Staff Writer of Autoguide.com Evan
Williams began his blog feature this week by remembering the first time he
encountered the Forte at the 2018 SEMA show. It sported a black lip spoiler and
GT badges on the seatbacks, and there was no official announcement as to the
car's origin or future until the later part of the day. Now that Evan has had a
much closer look at the incoming Forte
GT model, he first claimed that after a few lengthy spins he truly felt
that there was “no detail left untouched”.
In place of the 2.0-Liter 147 hp 4-cylinder and
CVT is a 1.6-Liter Turbo mill. This one is a favorite in the Kia and Hyundai
family, delivering 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. That finishes as 37 percent
more power and 48 percent more torque than the 2.0, and miraculously for a
compact, it gets the job done with regular gas. Instead of the CVT from the
Forte, the GT now comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch box, and while in manual
mode the car automatically switches the drive mode to sport. You can use the
paddles without pulling the shifter over, and you still maintain manual control
but the drive mode stays the same.
The testing team here on duty also reflected that
there's more to the GT than just its robust engine and gearbox and that Kia has
taken this all very seriously by replacing the twist-beam rear end with a
multi-link independent rear. The tuning for the damper and spring have been
revised as well, and makes for a pleasantly stiff ride. The brakes have also
been upgraded, with 12-inch front rotors a full inch larger than the ones found
on lower trim levels. 18-inch multi-spoke alloys with lower-profile rubber are
also on deck to round out the noticeable performance changes.
Getting out onto the road with an engine that only
had 300 miles on it, one of the first things the gang noticed on the GT package
is a louder exhaust, especially with the windows down. It was a pleasant
surprise that seemed to get a bit louder as the day went on, in unison with a
distinct whistle from the turbo from about 2,000 to 3,000 rpm. As far as
steering, the group ranked the Forte GT as “well-damped and solid”, and did a
fine job of embracing the natural rhythm of the roadway.
This is by all means not the Stinger, and
deep-seeded value plays a tremendous role here in the appeal. For the lower
price, you are still getting to enjoy most of the usual driver aids such as
forward collision warning and avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure
warning. The Forte GT is our favorite here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis in regards
to “no compromise” engineering: you get all the oomph and extra sport you
desire, without any trade-offs when it comes to ride and comfort!
