Mid-size credentials with compact executive pricing. That’s what Kia is trying to pull off with the GT RWD sedan.
Spied a great deal of times to date, the 2018 Kia GT is arguably the most anticipated product from the South Korean automaker. This time around, though, the four-door coupe has been snapped lapping the Nurburgring.
Previewed by a concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the GT is more toned down than the work of wonder from which it takes inspiration from. Be that as it may, the short front overhang, extended hood, set-back cabin, and long wheelbase are present. Even it’s heavily camouflaged, the 2018 Kia GT looks great. More than that, it looks genuinely desirable.
This, then, is a Kia developed for the more well-heeled customer and for the keen driver. If the rumor mill is to be believed, the platform on which the GT rides on is derived from the vehicle architecture of the Genesis G80. My gut feeling tells me that the Kia GT will actually be related to the Genesis G70, though. Whatever the underpinnings, it is best to consider this model as a rival for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A5 Sportback, as well as an alternative for the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A7 Sportback.
In the oily bits department, the Kia GT is expected to sing the song of its people through a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 with 390 ponies and 394 lb-ft (534 Nm) of torque. Mated to an eight-speed transmission which sends drive to the rear wheels, this engine will be offered as the range-topping option. In European specification, the 2018 Kia GT is expected to adopt a four-cylinder turbo as the entry-level powerplant. Word has it that a hybrid is also in the cards.
Codenamed CK, the 2018 Kia GT is expected to make its first public outing at the 2016 Paris Motor Show this October. Production is slated for early 2017. In the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, the Kia GT should arrive no later than the third quarter of 2017 for the 2018 model year.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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