The smarter and more powerful twin of the Forte
carries on the car's solid tradition of good looks, but adds an even more
aggressive stance and vibe to the standard version. Expected to make its debut
at the Detroit Motor Show early next year, the folks on staff at Topspeed.com
offered up a feature about the car's finer points this past week, and
the various reasons there are to be wowed over this awesome display of prime
engineering and development.
Next year's model comes equipped with a new black
grill sporting red accents, gloss-black mirrors, brand-new side skirts, and new
rear spoiler. Ask us here at Jim Butler
Kia of St Louis about adding the 18-inch Michelin Sport summer tires: they
give a ferocious visual boost to the car's proportion, and provide the means
for easily traversing through the winding roads of the blissful warm season.
Inside, the Forte GT gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats with extra bolstering,
and brand-new and responsive floor pedals.
There are two trims slated for availability: the
GT1 and GT2. The latter is decked out with ambient lighting and a sunroof, a
definite step up and luxurious higher-end choice. The GT will be equipped with
features like a rearview camera, heated front seats, automatic climate control,
and Kia's UVO Infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Once seated, the experienced staff at Topspeed.com all agreed
that it was incredibly cozy, and the all-important NVH levels are very
well-controlled.
For 2020, the Forte
GT replaces the 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated 4-cylinder with a 1.6-liter
turbocharged engine producing 201 horsepower, and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is
the same setup that you'll find on the Hyundai Elantra Sport, as well as the GT
Sport. You'll have a choice of six-speed manual transmission, or a 7-speed
automatic transmission with paddle shifters. We are more than excited about the
manual: far too many current models are passing up this awesome and not
entirely old-school means of shifting that really glues together the aspirating
and thrilling connection between driver and road.
When you come to visit us for a post-holiday test
drive, check out the sports-tuned dual exhaust system: some cars just don't
possess the note that the Forte
does: there is nothing quite like hearing the raw power idle that you are
getting ready to dig in and take a bite out of, while the open road of
challenges awaits! Top-notch safety features, the best tech offerings
industry-wide, and the promise of an exciting daily driver are all features the
Forte possesses, an excellent selection for your next sedan-in-the-making!
