Kia's 'baby Panamera' delayed but due in 2017

[Sal Collaziano]

Kia's swoopy new four door coupe tipped for 2017 release, largely based on 2011 Kia GT concept

Kia is soon to be entering unchartered waters, as the Korean company plans to launch what has been described as a 'cut-price Porsche Panamera'. The four-door coupe model was originally tipped to launch in 2016, but Kia sources have confirmed it will be delayed until 2017.

Kia's more stylish and upmarket addition to the range will be strongly based on the GT concept (pictured) from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. According to sources at the firm, the design has already been signed off by design chief Peter Schreyer and shouldn't be a radical departure from the concept. We won't be seeing the suicide doors, however.

The GT won't just be all show and no go, as a range of four and six cylinder petrol and diesels are expected to prop up the range, with a hot V8 also planned. That will both please American buyers and concern the likes of Mercedes-AMG, as it should cost a fair bit less than their four-door coupe CLS 63. Continue reading...

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Boy is this car sounding nice...

 

[YEH]

Interesting about the V8 as the GT was supposed to be lighter (sportier) than the Genesis (will likely still be so, but not as much as before if they have to engineer to carry the weight of the 5.0 Tau); also wonder of a hot V8 indicates FI.

Still, these sources tend to send out conflicting signals so wouldn't totally count on a V8 w/o further confirmation.

Also interesting that the Stinger may still see the light - would make sense as the Genesis coupe replacement seemingly (this time around) will actually be a 2-door partner to the Genesis sedan in being a larger, midsized coupe.

I'm also thinking that the 3-Series competitor will be shelved for the moment and that Hyundai will fast track development of a Genesis crossover.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I always doubt a V8 these days so I take news like that with a dose of skepticism. As for the Genesis Coupe actually being more closely related to the Genesis Sedan - I think thats a great idea and I bet it'll go a long way with making more sales. I think that type of Genesis Coupe will do fine as a 3-Series competitor until Hyundai gets something more along the lines of a "3" and that a Genesis Crossover makes the most sense right now.

 

[YEH]

First spy spots.

Not surprisingly a bit toned down from the GT concept, but think I'm going to like this a good bit better than the Genesis/G80 (that is, until the next gen G80 which will get the design cues from the New York concept).

 

[westvibes]

It looks promising.