Kia’s mission to move away from bland design and make its vehicles some of the most distinctive on the road has given us traffic-stoppers like the K9 and EV6. But will the new K3, seen here in this single teaser image released today, be as brave?
The dark image shows a close-up of an LED taillight with a distinctive signature plus a horizontal LED bar that presumably connects it to the taillight on the opposite side. But beyond the lighting pattern, the picture gives little away about the car itself.
Kia says the all-new K3 sedan will be revealed on August 8, claiming that it’s a “unique milestone” for the company and “combines sophisticated design and a spacious interior, redefining market segments and drawing attention from upper-segment buyers.”
That’s all well and good, but what exactly is it? Well, K3 is a name currently used in some markets for the car others know as the Forte or Cerato, but that car was only launched in 2018, so it’s unlikely to be getting junked this early in its life cycle. The current Rio, however, was first seen at the Paris auto show back in 2016, and was facelifted in 2020, so is ripe for replacement.
Related: Kia Rio Appears Primed For A Swanky Redesign
Our spy photographers have already spotted a new Rio sedan prototype testing in northern Sweden, and though it was heavily disguised, the glimpse of taillight we got through the camouflage seems to match up with the design of the lights in the teaser image. Also possible to make out in the spy shots is that the new Rio sedan will have slim headlights, a gently rising waistline and a fastback shape.
Significantly, the new K3 is being unveiled in Mexico, where both the Rio and Forte are built, and the launch has been timed to coincide with Kia’s 8th anniversary in the region. But while the new car might prove a hit with buyers close to the factory, it won’t be offered in right-hand drive markets like Australia or Western Europe, and even its North American future is rumored to be in doubt.
