Kia Koup Concept from 2008.
It looks like Hyundai is positioning its Kia brand as a Scion fighter. They’ve just introduced the Kia Soul, with the best car commercial in a long time (the cute hamsters), which is a direct challenge to the Scion xB. At the 2009 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), Kia unveiled the Forte Koup – taking aim at the Scion tC.
Hyundai is on a major roll at the moment with the award-winning Genesis sedan and coupe, and is going after the right market segments at the right times. They are out-doing Toyota at its own game, which Toyota warned everyone of about 3 years ago. Their quality is up to par with Toyota and Honda, they have world-class designs, a top notch warranty, and they undercut the competition’s prices. Hyundai has come a long way in the last 10 years or so.
The Forte Koup is based on the Kia Koup concept from last year, and its styling doesn’t hide the fact that it’s going after the Scion tC. It will be offered with a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine producing 156HP and 144TQ, and an optional 2.4 liter powerplant with 173HP and 168TQ. Either way, just the fact that you can get it with the 6 speed manual transmission already bests the Scion’s 5 year old model.
2010 Kia Forte Koup. Look out, Scion tC! Here come the Koup.
Since Scion is getting the tC’s replacement ready in early 2010, as a 2011 model, we are looking at quite a battle between these two automakers come first quarter of 2010. With similar vehicles going after similar demographics, it’ll come down to styling and pricing. Scion will keep its all-new tCÂ in the high $17k range or low $18k, and Kia has not announced pricing on the Forte Koup – but expect Kia to undercut Scion by about $2,000 or so. A full test of the Kia Forte Koup will be available as soon as we get our grubby hands on it.
-KF
