Forte gets uprated with 6-speed auto
At the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show last year, Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, chief operating officer of Naza Kia Malaysia, promised us that 2011 will be a very busy year for his company, and we would be meeting him and his team very frequently throughout the year.
The long year will kick start for them on 3 March 2011, with the simultaneous launch of the Forte Koup and Forte 6-Speed sedan. Enhanced with even more features than before, the Forte 6-Speed sedan will continue to be offered in three variants – 1.6EX, 1.6SX, and 2.0SX. Prices have not been mentioned.
Already generously equipped to start with, the Forte 6-Speed adds, for the SX variants, Bluetooth connectivity and a rear view camera to its burgeoning list of equipment. The 6-speed auto transmission also features manual overriding, with steering-mounted paddle shifters thrown in for, you guessed it, the SX models. Visually, the new Forte 6-Speed can be differentiated from the original with a new grille design and side mirror-mounted LED blinkers.
“Both the Forte Koup and Forte 6-Speed will further enhance the Kia brand in the market. The new Forte Koup showcases performance-inspired, aggressive and smooth styling and we believe it will be a hit in the market.
“As for the Forte 6-Speed, a great car just got better. It now features a range of premium features that will make it even more competitive in its segment. To-date, we have sold 5,781 units of the Forte since its launch in November 2009 and we are confident sales will increase following the launch of the Forte 6-Speed,” said Datuk Syed Hafiz.
The Forte Koup is a bit long-overdue, but its late arrival means that it would be shipped in with the new 6-speed transmission as well, and powering it is the 2.0-litre Theta-II engine producing 156hp and 194Nm. Like the sedan SX variants, the Forte Koup gets steering-mounted paddle shifters as well. Additional goodies thrown in include auto climate control, sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity, push-start, and 6-CD changer with iPod connectivity.
Pictures: Official Naza-Kia release.
