Kia has revealed that it will soon begin offering performance-focused variants of many of its staple models, all set to be adorned with a ‘GT’ badge.
The automaker current offers the punchy Pro_Cee’d GT across Europe but Kia’s performance development boss Albert Biermann revealed to Autocar that future GT models will be offered globally, giving a larger number of Kia buyers the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a model with a little bit more pizazz.
Launching first will be the Optima GT. It is set to be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine pumping out 242 hp and will also adopt some chassis and visual changes to separate it from the standard model. Soon after the Optima GT launches, the next-generation Kia Rio will receive a GT variant helping it take the fight to the Ford Fiesta GT.
While these two models have already been signed off for production, Kia is still undecided on whether to launch a Sportage GT. Biermann said that the company could create such a model but first needs to make a business case for it.
Although Kia’s forthcoming GT models could draw on technology developed by Hyundai’s N-division, Kia’s models won’t be anywhere near as track focused, instead focusing on adding thrills to regular street use.
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