Several years after debuting the GT sports car concept, Kia will likely introduce a final production model at the Paris motor show this year before the car heads to production in 2017. But that's not the only new car in store for the GT lineup, which will also include a high-performance Rio GT, according to a report fromAutocar.
0:00 / 0:00
The Kia Rio GT will reportedly launch around 2018 and will compete squarely against the Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch. The model will sit on a new platform that saves weight and offers improved driving dynamics. It's likely that the car will receive a 1.6-liter engine with output of around 180 hp.
In comparison, the U.S.-spec 2016 Fiesta ST achieves 197 hp from its standard 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. As of now, the Fiesta ST has relatively few competitors here, including the Mini Cooper S.
As for the rest of the Kia GT lineup? The automaker has already unleashed the Procee'd GT and Optima GT. The Kia GT, however, will remain the halo car in the lineup and should blend design elements from the GT four-door concept and the Stinger compact coupe concept when it goes to production. With these new models, Kia is aggressively pushing its sporting image, while Hyundai moves towards the luxury end of the spectrum with its new Genesis brand for global markets.
Source: Autocar
Pictured above is the Kia GT Concept.
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
Read More
