Kia Forte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kia Forte |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Kia Motors |
Also called | Kia Cerato Kia K3 (KDM) Kia Cerato Forte (Colombia & Singapore) Kia Shuma (China) Naza Forte (Malaysia) |
Production | 2008–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact Car |
Body style | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Kia Cerato Kia Spectra |
The Kia Forte, known as the K3 in South Korea, the Forte K3 or Shuma in China and Cerato Vivaro in Colombia, is a compact car produced by Kia Motors since mid-2008. It replaced the Kia Cerato/Spectra and is available in two-door coupe, four-door sedan, five-door hatchback variants.
In some markets, such as Costa Rica, Australia and Brazil, the Forte is marketed as Kia Cerato replacing its predecessor of the same name. In Colombia and Singapore, the name Cerato Forte was used for the 2nd generation, while Naza Automotive Manufacturing of Malaysia which has assembled the vehicle since 2009, began selling it there under the name Naza Forte.
Kia has stated that the Forte was specifically designed to target younger buyers attracted to sharper auto designs. The two-door coupe "Forte Koup" was originally unveiled as a concept car in the form of the "Kia Koup" on March 20, 2008 at the New York International Auto Show.
The Forte sedan was designed in Kia's California design studio. The Forte two-door ("Koup") was previewed as the "Kia Koup" Concept, and was also designed in Kia's California design studio. The Korean model went on sale on August 22, 2008. The US model was unveiled at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The Forte five-door hatchback debuted at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. In 2009, Kia unveiled the mild hybrid Forte at the Seoul Motor Show for the South Korean market.