A few months after being spied wearing its production body, Kia’s forthcoming rear-wheel drive sports sedan has leaked online thanks to Kia World.
The single image above shows the Korean version of the car, dubbed the K8, without any camouflage and fresh off the production line, apparently in pre-production guise. Codenamed CK, the model’s design has been inspired by the GT Concept of 2011 and while the similarities between the pair appear minimal, the roofline of the production model strongly resembles the concept as do the edge of the taillights which stretch along the rear quarter panels.
Beneath the skin, the model is expected to receive the same 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 as the Genesis G80, with over 365 hp on tap. That engine will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard but a manual could be offered. A 2.0-liter, turbocharged variant is also expected to be added to the range.
Kia’s new sports sedan, potentially dubbed the GT, looks primed to occupy an interesting place in the market. It appears to be similar in size to the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe but could cost less than the smaller 4-Series Gran Coupe. If that’s the case, it could prove a real winner for the brand.
A launch date in 2017 as a 2018 model seems probable.
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