2013 All-New Kia Forte Caught On Spy Camera In Malaysia

The 2013 all-new Kia Forte has been spied on Malaysian roads, courtesy of reader Sallehuddin who snapped the photos on the North-South Highway. The current Forte may not be an old car at just four years old, but its replacement is already here on local roads ahead of its launch in early 2013. The car in the spy photos is camouflaged in the key areas, hiding the aggressive styling cues again penned by Kia Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

What's surprising is probably the testing of the Kia Forte in Malaysia just two months after launch in its home market of South Korea, where it is known as the K3. (The Cerato is yet another name for markets such as Australia and Brazil.) The Forte is heading for its US debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 30. Five-door hatchback and two-door coupe Forte models are expected to follow in due course.

2013 Kia Forte Malaysia Spy Photo

Measuring 4,560 mm long, 1,780 mm wide and 1,435 mm tall, the all-new Kia Forte sedan is 30 mm longer, 5 mm wider and 25 mm lower than the current Forte. More significant is the 51 mm increment in wheelbase to 2700 mm. Spearheading the equipment list are LED headlamps, a parking assistance system, and Kia's next generation “telematics” service UVO feature, which allows drivers to control the Forte's media and infotainment system via a smartphone and other IT devices.

In South Korea, the Kia Forte get a 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine delivering 140 HP and 167 Nm, while returning a more than decent 14 km/litre in fuel economy. It's still unclear what the local Forte will be powered by, though rumours have pointed to the 1.8-litre ‘Nu’ engine found in the Hyundai Elantra. - LLD