Kia Forte Koup, Refreshed Optima Hit Big Apple
Forte SX Koups get the 1.6L turbocharged direct-injected 4-cyl. already under the hood of Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo.
March 27, 2013
Kia’s second-generation 2-door Forte Koup will get the brand’s most powerful small 4-cyl. yet when it hits U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter.
The SX-grade version of the new ’14 model snags parent Hyundai’s 1.6L turbocharged, direct-injected 4-cyl. already seen in the 3-door Hyundai Veloster Turbo.
Kia announced last month the mill also is bound for 5-door version of the ’14 Forte SX, on sale in third-quarter 2013. The ’14 Forte sedan goes on sale this month.
Kia unveiled the ’14 Forte Koup today at the New York International Auto Show.
The 1.6L DI turbo achieves the same 201 hp and 195 lb.-ft. (264 Nm) peaks as in the Veloster.
Forte Koup EX grades have the same engine as ’14 Forte EX sedans, a 2.0L DI 4-cyl., capable of 173 hp and 154 lb.-ft. (209 Nm) of torque.
The Koup is built on the same platform as the sedan and hatch, which is longer, lower and wider than the chassis of the first-gen Forte lineup that debuted in the U.S. in 2009.
The standard transmission on the EX Koup is a 6-speed automatic, while the SX comes with either a 6-speed manual or automatic with steering-wheel paddle shifters.
Standard creature comforts on EX 2-door models include Kia’s UVO eServices telematics system with rear camera, Bluetooth hands-free calling, SiriusXM satellite radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel and Kia’s FlexSteer system, with three different, driver-selectable steering settings.
The SX-grade Koup has the same features but adds sporty appearance touches such as chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes, 18-in. alloy wheels and light-emitting-diode taillights.
Both EX and SX Koups wear the same Optima-inspired face as the 4-door ’14 Forte, but the SX grille gets black-gloss inserts for a more menacing look.
The SX interior also boasts a more athletic appearance, Kia says, with carbon fiber-style seat accents.
Front-heated seats and a cooled driver’s seat are available on the ’14 Forte Koup.
Also debuting on Kia’s New York stand is a refreshed Optima midsize sedan.
Since going on sale in late 2011, the Optima has become Kia’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S., with 152,399 units sold last year, WardsAuto data shows.
The front and rear fascias have been updated, as have rear diffusers and the sedan’s trunk lid.
A larger instrument-cluster screen and optional central touchscreen are new on the inside.
Seats are fully redesigned and a blindspot detection system, with rear cross-traffic alert and parking sensors, now is optional on the sedan.
The Optima’s engines, a 2.4L DI 4-cyl., 2.0L turbocharged DI 4-cyl. and a hybrid powertrain, carry over for ’14.
New on the midsize sedan is a driver-selectable steering system Kia calls “Drive Mode Select.” Like the Forte’s FlexSteer, it adjusts steering weight, but the Optima system also controls transmission shift points.
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