Kia has released a single teaser image of the all-new 2009 Spectra aka the Kia Forte.
The single image shows the front end of the new car. It is obvious that the new Spectra is taking styling cues from the KOUP Concept that was unveiled earlier this year. Every time I look at the KOUP Concept and even this teaser image I can't help but think it looks a lot like the current Civic. The new Spectra is supposed to start a new design trend for the brand.
The Kia Spectra/ Forte is set to be unveiled on August 21st.
Kia KOUP Concept:
Full Story: kia-world
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Kia KOUP Concept Unveiled with 290 Horsepower and Very Honda-Like Styling
Comments (16)
unless this is really cheaply priced, i wouldn't buy it.
Posted by 09 | June 24, 2008 5:58 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 17:58
Cow interiors are always good. Moooooo
Posted by harryo | June 24, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 18:13
Does KIA actually make a car worth a crap yet?
Do they have any sort or reliability?
Posted by zippy | June 24, 2008 7:16 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 19:16
Looks more like an Integra
Posted by splat | June 24, 2008 7:16 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 19:16
One image? What are all the other photos of?
Posted by Jung | June 24, 2008 7:43 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 19:43
looks like a civic! wow
Posted by cobaltssman | June 24, 2008 7:45 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 19:45
Kia are making car just as reliable as ford or gm.... maybe even more!
Posted by jettto | June 24, 2008 9:35 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 21:35
290hp with Hyundai/Kia reliability and warranty should put some serious pressure on the Civic SI & Cobalt SS. At least the 290hp figure shows the potential of the Turbo 4 that going to be in the Genesis Coupe.
Posted by Gary | June 24, 2008 10:40 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 22:40
Just further proof of how far behind the domestic automakers are. This is a car they wish they could make.
Posted by Eric Schmidt | June 25, 2008 2:07 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 02:07
Looks like a Civic with actual personality.
Posted by WS | June 25, 2008 6:00 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 06:00
Man all Kia does is steal design cues from other manufacturers. Hyundai is almost as bad. It's not blatant to most people but this one is really obvious. I smell a lawsuit a brewing. I do agree that it looks better than a civic.
Posted by Alysandra | June 25, 2008 6:25 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 06:25
I've owned a hyundai and my father drives a kia, both were absolutely trouble free, no costs beyond oil changes. I think after hyundai bought a chunk of kia back in '02, things started turning around for kia. they are just as reliable as anything else out there, and with the warranty they put on them, even if you got a rare problem car, it's taken care of.
whats weird is I don't know why they rip off other automaker's designs. The Genesis coupe is a pretty original design, and I think it looks great. Sonata is a great and original looking car too, and then other times 'the new spectra and genesis sedan' kia and hyundai blatantly rip off other designs. i don't get it. if you don't want to design all your cars in house, just pay pinanfarina and be done with it
Posted by akkadain | June 25, 2008 6:39 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 06:39
I wish that TR would stop posting these single image crap where you can't even make out any features on the car. It just encourages car companies to keep doing it. If we all ignore them, they'll stop doing it.
Posted by gm0n3y | June 25, 2008 11:58 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 11:58
@Alysandra
If Honda's going to sue over this, they better watch out for BMW suing over the Accord ripping off the 5 Series. I didn't realize how close the rear ends looked until I saw them next to each other at a light. Without the Honda badges someone could have easily thought it was a newer/older 5 Series.
All cars are going to share some looks since they all have to have a certain amount of head room, crumple space, storage room, passenger space, etc... This and the fact that every product ever made that is successfull has clones come out, not just cars. If there's a product with proven appeal it only makes good business sense to imitate while at the same time improving. If you only imitate you have problems as people won't have a reason to switch to the cheaper knock off. However if you can best the imitated in a couple of areas you stand to have a winner on your hands...
There aren't many non-exotic/super luxo car makers that produce 100% original looking designs.
Posted by Gary | June 25, 2008 12:41 PM
Posted on June 25, 2008 12:41
not really close to a civic.
Posted by adrian | June 26, 2008 7:27 AM
Posted on June 26, 2008 07:27
Actually it looks like a civic with a much nicer dash. I am puzzled by honda and the moves they have made on their interiors. It is like they hit a high point with the current tl and decided to make bizarre looking dashes with lots of buttons.
Posted by Mark Ross | June 30, 2008 8:18 AM
Posted on June 30, 2008 08:18