The Kia Forte, also known as the Cerato in some countries including Australia and Brazil, has only been in the market in sedan form since 2008, with the Coupe variant following in 2009 and the five-door hatchback in 2010, but the Korean automaker is ready to move forward and present its successor.
The new generation of the Forte sedan is teased in these official renderings ahead of a launch in its home market of Korea under the new name ‘K3′(domestic market only) and possibly a U.S. debut either at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November or the Detroit Motor Show in January of 2013.
Kia said that after the Forte sedan goes on sale in Korea, it will appear in many overseas markets during the first quarter of 2013, and will be followed by the five-door hatchback and two-door coupe variants.
The company says its designers and engineers focused on giving the all-new Forte/Cerato/K3 a “futuristic and dynamic styling, with a more spacious cabin”.
The teaser images suggest that the new compact model is either based on, or heavily inspired, by the second generation of the Kia’s European market Cee’d that was revealed in five-door hatchback and station wagon trims at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March.
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