2018 Kia Gt Sports Sedan Becoming a Reality

Kia has long sold itself as the sporty Korean bran. Any manufacturer that wants to be considered as such needs a true sports sedan in its lineup, which means standard rear-wheel drive. Indeed, the Kia GT—or whatever it ends up being called; the code name is CK—will be rear-wheel drive, and it will have the BMW 3-series in its sights. It also sends the message that Kia is willing to step outside of its daily family-car and crossover safety zone to build the kind of vehicles that appeal to enthusiasts. As a luxury sports sedan, the GT also will provide a fertile ground for extensive luxury options and trim levels, which can increase profit margins. The GT will look to offer seductive styling at a substantial discount over the cost of traditional European competition, but the car’s success largely will hinge on how it drives.

We expect Kia to offer the GT in four- and six-cylinder variants, with the sportiest model getting a 3.3-liter turbocharged V-6 making roughly 340 horsepower. You can bet the company’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will make an appearance, possibly with enhanced output (perhaps with additional displacement) for duty in the GT. To enhance the car’s sporting credibility, look for it to be offered with a manual transmission as well as the expected automatic. We expect the car to arrive in 2017 as a 2018 model. Stop by Van Griffith Kia when the car is released and take the all new Kia GT for a test drive!