Sporty Forte replacement has a fastback tail and rear door handle in the C-pillar, plus a combined dashboard and infotainment screen
https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/
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by Chris Chilton
4 hours ago
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Kia, like every other automaker, has been pushing the SUV angle hard in recent years, but these images prove that despite it giving the Stinger the chop in 2022, the Korean carmaker still thinks there’s a demand for sedans. And there might be a particularly healthy demand for this sedan if it looks as good underneath its disguise as its svelte coupe-like silhouette suggests it might.
We’ve already spied the next Rio testing, but these spy shots show a bigger car that we think is the new Forte. Don’t be surprised if that name is absent when the camo comes off later this year though. We hear that Kia might rechristen it K4 – a badge previously used in China – bringing it in line with the brand’s latest alphanumeric naming strategy.
Like the Rio prototype we mentioned earlier, this Forte has a sporty fastback roofline and a waistline that gently rises as it moves towards the rear, creating a fish-shaped window area in the side profile. We expect the K4 to offer around 4 inches (100 mm) of additional wheelbase, presuming Kia maintains the size difference between the Rio (which might be rebadged K3) and this Forte replacement.
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Another difference between the two is the rear door handle treatment. While the next Rio (and the current Forte) have handles placed in a conventional location in the upper portion of the rear door skins, the K4’s handle is moved up to the door frame adjacent to the C-pillar, adding to the coupe vibe.
The pictures show that the rear lights are an inverted L shape, as are the front DRLs, and while the camo prevents us seeing what’s going on between each set, we imagine there’ll be a full-width light bar at the front and a partial one at the rear. Inside, expect a long, slender screen that merges digital gauge duties with the infotainment system, while the powertrain lineup will likely consist of four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engines, at least one of which will offer plug-in capability for some markets.
When’s it coming to the U.S.? The current facelifted version of the Forte premiered in June 2021 so our guess is the K4 will turn up in the middle of 2024 ready for the 2025 model year.
