Kia Spectra News

Below is an auto news article from June 29, 2009 from Automotive.com and PRNewswire.

Kia's all-new Forte compact sedan goes on sale in July, giving the South Korean automaker a strong entry into a market segment dominated by the venerable Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.With a starting price of $13,695 , the 2010 Forte joins the compact Spectra in the Kia lineup, and offers a long list of standard safety and convenience features.

The all-new Forte, with a starting price of $13,695, gives Kia a strong entry into the compact sedan market segment.

Time was that buying an inexpensive compact car meant living day to day in a meager penalty box, forever apologizing to your friends for making them ride in a car with only an AM radio and two speakers.

Kia's new Forte sedan, which replaces the Spectra, signals a new design direction for the Korean brand.

Click the individual pictures below to see them larger. Browse through vehicle features, both inside and outside, by watching a slideshow of the interior, exterior and dashboard highlights.

The Detroit News sums it up succinctly: "It's a nice looking compact hatchback ." The SX models are further distinguished visually by their black mesh grille, fog lights, rear spoiler, and larger 16-inch wheels.

The first comment that leapt to the lips of some folks in a local gas station was "Hey, it looks like a little Audi." Since when was a Kia ever mistaken for an Audi? But sure enough, if you look at the high rear deck and the general proportions, the Forte certainly bears some resemblance to the cars from Ingolstadt.

If there's one thing we can say about Kia, it's that it keeps making progress. In the 15 years the brand has been selling cars in the United States, South Korea's second largest auto manufacturer has increased its market share every single year.

First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte Kia has launched its new 2010 Forte, replacing the Spectra that failed to stand out among cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.

The 2010 Kia Forte is the newest addition to the Kia staple of products. It replaced the outgoing 2009 Kia Spectra , which has had a reputation as being a decent car, but lackluster in the styling and performance departments.

Kia and parent company Hyundai have been on a wild tear of late and it shows no signs of letting up.

Click the individual pictures below to see them larger. Browse through vehicle features, both inside and outside, by watching a slideshow of the interior, exterior and dashboard highlights.

Following the ill-timed Borrego and ultra chic Soul is the new 2010 Kia Forte Sedan.

If the world of compact cars were a baseball lineup, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic would be the meat of the order, the third and fourth batsmen.

A picture of The Kia Forte replaces the Spectra for 2010. The Kia Forte replaces the Spectra for 2010.

I knew you'd ask. And ye shall receive. The Forte is Kia's new entry in the compact sedan segment .

Kia is dumping its cute hamsters in advertising for the Kia Forte sedan. The Forte replaces the Kia Spectra, the brand's best seller in the United States.

The new 2010 Kia Forte replaces the Spectra in Kia's lineup; but it wasn't that many years ago that the Spectra replaced the Sephia .

Q. My 2003 Kia Spectra will not start sometimes in park. When this happens if I force the shifter into neutral I can get the car to start.