Kia Readies GT Models For Their Worldwide Lineup

Do you ever wish that there was a hotted-up version of a Kia? We have some good news for you.

Car and Driver reports that Kia is planning to launch a range of GT models for their worldwide lineup.

Kia has experimented with building hotted-up version of one of their vehicles. The past few years, the Korean automaker has sold the Pro’Ceed GT with a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder in Europe. The model earned positive response and encouraged Kia to go further.

“The C’eed GT is a very well balanced car,” Albert Biermann, Hyundai-Kia’s head of performance development told Car and Driver, “but we are a few years further down the road, and if we were to engineer it now it would have some more spice to it.”

Biermann said there are few GT models planned for various Kia models such as the Optima, next-generation Rio, and possibly the Sportage. Now Kia's GT will not be as hardcore as Hyundai's upcoming N performance vehicles and there is a reason for that.

“Kia is meant to be more emotional than Hyundai and we have to make cars that reflect that when you drive them. Hyundai is the quieter brand, that’s why the N-Division was created, because the brand cannot stretch as far. Kia can stretch much further, and I think we will be able to do more aggressive cars,” Biermann told Autocar.

How will GT models stand out from the standard model? The Optima GT, for example, will feature a more aggressive tune to the chassis.

Regular Kia Models Will Also See Changes

Kia will also be working on making their regular models drive a bit better. Biermann said Kia models will differentiate from their Hyundai brethen by using different springs, revised steering, and new tires.

Pic Credit: Kia