Kia plots its own 'WRX'

aussie muscle · 20-10-2010, 02:34 PM

http://smh.drive.com.au/sydney-motor...015-16nbj.html

Kia says it will enter the performance car game to finalize its image makeover. Just like Subaru used the WRX to turn around its perception the South Korean brand admits it could resort to the same tactic.

"i wanna go fast, so i'll buy a Kia" doesn't quite sound right. still those plucky koreans could pull it off.

Poetic Justice · 20-10-2010, 02:44 PM

From reading that, it tells me "We are a dumb company that think stiffer suspension will bring more buyers to our company, just like a WRX would."

Although, little to their care, a WRX is quite clearly more than just suspension. How about driving fast too??

flappist · 20-10-2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCUD

From reading that, it tells me "We are a dumb company that think stiffer suspension will bring more buyers to our company, just like a WRX would."

Although, little to their care, a WRX is quite clearly more than just suspension. How about driving fast too??

Well in fact they do talk about engine upgrades as well.

But I can see you point, there is no way that a suspension, brake and engine upgrade could turn an average domestic car into a performance vehicle.

Although FPV, HSV, AMG, M, MPS, Nismo et el. may disagree with you.

What exactly IS a Focus RS, Mazda 3 MPS, Golf GTi, FPV F6, FPV GT, Clubsport, C63 AMG, Skyline GTR etc. etc. etc............

Poetic Justice · 20-10-2010, 02:59 PM

The article says that they will need to avoid engine upgrades due to the companys warranty.. so performance is ticked off.

Furthermore, the article practically says they plan to do it but have no plans.

**Dave R** · 20-10-2010, 03:12 PM

Sounds a bit like their last effort... anyone remember their STi clone?

morons.

flappist · 20-10-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCUD

The article says that they will need to avoid engine upgrades due to the companys warranty.. so performance is ticked off.

Furthermore, the article practically says they plan to do it but have no plans.

So the article says....but then how many FWD falcon articles have been published in the last few years......

Maybe there is method in their madness.

Looks "hot"
Better suspension etc.
P plate "friendly" performance.
Cheap

Ideal car for young P plater with parents who don't want them in one of those "antique falcadore hoon-mobile death traps"......

kinksta · 20-10-2010, 03:58 PM

IMHO looks nicer than a wrx that's for sure..

Some of the lesser company's seem to be getting their cars to look a little better than previous models.

fmc351 · 20-10-2010, 04:11 PM

Its not dingo ugly, well the wheels are, Im guessing it would do alright in sales. Based on that Im also guessing Bob Jane, Quickfit and a few others will like it too.

Theres a touch of Mondeo in it, and a VE guard flute.

XlR8TED · 20-10-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Sounds a bit like their last effort... anyone remember their STi clone?

They came out of the factory looking like that?

I've only ever seen one, at uni, and figured it was just some ricer trying to make his crapbox look like a WRX...??

Airmon · 20-10-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Sounds a bit like their last effort... anyone remember their STi clone?

morons.

Lol I was about to post the same thing. Theres on around the corner from me.
Although by the looks of this any similarities with the 'WRX' ends at the reference in the second paragraph.

There is a proven market there, how big it is and whether its worth tapping I guess is up to Kia.

Deval · 20-10-2010, 05:23 PM

Put simply... A terrible, terrible idea. Why Kia?

.

Does Australia have a market for this car? No.

Corzza · 20-10-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Sounds a bit like their last effort... anyone remember their STi clone?

morons.

Who can forget that rubbish?

Quicksand · 20-10-2010, 05:37 PM

They certainly have the looks sorted. Looks tough and classy IMO (the pic in the opening post...)

Franco Cozzo · 20-10-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

So the article says....but then how many FWD falcon articles have been published in the last few years......

Maybe there is method in their madness.

Looks "hot"
Better suspension etc.
P plate "friendly" performance.
Cheap

Ideal car for young P plater with parents who don't want them in one of those "antique falcadore hoon-mobile death traps"......

Kia Koup, its already sold here, its like $25,000 drive away. I quite like the look of it, but the clutch takes up very high and it doesn't have much balls.

Hyundai and Kia are the ones to be watching my friends, they have both come a very long way, if you read the reviews on their latest cars, they score quite high.

HULK EF · 20-10-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corzza

Who can forget that rubbish?

MY eyes are burning! FAIL!

AussieAV · 20-10-2010, 06:32 PM

What about the Proton Satria GTi. Basically a Satria with Lotus tuned suspension/handling wasn't it? Don't think it had any extra go fast bits, just fun to drive and a body kit. Got a few good reviews IIRC.

According to Redbook, a 2000 manual is still worth about $6400-$8100 private sale (2000 AU-I XR8 manual listed as $6300-$8100).

Considering the XR8 was $20,000 odd more when new, I'd say the Satria has a reasonable following.

If they do it right, there will be a market for it (probably not amongst members of this forum though).

Personally think the styling is good. Look at what Korea have done with supertanker production. They will be a car manufacturing powerhouse down the track.

uranium_death · 20-10-2010, 07:18 PM

IMO I reckon it looks damn good. If that was an Australian car, it would be received fantastically well.

If it was a Ford, many of the naysayers I reckon would be in full support of it!

Good on Kia for wanting to take it up to the others.

BFZF8 · 20-10-2010, 07:46 PM

They will sell loads of these. Kia, like Hyundai is doing a good job of building cars that people actually buy. For that price, there isn't really anything else that looks that good (that I can think of right now anyway).

When they've made enough money selling appliances, they can do something more interesting later on. Crawl before you walk.

**TUF_302** · 20-10-2010, 07:48 PM

That's not actually a bad looking car, does remind me of a Saab alot though, and as for buying a High Performance Kia? that really doesn't sound right, nor do I think we will see them for a while yet

drew`SEVNT5 · 20-10-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieAV

What about the Proton Satria GTi. Basically a Satria with Lotus tuned suspension/handling wasn't it? Don't think it had any extra go fast bits, just fun to drive and a body kit. Got a few good reviews IIRC.

According to Redbook, a 2000 manual is still worth about $6400-$8100 private sale (2000 AU-I XR8 manual listed as $6300-$8100).

Considering the XR8 was $20,000 odd more when new, I'd say the Satria has a reasonable following.

If they do it right, there will be a market for it (probably not amongst members of this forum though).

Personally think the styling is good. Look at what Korea have done with supertanker production. They will be a car manufacturing powerhouse down the track.

The Satria GTi had the 103kw 16v 1.8 Twincam Mitsubishi 4G93 motor.

The rest of them had a 1.5 16v single cam Mitsu motor, from memory

buickman · 20-10-2010, 11:50 PM

Aussies looked at Jap cars as rubbish in the 60's but look at Toyota, Mazda and the rest of the Japanese manufacturers nowadays which are known for building reliable well built cars.
Kia has VW's designer on the books as chief designer of Kia so improvements would have to happen on the quality of their cars and a lot of Aussies are buying Korean cars as in the Cruze & Hyundai makes

OttoXR8 · 21-10-2010, 01:27 AM

IT ACTUALLY LOOKS BETTER THAN A FG FALCON TO BE HONEST

THEIR NEW LINE UP IS VERY IMPRESSIVE

grandpa_spec_F6 · 21-10-2010, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OttoXR8

IT ACTUALLY LOOKS BETTER THAN A FG FALCON TO BE HONEST

*snip*

THEIR NEW LINE UP IS VERY IMPRESSIVE

*snip*

OttoXR8 = Kia Rep

(only joking mate

)

I don't mind the rear tail lights, they work quite well for me.

gundy · 21-10-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Sounds a bit like their last effort... anyone remember their STi clone?

morons.

*shiver*, still trying to forget it...

DivHunter · 21-10-2010, 11:44 AM

How many WRC are they expecting to win?

GTPete · 21-10-2010, 12:27 PM

Just bought a KIA Cerato for the daughter, first car.

Base model in auto, brand new $20k driveaway, 4 star safety rating, front and side airbags, 4 wheels disc brakes, 115 KW's and the deal maker was the 5 year unlimited KM warranty.
7 litres per 100KM/s is good fuel economy.
Overall it drives well for a FWD car.

Hard to ignore when you look at the unlimited KM warranty over 5 years. I couldnt justify buying second hand at that price.

Fled74 · 21-10-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OttoXR8

More than a touch of Mondeo in that rear end, which is a good thing as the Mondeo is a rather attractive car.

Styling-wise, the new Kias are excellent. What the company needs to address now is power output, quality and reliability, and the public perception of them as a rubbish Korean badge.