The new model will be the fastest-accelerating Kia ever
If you didn't know, Kia is in the final stages of developing a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. The new model is expected to carry the GT or K8 nameplate, depending on the market.
Scheduled to debut on January 8, 2017, on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 Kia GT is expected to slot between the Optima and the Cadenza size-wise, but will appeal to a different type of customer who wants a quick and fun-to-drive car.
Speaking of speed, the automaker targets a 0-100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds for the GT, making it the fastest-accelerating Kia ever. The Korean automaker has released two teaser videos with the 2018 GT on a specially-launched website called TheCurveAhead.net, with one of the films showing the GT's speedometer reach 244 km/h on the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The upcoming sports sedan is expected to get the same 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 as the Genesis G80 Sport, with an output of more than 365 hp. An eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard, but a manual is in the cards as well. The engine lineup may also include a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit.
Expect additional details and more revealing photos to follow in the coming weeks as we're drawing closer to the car's official debut.