Kia planning its own ‘Toyobaru’ sports car

Kia is taking its own sweet time to make a production car that’s inspired by the 2008 Kee Coupe Concept. It’s believed that the outcome would be a compact, rear-driven, affordable production sports car using recycled platform technology from Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe.

In an exclusive interview with Autocar, Kia design director Peter Schreyer said that while the Kee wasn’t in the European product plan for the next two years, he confirmed that the company is very keen to bring added strength and desirability to the Kia brand with such a car. What would make the Kee more expensive to make is the use of a rear-driven platform however, Schreyer said that Kia will be supporting its adoption.
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commander104 - 12/14/2009 4:37:12 PM

+2 Boost

being that it is Kia, they have no where else to go in the market except up. The Souls seem to be selling well around my way.--I've seen way more Souls than Cubes anyway.

commander104 - 12/14/2009 11:24:02 PM

+2 Boost

fyi, kia hired a former audi designer

lexusrox123 - 12/15/2009 2:51:21 PM

0 Boost

fyi, the forte is a direct styling ripoff of the honda civic.

mggray - 1/22/2010 11:06:51 PM

+1 Boost

Don't kid yourself, lexus, it looks better than the civic.

tango - 12/14/2009 11:23:45 PM

+1 Boost

I like the direction and the pace they have adopted. But I think 5 years would be a long time to wait for the Kee to hit the street. I think a more accurate statement is that releasing the Kee at this time would rob sales from the Genesis coupe.

Agent63 - 12/15/2009 1:42:38 AM

0 Boost

Hyundai has made strides in the industry. I can't see why KIA can't do the same either. I never look down on any car company. They are obviously successful multi-million/billion dollar companies no matter what demographic and market they cater to. Business is business. A sporty coupe will only help.