The 2010 Kia Forte, a replacement for the dull Spectra, is one the first salvos in Kia's battle to enhance its image. Perhaps the 173 HP, six-speed manual-equipped SX will find its target.
Similar to the already debuted Korean 2009 Kia Forte, the new Forte was supposed to be the new Spectra. We're guessing the company decided to move away from the name, which didn't have much of a positive reputation in this country.
Available in LX, SX or EX trim, the Forte has a leg up on its predecessor in both the style and features departments. Both the LX and EX versions get a 2.0-liter DOHC fourbanger good for 156 HP and 144 lb-ft of torque featuring CVVT. The sporty SX gets a 2.4-liter inline-four delivering 173 HP, which they claim is more powerful than the most powerful versions of the Toyota Corolla and 2010 Mazda3. Ahem, 2010 Mazdaspeed3. Boasting aside, it's a lot of power for a small Kia. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the Kia Spectra has some sleeper potential.
The list of options is fairly high for a small car, including standard Bluetooth and an audio input jack and USB port for iPod connectivity. Move up to the EX or SX packages and a six-speed system with steering wheel controls is also available. Full details in the press release below.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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