Kia News: Kia Plans On Launching GT Models Around the World

[William Maley]

Kia is planning to follow Hyundai with offering a range of performance models around the world. However, Kia isn't planning to make them as hardcore as Hyundai's upcoming N models.

 

Hyundai and Kia’s performance development boss Albert Biermann tells Autocar that Kia's GT models will differ Hyundai's N models as they aren't designed to be taken on a racetrack. This means GT models will likely not see such tech as an electronically controlled limited slip differential that will be coming on the European-market i30 N Plus. What they will see is improvements in terms of performance, handling, and looks.

 

Biermann admits that “GT is not right for all Kia models," but most of Kia's mainstream lineup will likely see a GT variant. Some of the models likely to get a GT variant include the next-generation Rio, Optima, and the next-generation ProCeed (unrelated to the Forte compact).

 

"The Ceed GT is a very balanced car, but we are a few years further down the road, and if we were to engineer it now it would have some more spice to it.”

 

Biermann also revealed that standard Kia models will get different chassis settings from their Hyundai brethren as a way to differentiate them.

 

“Kia is meant to be more emotional than Hyundai and we have to make cars that reflect that when you drive them,” said Biermann.

 

Source: Autocar

View full article

[G. David Felt]

Sounds like Kia GT line will be what Chevy did with SS on everything. I truly hope it works for them as it did not for Chevy.

[balthazar]

"Kia" and "GT" together makes me giggle.

[Suaviloquent]

Is there an inside joke we're missing?

[balthazar]

"Kia"…… and "GT".

 

The joke is 'outside'...

[G. David Felt]

"Kia" and "GT" together makes me giggle.

 Agree, a GT as a Kia just makes me laugh also as it does not fit in my head or in the real world of their auto's based on their reputation.

[Suaviloquent]

Oh you're thinking along the lines of an exotic car, you never know!

[balthazar]

Nooooo, plenty of 'regular' cars have been adorned with the 'GT' badge, but they've almost always had a performance heritage. Kia merely has a 'LCD' image.

[daves87rs]

"Kia" and "GT" together makes me giggle.

 

 

+1