At the motorshows, the journalist had some time to talk with brand executives about the new models launched at the motor show, but at the same time we can not avoid to ask about future models. Kia Motors most waited cars probably are this GT sportscoupe and a RWD two-door coupe, according to the sources, the GT will be closer than ever.
[ads id=”4″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]“Kia executives has already talked at the Paris Motor Show with Edmunds and confirmed that a showroom version of the GT concept is in Kia’s product portfolio for the U.S-market. Kia K8. This new car is expected to be a sportier sedan coming between the Kia K7 and K9 series,” the source said.
Considering the sluggish sales of the pricier K9 luxury sedan, he said the new lineup — featuring an unprecedented even-numbered model name — could bring a breath of fresh air into Kia’s K series sales.
Regarding the success of the potential new car, the source recalled the skepticism that shrouded the Avante when Hyundai introduced the model as an in-between of the Sontata and Accent models back in 1995. “But now the Avante is the best-selling car,” he said.
The “K8″ is expected to share the platform and transmission with Hyundai’s luxury sedan Genesis, while succeeding the family look of the K series, which currently consists of the K3, K5, K7 and K9. The Kia GT is the production version of the Kia GT Concept, a 390-horsepower rear-wheel-drive vehicle that was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. It is slated to arrive at U.S. Kia dealerships by the end of 2016.
The specific launch schedule of the K8 has yet to be revealed, the source said. Peter Schreyer, Kia’s former design chief and currently the head of design at both Hyundai and Kia, was the architecture behind the signature “tiger nose” radiator grill for the K series.
Although the GT is aimed primarily at the U.S. market, it will also be sold in Europe, where a diesel version will be offered. It is unlikely that the diesel model will be sold at the U.S.
