Scion FR-S/Toyota FT-86 competitor from Kia to be revealed in Detroit

[FR_S_Fan]

According to the articles below seems like Kia is looking to make it's very own "halo car" and one that's said to that's suppose to be competition for the Scion FR-S, Toyota FT-86 & Subaru BRZ.

With the way the Kia brand has been growing it seems like they just could be off to a great start but I doubt they can build a car good enough to keep up with Toyota at the moment. Only time will tell!

What do you guys think about this? does Kia have the potential to build a strong competitor for the Scion FR-S?


from egmcartech:

Kia to reveal Toyota FT-86 competitor at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

We recently heard that Kia will put the Kia GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in production and that the model could show up as early as 2013.

Speaking to AutoExpress, Kia’s design director Peter Schreyer said: “I wanted to make cars I would be proud to sit in, be seen in and to drive – and Kia didn’t build cars like that before.”

Schreyer said that a production version of the GT is exactly what Kia needs to get its foot in the door. “Every company needs a halo car… The coupe market is dominated by German brands, and the GT is Kia’s first step. It’s like putting a foot in the door of the club,” he said.

According to another report by AutoExpress, Kia is expected to show a new coupe at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that would compete with the likes of the Toyota FT-86.

from autoexpress:

Kia GT exclusive

Kia design boss Peter Schreyer shows us round new GT Coupe and reveals V6 could be replaced if it makes production

The Kia that wowed the Frankfurt Motor Show has opened its doors exclusively to Auto Express. Design director Peter Schreyer was keen to show us the bold concept that he believes can help take the company in a daring new direction.

He told us: “I wanted to make cars I would be proud to sit in, be seen in and to drive – and Kia didn’t build cars like that before.”

Read our exclusive Q+A with Kia's Peter Schreyer

That’s certainly the case with the GT, which bursts with eye-catching details such as 21-inch propellor blade alloy wheels, a single-piece integrated LED tail-light and contrasting copper roof line.

Powered by a 3.3-litre turbo V6 with nearly 400bhp, the GT offers serious performance, but Schreyer believes that it would be a hit with any engine. “I think done in the right way, with a smaller engine or hybrid technology, it would work,” he explained. “It would still be fast, but return good fuel economy, too.”

Schreyer is also convinced that a production version is exactly the kind of emotional product the brand needs. “Every company needs a halo car... The coupe market is dominated by German brands, and the GT is Kia’s first step. It’s like putting a foot in the door of the club.”

Meanwhile, Kia is also sprucing up its current model line-up, with the news that the facelifted Soul will start at £12,495 when it goes on sale this week. A flagship ‘4’ version of the Cee’d hatch, with more power and a leather interior, is set to arrive, too

Kia GT concept pictures

[dboz]

Looks kick ass to me, but it will never come close to looking like this in production.

[8-SiX]

Looks kick ass to me, but it will never come close to looking like this in production.

no doubt it won't look like that come time for production but Kia has been releasing some crazy design's to the industry even at production model level, designs have been unexpected (in a good way)!

I think we need to see a Kia GT 2 door before we can say the Kia GT can be a competitor since it is a sedan

[rwdftw]

kia will never get this rolling sure it looks great but the interior is gunna look tacky i can already see it coming, + it kinda looks like the fr-s concept interior.

[import_nation]

Wood seats. Those look like the chairs they have at school. Should be quite uncomfortable haha.

[AE86]

cheap chrome interior.. if you guys are going to make a car make sure you didnt buy plastic trim from the dollar star and took wood seats from high school.. man kia you fail... as a concept car maker...

[8-SiX]

kia will never get this rolling sure it looks great but the interior is gunna look tacky i can already see it coming, + it kinda looks like the fr-s concept interior.

I have a good feeling Kia will get this car rolling, just a matter of when.

Kia is slowly but surely improving but wont be anything like Toyota anytime soon. If they release this it will be the first for the brand and a first Kia sports coupe/sedan will do them a lot of good.

no only if Kia can stop stealing design's.....

[Flat-box]

they will get it rolling, but i still believe they should focus more on their core cars, and what really sells the most.

Also yes think of their own design cues... the Kia Forte aka Kia Civic....

[FR_S_Fan]

no only if Kia can stop stealing design's.....

couldn't agree more with you.

funny enough the Kia concept posted here looks all too much like a Porsche Panamera


Kia Concept picture:


Porsche Panamera picture:

[dboz]

couldn't agree more with you.

funny enough the Kia concept posted here looks all too much like a Porsche Panamera


Kia Concept picture:


Porsche Panamera picture:

Oh I see the comparo, they both have 4 doors.

[import_nation]

haha they sort of have the same shape. I think thats where everyone is getting at.

[dboz]

Aston Martin Rapide is a better comparo for shape.

[FR_S_Fan]

Aston Martin Rapide is a better comparo for shape.

hmm....



The Rapide might be a better comparo but you can see where im getting at with the Panamera.

I just wouldn't be surprised if Kia makes a sports coupe identical to the FR-S, FT-86 or BRZ. Once Scion/Toyota releases FR-S info to the masses and once Kia see's that they will eventually have a dinky version of the FR-S lol

HOPEFULLY Kia will be original for once and make something completely original and a good competitor for the FR-S.

[dboz]

Ultimately, unless you are building an exotic, all cars seem to resemble all other cars in the same class. There is only so much you can do to a mass produced car and make it look unique.

[scion-guy]

who thinks Kia is trying too hard?
looks like they pieced together all the parts they raided from the parts bin sitting at various automotive manufacturing plants.

i doubt anyone on this forum would consider buying a Kia.