New York Auto Show: 2014 Kia Forte Koup

By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

March 27, 2013

Kia is finishing off their compact Forte lineup with the introduction of the new 2014 Forte Koup at the New York Auto Show today. The new Koup takes the Forte sedan, drops the back doors off, and borrows the front end off the new 2014 Forte 5-Door.

Like the 5-Door Forte, the 2014 Forte Koup comes with two engines,

• 2.0L four-cylinder: 173 horsepower, 154 pound-feet of torque (Standard on the EX)
  
• 1.6L turbo-four: 201 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque (Standard on the SX)
  

The 2.0L comes equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission only, while the 1.6T has the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The Forte Koup EX comes standard with sixteen-inch wheels, Kia's UVO voice recognition system, backup camera, Bluetooth, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, power windows and LED running lights and fog lights. SX models come equipped with eighteen-inch wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, revised front bumper and grille and larger rear bumper, LED taillights, larger font brakes, alloy foot pedals and various "carbon fiber-look" trim pieces inside and out.

The 2014 Forte Koup arrives sometime this winter.

Source: Kia

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.comor you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

KIA MOTORS AMERICA UNVEILS ALL-NEW TURBOCHARGED FORTE KOUP AT 2013 NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

201-HP Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine is First for Forte Koup SX

• Lower, longer and wider, the all-new Forte Koup exemplifies World-class style and sportiness
  
• Forte Koup is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2013
  

NEW YORK, March 27, 2013 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the third and final member of the completely redesigned Forte lineup when it unveiled the sleek and purposeful all-new Forte Koup at the 2013 New York Auto Show. Following the launch of the Forte sedan and Forte 5-door, the all-new two-door Forte Koup SX boasts European-inspired design and performance to match with a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injected (GDI) turbocharged four-cylinder engine putting out 201 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. As equipped, the SX is the most powerful Forte Koup ever. Sales are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013, and pricing will be announced closer to the Koup’s launch.

“The Forte Koup is arguably the sportiest vehicle in our award-winning lineup, and it has helped raise Kia’s brand awareness significantly among automotive enthusiasts,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. “Its rakish design, premium amenities and powerful turbocharged engine set it apart from the competition. With the debut of the Forte sedan and 5-door earlier this year, and now the Koup in New York, the Forte lineup has been completely revamped from top to bottom.”

Similar to its Forte 5-door sibling, the Forte Koup is offered in two trim levels, EX and SX, with two engine and transmission choices. The EX comes equipped with a 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinder engine, and the tarmac-carving SX comes standard with the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The EX comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission while the SX may be mated with either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic featuring steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Advanced Technology and Premium Features

In keeping with the rest of the Forte family, the all-new Forte Koup offers buyers an impressive list of technology and safety features. The Koup EX comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, UVO eServices with Rear Camera Display¹, Bluetooth^®2 wireless technology, SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio³, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise control buttons, FlexSteer™, tilt and telescoping steering column, power windows, and LED positioning headlights with fog lights.

The Koup SX rewards buyers with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, and LED tail lights. Forte Koup SX also offers an aggressive front fascia with larger bumper and grille openings, black gloss grille inserts, larger front brakes, alloy sport pedals, front and rear seats with carbon fiber-style accents. The lower front fascia and rear valance also feature carbon fiber-look trim pieces.

Both EX and SX trim levels offer optional HID headlights, navigation system with HD Radio™⁴, sunroof, heated steering wheel,10-way adjustable power driver’s seat, heated front seats and cooled driver’s seat, leather seating surfaces, SmartKey with push-button start, electric chromatic rearview mirror and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Continuing Kia’s Design Leadership

Created by the design studio at KMA’s corporate campus in Irvine, Calif., the Forte Koup’s sporty two-door profile, swooping roofline, and large 18-inch alloy wheels give it an athletic and aggressive stance that continues Kia’s tradition as a design leader.

The Forte Koup’s swept headlights stretch deep into the front fenders, and the raked windshield and broad shoulders give the front end a sleek, sporty appearance. LED positioning lights add a premium look to the front fascia. At the rear, LED tail lights complete the premium look of the exterior. A rear valance with twin chrome exhaust tips maintains the Forte Koup’s sporty demeanor.

Sporty Cabin with Premium Features

The interior of the Forte Koup features premium materials and soft touch points. Large, easy-to-read white-on-black gauges nestle deeply into the instrument cluster. Chrome accents around the HVAC controls and optional push-button start, along with carbon fiber-like textures on the dash and seats, add a sporty touch. A grippy leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are further evidence of the Forte Koup’s performance intentions. Class-exclusive available features such as front heated seats, an air-cooled driver’s seat and driver-selectable electric steering further set the Forte Koup apart from its two-door competition.

Dynamic Driving Experience

Utilizing a 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the SX is the most powerful Forte Koup ever. Power is seamlessly transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The GDI powerplant produces 201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,750-4,500 rpm. The advanced powertrain features double overhead cams with dual continuously variable valve timing to help improve efficiency and performance.

The Forte Koup EX comes standard with a 2.0-liter GDI powerplant producing 173 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 154 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm. During durability testing, the engines are run 300 continuous hours at redline under full load then for an additional 20 hours at 10 percent above redline under full load.

To help further improve performance, the Forte Koup features a sport-tuned suspension with a McPherson strut setup in front and a torsion beam rear design. The Koup rides on standard 205/55R-16 tires while 225/40R-18 tires are included with the SX trim for an even more sporting driving experience.