Kia Motors America Unveils All-New Turbocharged Forte Koup At 2013 New York Auto Show

NEW YORK, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59966-kia-motors-america-turbocharged-forte-koup-at-2013-new-york-auto-show

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130327/MM83405 )

"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.

Kia:  One of the World's Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands

Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time.  With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.  Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013.  Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs.  The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA.  In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year.  Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. 

¹ The Rear-Camera Display is not a substitute for proper and safe backing-up procedures.  The Rear-Camera Display may not display every object behind the vehicle.  Always drive safely and use caution when backing up.
² The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kia is under license.  Other trademarks and tradenames are those of their respective owners. A compatible Bluetooth® wireless technology enabled cell phone is required to use Bluetooth® wireless technology.
³ Sirius services require subscriptions, sold separately after 3-month trial included with vehicle purchase/lease. Subscriptions governed by SiriusXM Customer Agreement at siriusxm.com© 2011 SiriusXM Radio Inc. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SiriusXM Radio Inc.
⁴ HD Radio and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corporation.

SOURCE Kia Motors America