2009 Kia Forte. The Spectra Replacement

[GrandPrix08]

This is few days old, and most of you have probably seen it. Another copy-cat design from Korea. I think they are following what the Chinese are doing. Blatenly copying the other car design cues and gets away with it.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/07/kia-forte-the-n.html

 

[jwaters943]

Looks good to me. Tell me, what is it a blatant ripoff of? It looks like a few different cars mashed together. That's quite different from the what many of the Chinese manufacturers are doing, which is building cars that ARE EXACT KNOCKOFFS with different badging.

 

[GrandPrix08]

Most people are saying that it is an EXACT copy of the Honda Civic with a different grill. Even the side view is similar.

 

[jwaters943]

Well then, those people need to invest in some of these:

It does have some Honda/Acura styling cues, but I'm thinking TSX more than Civic. Examining the two closely I see far more differences than similarities between the two. The Forte has a different roofline, grill, wheel design, tail lights, bumpers, foglights (Civic doesn't have them), as well as different bodyside creases under the windows and bottom of the door. Not to mention the Civic has small windows at the A Pillars (in front of the sideview mirrors) and on the back doors, which the Forte does not.

Seriously though, I think this is one of the best economy car designs to come out in a long time. It's right up there with the Mazda 3 for me. Here's a PS of it lowered with bigger wheels:

 

[TiburonGT]

Seems like they mashed Lancer, Civic and 3-Series together.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

GrandPrix08. You are very easily influenced by others. The only thing that Vaguely resembles a Honda Civic on the Kia Forte are the headlights. Everything else is so entirely different that I don't know where to begin...