As soon as Kia placed the new K3 compact sedan at a mall in its home market of South Korea, we knew it was only a matter of time before the automaker would blow the covers or in this case, the box off the compact sedan model.

The first thing you need to know about the K3 is that it is a global model with the alphanumeric moniker used only in Korea where it goes on sale this fall.

In the first quarter of 2013, the sedan will begin arriving in North American dealerships as the 2014 Forte and in other markets as the new Cerato, with coupe and hatchback variants to follow in due time. We still do not know if Kia has plans to sell the compact saloon model in Europe.

“Longer, lower and wider than the current car, with an extended wheelbase, the next generation Forte / Cerato will be manufactured with an all-new bodyshell structure,” Kia said in a short statement leaving many details up to our imagination.

However, given its positioning in the market and the styling cues, it is believed that the K3 is based on the visually related European market Cee’d, which made its world premiere in both five-door hatchback and station wagon forms at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

We expect more information to become available within the next few weeks, if not sooner.

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