Kia continued to build on its aggressive pace of new product introductions on Wednesday as it revealed three models that are either new or redesigned at the New York International Auto Show.
The Korean automaker has grown rapidly in the U.S. in recent years with aggressive styling, low prices and by rapidly upgrading its models.
Today, Kia unveiled an updated Optima mid-size sedan, a two door version of the compact Forte – dubbed the Forte Koup – and a redesigned Kia Soul, its iconic boxy car advertised with hip hamsters. Executives at the upstart Korean brand readily acknowledge that the funky, angular compact Soul put Kia on the map when it was first introduced in 2009. Today, the company saved the Soul for last today in New York. The design of the 2014 Soulwas inspired by the Track'ster concept, first shown in 2012.
Kia said the new Soul has a new chassis that is stiffer, longer and wider, than the outgoing Soul.
"When the first Soul was introduced in 2009, everyone at Kia believed we had a hit on our hands, but we didn't realize how big that hit was going to be," Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications at Kia Motors America said in a statement.
Kia sold more than 115,000 Souls in 2012, a 13.2% increase over the prior year.
The refreshed 2014 Kia Soul unveiled today at the New York Auto Show.(Photo: Robert Deutsch USAT)
The Forte Koup SX two-door joins the four-door and hatchback versions of the compact Forte shown earlier this year. It starts at just under $16,000 and will go on sale in the fourth quarter. Pricing was not disclosed. The updated sedan is going on sale now and the hatch is coming this summer.
The Forte Koup's two-door allowed designers to give the car a swooping roofline.
The all-new Forte Koup SX is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The base Kia Forte EX comes with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. According to Kia, the Forte SX is the most powerful Forte Koup ever.
Kia success in the U.S. is often overlooked. Kia gained market share in the U.S. in 2012 for the 18th consecutive year.
The company sold more than 557,000 cars in the U.S. in 2012 – the most in its 18-year history here, as overall sales increased 14.9%.
But for all of Kia's brash marketing and recent growth, the brand is often overshadowed by Hyundai, its corporate sibling.
Seoul-based Hyundai owns 34% of Kia.
Globally, the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group sold about 6.5 million vehicles in 2011, making it the world's fifth-largest automaker.
With the new models unveiled today, Kia hopes to continue its sales momentum this year and beyond.
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