Lexuslvr91

We noted last year that Kia’s Novo concept (pictured above) could presage the brand’s entry into the four-door-coupe segment. At the time, we suggested that the car “could give the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf a real run for their money among style-minded customers.” But it looks as though Kia’s aiming beyond the Mazda 3 with its next foray into a new arena. Its sights are set on BMW’s venerable 3-series.

According to a report in Automotive News, a new sedan, code-named “CK,” is slated for production in May of 2017, meaning we’ll likely see a near-production or full-on production version this fall on the auto-show circuit, perhaps either at Paris or Los Angeles. The L.A. show would make sense, given that it’s practically the BMW’s natural habitat, and Southern California is Kia’s U.S. home.

Like the 3, the Kia will be rear-drive, making it the second RWD machine produced by the company after the rather coolly received K900 luxobarge. With Hyundai’s Genesis brand aiming for the luxosphere, Kia sees sporty style as the way forward. Allegedly, the new sports sedan will offer 2.0-, 2.2-, and 3.0-liter powerplants, presumably putting it roughly in line with BMW’s non-M models in terms of power output.

Kia is said to be targeting a volume of 60,000 examples a year, moving some Rio production to Mexico to make room for South Korean production of the new entry. Success, of course, depends on price, style, and did we mention price? Kia has done much over the past decade to shed its bargain-basement image, but taking on the 3-series is a bold move that demands a combination of attributes that nobody’s yet been able to pull together, even as BMW has been removing the attributes that once made its sports sedan a perennial 10Best Cars winner.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/get-a-r...-bmw-3-series/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

A RWD Sports Sedan in similar light to a 3-Series?! Gotta hand it to Kia, didn't see that one coming. Makes sense though, Hyundai could use the chassis for a Genesis version as well, so why not make a thriftier alternative with a long warranty. 320i drivers will have fits

mmarshall

Why not just use the platform from the Genesis coupe? .........that would be a great place to start.

Lexuslvr91

They'll likely use a new version of the Coupe's BK platform similar to how the Hyundai Genesis switched from the BH platform to its new DH platform. Currently they are using the CK code name for this new Sports Sedan that could likely be the name of the new platform.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

Front end even looks 80% identical to the current 3 series. The way the headlights flow into the grill gills. The bulging vents on the bumper. Do these guys even try?

It's a great looking design. But it's not their design. How does nobody sue these ****** yet?

Hayek

OK and it will flop miserably and you will be able to buy one in the second hand market for less than an iPad. Next!

Toys4RJill

Good looking for concept with a nice front end. Should do well.

spwolf

simplified Genesis or enlarged Genesis Coupe, same result i guess.

It makes sense of course.

I was just thinking about something when I saw latest Sportage (looks great)... they really need to rebrand KIA and Hyundai.

Just start fresh, invest a billion and move from old KIA and Hyundai logos... current logo's are way too similar to ones 15 years ago when their vehicles are bottom of the barrel. Just replace them make huge marketing campaign about it and see the sales goes up.

Right now Hyundai KIA is in big trouble (and has been for a while), with profits down, once again, they need to do something drastic. They are building nicer cars but they end up having to sell them at old prices which is dragging them down.

I remember when everyone said Hyundai will topple Toyota 10 years ago... 10 years later, their product has never been better and yet just yesterday they announced drop of sales for last quarter while Toyota announced highest profit in the history of the company once again for past 3qt.


If you are going to sell luxury KIA, you can not put same logo you put on KIA Ceed that you market everywhere in europe as cheapest car available. When you are buying $40-100k vehicles (our taxes are large, Genesis can be $100k), you are not buying just objective evaluation of cars cost/benefit factor but you are buying a brand too. Thats why they keep building better cars but yet they keep failing.

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/03/h...-china-russia/

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35406987

dseag2

Yes, it almost looks like the futuristic front end the 3 series SHOULD have if they had continued to advance their style language forward. Nice looking car!

JDR76

Awesome! Be bold, Kia!

UDel

I think it looks much better then a 3 series, at least from that pic. I may be interested in this car if it has decent rear seat room, a nice interior, and a 300hp or higher 6 cylinder that you don't have to pay 50K or more like you do with BMW and Mercedes now.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

Go see teh rear 3/4 shot of it and you will quickly change your mind. Proportions of the car look weird kinda like alof of their other products.

Lexuslvr91

This is a concept car of a FWD car pictured. This doesn't represent the RWD Sports Sedan that they plan to unveil. I found that some previous articles said the concept car pictured was a concept of the next gen Forte while others said it was merely a design study and that future Kias could draw styling cues from it.

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

Poor man's BMW ?

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Kia’s Novo concept (pictured above)