP -the two door Kia Forte- will be ready for production in 2009 | Kia Forums and K… […]
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
depending on the chassis tuning and available transmissions, this very well may be the vehicle that takes daily driving duty away from my tiburon.
i’m very eager to see the production model in the flesh. there’s so much potential for the vehicle, especially now that more and more people are switching to more economical car. 2door cars may no longer be as much of a niche market as they used to be.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
When oh when will they be released- do not male me break into kia plant to see it