The highly anticipated two-door sports car from Kia, called the Forte Koup will be launched in the US market in late summer according to latest report from Kia and will join Kia Motors America line-up as the company’s first-ever two-door coupe.

Based on the same platform as the four-door Forte sedan, the Koup will be available in two trim levels (EX and SX) and will offer a variety of engine and transmission options. Base Forte Koup EX will be powered by a 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine which features continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection and churns out 156 horsepower.

The 2010 Forte Koup SX variant will feature an upgraded 2.4L four-cylinder Theta engine, which also features CVVT technology and produces a class-leading 173 horsepower!

Transmission options in the 2010 Kia Forte Koup will include four different transmission options. As standard, there will be a five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive for EX models. Higher-end Forte Koup SX models will be available with either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed Sportsmatic transmission.

According to Kia, the Forte Koup body is 2.4 inches lower and 2.0 inches shorter than its sedan sibling, but with the same wheelbase as Forte sedan, Koup provides comfortable seating for up to five passengers.

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Kia has next generation Amanti sedan in the works. Expected to be built on the RWD platform and hit the market in 2011!

According to latest news at Motor Trend website, Kia is going to switch the platform of its next generation Amanti flagship from front-wheel-drive to rear wheel drive! The replacement for Amanti sedan, which will sit on the Genesis’ platform, is not expected to reach the US shores before 2010.

Motor Trend expects new Amanti to be slightly smaller in size compared to Hyundai Genesis sedan and will also miss the V8 power. Instead, Kia is likely going to use an updated 3.8L Lambda V6. Motor Trend also states Kia will also use a 2.0L turbo engine in the 2011 Amanti, which is, in my opinion very unlikely.

The 2.0L four-cylinder engines are not appropriate for large sized cars. Not only they lack the power and torque, but also the refinement of V6s and V8s. Have you ever seen a Bimmer 7-series with 2.0L four banger?… Well, I thought so. It is possible, however that we are going to see some engine downsizing. As you know automakers have been replacing large V8 engines with smaller V6 turbo engines or even smaller engines with bi-turbo technology.

As far as I know, Kia and Hyundai have developed a range of highly advanced GDI – gasoline direct injection engines with displacements from 1.6L to 2.4L and the 2.4L four-cylinder engine is the sole four-banger that is appropriate for next Amanti (IMHO).

Next generation Amanti is expected to hit the market in 2011 and will for sure be one of the highlights in Kias vehicle line-up. As every latest Kia model, the new Amanti will sport a very dynamic and sophisticated exterior look, while its new rear-wheel-drive platform should provide sporty and agile handling characteristics.

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My name is Jamayl (Ja-mail) but many know me as JTZ.  I recently traded in my 2004 Kia Optima for a 2010 Kia Forte and love every bit of it.  I find the Forte to be stylish, roomy, and have features I still have to get used too.

Even though this is my third Kia, the Forte is my first to actually have style.  It has a muscular look to it in the front, side and rear.  The style not only satisfies me but it draws reactions around others on the road as well.

For example, Kia owners on the road give me thumbs up or smile.  In fact, when I test drove this car, a black Kia Spectra was next to me full of four young adults.  One of the guys in the back touched the driver on the shoulder to let him know that there was a Forte right next to him.

When he saw it, he first slowed down and gotten behind me so he could see the back.  Then, he drove next to me in the next lane. They all looked toward my car. And one of them rolled the window down and stuck his hand out cheering me on. A few intersections later, the black Spectra had taken off with tremendous speed just after loud music was heard from the black car.

Also, there was one time I was making a left turn on a green light.  I drove up to the intersection so that I can have a guaranteed left turn regardless if the light turns red or not.  The car that was on the other side making their left turn was the last generation Scion XB.

The driver gave me an envious look.  I could imagine him seeing my Kia with the Audi like headlights, Kia’s new face and muscular look with the left turn signals from the headlight and on the mirror blinking on and off on and off giving off more attention.

He hurriedly made his left turn because he couldn’t stand to see what he saw; as a result, after my positive response from the guy with the Spectra and now this, I knew that I was not the only one that was turned on by the Forte’s attractions.  I smiled thinking to myself, Boy if this brings this much attention on the road, how will people react when they see Kia Forte Koups?

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Sales of Kia cars in the States decreases 5 percent in June 2009. Kia Optima and Rio post the largest gains, with sales increasing 57 percent and 47 percent respectively. Kia Soul continues to perform well  

Kia Motors America today released monthly sales report for June 2009, which reveals the company has experienced a 5 percent sales decrease when compared with the same month a year earlier.

Total new-Kia-vehicle sales for June slid to 26,845 units from 28,292 units sold last year, while its year-to-date sales stand at 147,404 units. Among Kia cars that experienced the most significant month-over-month increases were Kia Optima and the sub-compact Rio with sales increasing 57 percent and 46.9 percent respectively.

In addition to healthy Optima and Rio sales, Sportage recorded strong sales of 6,267 units in June, a 42.1-percent increase over May sales of 4,409. With sales of 2,811 units, Kia Soul crossover continues to perform very well in the US market.

Kia Motors is in the midst of a design-led evolution that is continued by the recent launch of the Forte compact sedan in June, followed closely by the Forte Koup, Kia Motors’ first-ever two-door coupe, which is set to hit Kia retailers later this summer. The strikingly styled Denim Soul special edition also was launched in June with more special editions rolling out throughout the year, giving consumers a unique alternative for even more personalization options available at a tremendous value.

First pictures of the 2011 Kia Sportage, codenamed SL, undergoing durability testing. Next generation Sportage scheduled to make official debut in February 2010.

Autospies have managed to catch the 2011 Kia Sportage while undergoing hot-weather testing on the US soil. Unlike our previous set of spy shots, these latest images reveal more details about the Sportage’s completely redesigned exterior.

While many details are still kept safe and very well hidden from our eyes, it’s clear the 2011 Kia Sportage will feature a sportier and much more exciting exterior design than the outgoing model. It also appears the new Sportage will bear a strong family resemblance to Kia’s new Sorento crossover and is going to adopt many styling elements from latest Kia concept cars.

Codenamed SL, the 2011 Sportage will be introduced with a wide range of four-cylinder engines including a host of technically updated gasoline engines as well as new 2.0L R-diesel engine with 184 horsepower. Mated to these engines will be a six-speed manual transmission or for the first time, a brand new six-speed automatic, co-developed between Hyundai and Kia.

The next-generation Kia Sportage has been scheduled to make its official home debut in February 2010. Following its Korean debut, the new Sportage is expected to arrive Stateside towards the middle of 2010, and will go on sale as a 2011 model.

The 2011 Sportage will compete in the compact crossover category and as such will go up against the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan and other models in the segment.

You can see more spy shots of the upcoming 2011 Kia Sportage at Leftlane website. Follow the link to see them all… [Autovandaag]