Kia officially launched the K3 Forte

Kia has officially launched the replacement for its popular Cerato/Forte in its homeland South Korea, where it will be simply called K3. The exterior photos were released back in July, covered by MMN HERE. So, today for the first time there are details on the dimension, engine choice and the equipment level, at least for the domestic South Korea market.

Styling-wise, the new K3 Forte builds on the same fundamental design characteristic based on the Optima K5. While the silhouette remains similar to its bigger brother, the details are less flamboyantly executed. It is more relaxing to be stared, having none of the feeling on being stared back by the car like the Optima. The front end is dominated by the large wraparound headlight, with prominent LED strips eyelid (This will not feature is the low line car, captured HERE). The side profile can be described as quite rakish, similar to its platform-sibling Hyundai Elantra (MMN Test Drive HERE). Consistent with design theme at the front, the rear end is characterized by large wraparound taillights too, where LED is featured on the more expensive version.

Dimensionally, the new Forte measures 4,560mm long, 1,780mm wide and 1,435mm tall, while riding on a 2,700mm wheelbase. The current Forte measures 4,530mm, 1,775mm, 1,465mm and 2,650mm in similar sequence of dimension, making the new Forte larger in terms of length, width but at a lowered height. The wheelbase stretches 50mm more too, which should translates into more spacious cabin volume.

In its domestic market, Kia K3 is offered only in a single powertrain option, namely 1.6L GDI. It produced 140PS@6,300rpm of power and 167Nm@4,850mm of torque. Bear in mind though that this mill is different from we are seeing the Hyundai Elantra here, which is port injected instead of direct injection and produced a good less output than the more modern Korean unit. Transmission option comprises of 6 speed automatic or 6 speed manual. Both comes with the ISG, essential a idle stop/go device to boost economy. To further boost fuel efficiency, Kia also work hard on aerodynamics front. K3 has a drag coefficient of 0.27, thanks to various measures of aero-optimized design including the covered underbody.

Kia has suitably updates the interior design too, albeit it is unmistakeably Forte. It is less driver-oriented that the layout of Optima K5, and the dashboard and console cocoon less too due to lack to high floor console and angled console like its bigger brother. It is also more restrained that its European twin, the Cee'd. The layout is characterized by symmetrical centre console with vertical air vents and the audio system does carry some design cues from the current Forte. Depending on the spesification, the audio can either be basic or comes equipped with the touch screen multimedia integrated with sat-nav. Both manual and automatic air-conditioning are available, again depending on trim level.

The cabin is available in several color, including the dark and bright choice. Leather and fabric are the trim of choice, upholstered according to the domestic specs. The door trim is visibly more luxurious in the design, with patterned-with-stitch leather insert as well as padded door arm rest. Kia's new C Segment also has another trump card of having the rear air cond duct, something that is always missing from the C Segment sedan. It is nice to note that while the Malaysian Elantra does not comes with the rear air cond outlet, the Indian version does comes with it. 

From what that can be gathered from the official photos, the interior is well-garnished. The switch-gear is aesthetically pleasing, with chromed insert in between. The gas pedal, not unlike Optima, is floor-hinged organ type. So, unlike some Japanese marque, there is no obvious cost cutting measures that is detectable by mere photograph.

In South Korea, the new Kia K3 is available in several trim level with one powertrain option. The domestic price starts from W14.92m to W19.39 and this represents at least W310,000 increased from its predecessor. More photos of the features on the new Kia Forte K3 can be have after the jump.

Kia Forte base model spotted in South Korea

After the typical unveiled of the highest specification and a series of glitzy studio shots of probably the most expensive variant, the base spec version of the new Forte K3 now spotted in South Korea. Among the main differences are the deletion of a string of LED DRL eyelid, no fog lights, smaller wheel (steel with plastic cap) and, wait for it, a totally different rear light minus the fancy LED strip lighting. These kind of transform the look quite significantly. What do you think?

Note the headlight "eyelid" without LEDs and no fog lamp. The side profile looks a bit bland with the tiny set of wheels. Glass house is as swoopy as the new Civic, but with an added panache of multi-contoured side panel.

Take a look at the rear light, and compared it with the launch version HERE. Some more photos after the jump.

2013 Kia Forte fully revealed - studio pics

The official studio photos of the exterior of the much awaited Kia Forte has been revealed. Consistent with its cousin, Elantra, the new Forte is more rakish in appearance. The A and C pillars are deeply angled, the body surfacing is richer in elements and the overall appearance is slightly flamboyant, if not overtly flashy like its bigger brother the K5.

What say you?Still want that Honda Civic? The only bad thing is that the previous Forte took more than a year to reach Malaysian shore, albeit in the rebadged and locally assembled form. Will this one be the same? 

2013 Kia Forte/K3 - new front shot

Just a solitary shot of the new Kia Forte, front angle.

It continues to impress. Sourced from HERE.

Next Kia Forte scooped with interior photos

The new Kia Forte is set to unleash a splash of style in the crowded C Segment. While the new Honda Civic goes formal, and sibling Elantra goes outlandish, the new Forte will ditched the current model boxy look in favor of a more intricately curvaceous skin.

The new Forte sits on the C Segment platform shared with the new Hyundai Elantra. So, the dimensions should be more or less similar to the Elantra, meaning that a slightly longer at 2,700mm and overall length of 4,530mm. It is refreshing to see that the new Forte is not outlandishly styled like the Optima K5. Instead the execution of Kia corporate face here is more subdued and pleasing to the eye. The interaction between the grille and the headlight is not as intense as its bigger brother. The intricate inner detailing of headlight remains though, as can be seen with the LED eye lid here.

The rear end adopts a wrap-around rear light with intricate inner detailing. While some Japanese maker has ditched the LED insertion for the rear light and decide to go spartan, Kia however clearly give their all. No expense spared here. It even has a slight Audi-ish in the way the illumination is set.

The current generation of Forte is powered by a choice of 1.6L Gamma (124PS/156Nm) or 2.0L Theta II (156PS/194Nm), both mated to 6 speed automatic transmission. For the new model however, expect some overlap with the Hyundai Elantra powertrain, including the 1.8L version punching out 150PS and 178Nm of power and torque respectively. 

The cabin is not as radical as the Kia Optima K5 with its heavily driver oriented centre console (same with the new Kia Cee'd), the new Forte is kind a refinement from the current model. The vertical aircond ducts are retained while the whole centre and floor console has been tidied up. Some more photos after the jump, including the official sketch from Kia.

How's the new Kia Forte taking shape?

The next generation Kia Forte K3 is coming soon. Always dubbed as the 2013 Forte, this means that the introduction won't be that far as the MY nomenclature switched year in June. Looking at the spyshots of the new Forte, we can be assured that it will adopt the new Kia design language, which combines the sleek rakish Hyundai silhouette with harder-edged detailing. 

The new Forte is expected to retain the current length of 4,530mm (similar to the new Elantra), and since it shares the Elantra platfrom, wheelbase is expected to grow to 2,700mm too. From the spyshot above, it is clear that the new Forte shares the same cab-forward stance at the new Elantra, depicted by the placement of A-pillar root.

The current generation of Forte is powered by a choice of 1.6L Gamma (124PS/156Nm) or 2.0L Theta II (156PS/194Nm), both mated to 6 speed automatic transmission. For the new model however, expect some overlap with the Hyundai Elantra powertrain, including the 1.8L version punching out 150PS and 178Nm of power and torque respectively.

Some of the important styling cues of the new Forte has been spied, including the shape of the headlamp, rear end fascia and some interior bits. These clearly show that the new Forte has moved away from the staid formal look (which MMN deemed is much better resolved than Proton Preve, which tries too hard to be Forte competitor) to a more svelte-looking creatures. The headlamp is more swept back, and features an intricate inner edge leading to the upper radiator grille. The said grille bears some resemblance with the K5 and K9 model in its width. The rear end is adorned with wrap-around tail light, jointed together by a chrome strip.

More photos after the jump.

Kia Forte 2013 spyshot

Kia/Naza Forte still feels fresh as new, as it was introduced to our shore only in late 2009. It has been in the international market for quite sometimes at that particular time. No surprise that after slightly more than a year with us, a revamped version with 6 speed auto transmission has already been introduced, together with some mild facelift.

Now, a replacement model has been spotted testing, with camouflaged. The current car actually sits on outgoing Hyundai Elantra/Avante platform, meaning that it is already outdated as the new Elantra already on sale right now. The new model is similar in length as before at 4530mm, while the wheelbase is 50mm longer at 2700mm. This put it exactly the same size as the new Elantra. The LED tail lamps is standard, as well as 18 inches wheel, one up from current Forte.

At the front, the car is described to have a heavily contoured hood, with very pronounced pleat on the surface.The headlight too, is described as very shapely like the new Optima, but with "pan handle" protrusion joining the now customary tiger grille. The tail light too, is Optima like, with strong stretchy like design with some reminiscent of Audi A4/Q5 design, with character line joining both side of lights. Enjoy the photos after the jump, copyrighted by KGP.