Kia News: Kia Teases The Next Forte

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

July 24, 2012

Remember the sketch of the next Kia Forte that was shown last December? Well, Kia has officially shown their sketches of the next Forte.

In the sketches, the next Forte takes many of the styling cues seen on the Optima and Sportage, albeit a bit more rounded. Also, the Forte adopts a set of teardrop headlights and a revised C-Pillar.

Kia says the the Forte will go on sale later this year in South Korea as the K3. Other markets will follow there after, where it will be known as the Cerato. The U.S. will get the Forte sometime early next year, as a 2014 model.

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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Dynamic new look for Kia's popular Cerato (Forte)

- Completely redesigned compact sedan will be longer, lower and wider

- New model to be called 'K3' in the Korean market

(SEOUL) July 23, 2012 – Kia Motors will introduce the next generation Cerato compact sedan later this year in its home market of Korea under a new name – 'K3' (domestic market only). Also known as Forte in some countries, the Cerato was Kia's global best-seller in 2011 with more than 445,000 units delivered.

While creating the latest model Kia's designers and engineers focused on giving the all-new Cerato futuristic and dynamic styling, with a more spacious cabin.

After going on sale in Korea, the all-new Cerato sedan will appear at Kia dealerships in many overseas markets during the first quarter of 2013, to be followed by five-door hatchback and two-door coupe variants.

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[A Horse With No Name]

I think Honda and Toyota are getting further behind...the new Forte (current model) really kicks the butt of the current Civic...thsi new design should IMHO just push Honda further behind.

Toyota isn't really even in the small car race in terms of desirability, IMHO. corolla is really bland and TC is one of the worst "sport compacts" available...

[G. David Felt]

I think Honda and Toyota are getting further behind...the new Forte (current model) really kicks the butt of the current Civic...thsi new design should IMHO just push Honda further behind. Toyota isn't really even in the small car race in terms of desirability, IMHO. corolla is really bland and TC is one of the worst "sport compacts" available...

I would totally agree with you that Honda and Toyota have fallen far behind. Be interesting to see what the next few years do for the auto industry.

[Drew Dowdell]

What's wrong with the TC?

[daves87rs]

What's wrong with the TC?

Not much.....dead to most of the turner crowd, most of the only people who bought it. Drives nice, just getting bland...

[loki]

about the tC - a niche car getting out of it's niche requires something...."un-scion" and more "toyota". before the subaru-scion the tc was the best looking one, though i've ridden in an xB... comfortable for me being 6'2.. any seat you have plenty of leg room.

be interesting how sporty the forte will be., looks decent.

[ocnblu]

I really like the current tC, I think it looks suitably serious and macho. The Concrete gray color is my favorite.

There is nothing I can glean from these Forte photos, except to say they're clearly exaggerated renderings similar to what we've seen for other cars, only to be disappointed when the real thing shows up.

Edited July 26, 2012 by ocnblu