Confirmed: Kia GT is a Hatchback!!!

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 08/23/2016 at 05:29 • Filed to: Kia GT, Kia

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That’s right, Kia is about to produce a RWD, 365 hp twin-turbo V6 hatchback for the same price as a 208 hp Infiniti Q60 2.0t Premium Coupe ($41,000). Not to mention the Kia will likely offer a 241 hp 2.0T variant for $35k, which makes it a direct competitor to the lease-spec compact luxury sedans. I’m excited for this! Also add in the fact that the Hyundai Genesis Coupe was discontinued (and won’t have another RWD 2-door until 2019 under the Genesis brand), tells me the Kia GT ended up becoming something that an “upmarket” HyGenCo couldn’t compete against.

By the way, I totes !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . (The lack of panoramic sunroof on what appeared to be a top end tester was the biggest giveaway).

*Just going to set this here for reference since I know people aren’t accustomed to the hatch height on liftbacks.

**Just an impromptu automotive reminder with this guy.

***Edit: I was over excited and didn’t think this out. It would probably be about $35k for the RWD 241 hp 2.0T, $39,500 for the RWD 311 hp 3.8L, and $44k for the RWD 365 hp 3.3T. But I’m just speculating here based on market positioning and assuming the vehicle will be fully loaded with AWD at $51k.

TheHondaBro > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 05:55

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Liftback.

LongbowMkII > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 05:59

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Which will sell worse, this or the k900?

TheHondaBro > LongbowMkII 08/23/2016 at 06:06

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You mean they actually started selling the K900?

Wobbles the Mind > LongbowMkII 08/23/2016 at 06:10

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Hmm, I don’t think the K900 is even touching 80 units a month this year since they haven’t been fleeting them out. I think the GT can double...no, TRIPLE that momentum!!

*In all honesty, it depends on how it’s positioned. Budget luxury coupe? 300 units a month (3,600 annually US). Exciting new value sport coupe with added practicality? 700 units a month (8,400 annually US). But the prices would need to dip down by $5,000 for that last one.

random001 > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 06:46

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I had never seen a BMW GT with the rear open before. Sad to say I did not know they were liftbacks....

I like them, now. Damn me.

But that price, for a Kia, is going to be hard to justify unless the styling moves upmarket. Looking at the Genesis, roughly the same price, for more car, with actual style and grace, and you can see how this will not compete well. I mean, look at how the K900 is selling against the Genesis. The Kia is just not as nice to look at. It’s a bit busy, a bit too Hipster/techy for people who have that kind of money to spend to be drawn away from the staples.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 06:59

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people aren’t accustomed to the hatch height on liftbacks.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 07:15

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Prediction: This will be auto-only and sell poorly. Kia asks enthusiasts why nobody wants it and they go “duurrrr three pedals!” Kia adds manual option 2-3 years in. Still no one buys it because the enthusiasts with $35k all bought Mustangs, WRX’s and Miatas and everyone else leased a luxury badge.

404 - User No Longer Available > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 07:38

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Add a manual, then we’ll talk.

(though I somewhat doubt it, TBH.)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/23/2016 at 08:01

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Hmm.. am I insane for thinking that the Volt looks really good in that picture?

Wobbles the Mind > random001 08/23/2016 at 08:12

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This is definitely like the K900 in it simply being a branding flagship. The $60k K900 made it so that the rest of the models could match pricings with Honda instead of being the value leaders in terms of pricing. This GT is just to rollout the new GT variants of cars like the Rio and maybe Forte Koup and Sportage. Plus I think the costs are split between the G70, Kia GT, and lower end G80 models. So they are looking at combined sales to justify the market.

Wobbles the Mind > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 08/23/2016 at 08:15

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Completely agree, though the manual will only be for Australia as well as a V8 variant. So we’ll complain we don’t have the Ausie variant while those guys complain about a $60k small Kia no one asked for. Odd stuff.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 08/23/2016 at 08:18

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I really like the way the first generation Volt looks. It’s a rolling concept car with a really cool drivetrain and a liftback. Very high on my list of “practical daily driver” cars

random001 > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 08:21

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That makes sense. Still, I would like Genesis to do a version of this.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/23/2016 at 08:47

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And they have become cheap; you can get a used Opel Ampera here in Europe for about $14.000,- with leather and other goodies.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 08/23/2016 at 08:58

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Yup. Same here. First gen Volts are impulse-purchase levels of cheap.

TylerJ > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 09:43

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This post was extremely sad for me because it’s how I learned the GenCoupe was discontinued.

:(

fintail > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 10:28

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I assume Schreyer is still employed by Hyunkia.

Wobbles the Mind > TylerJ 08/23/2016 at 11:20

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I’m just as surprised as you, I thought they would facelift it and maybe introduce the turbo V6 before switching platforms and moving it into the Genesis brand officially.

Really disappointing.

spanfucker retire bitch > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 11:42

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Thank you for all the continued news you give us about the Kia GT. I get more from you than anywhere else about this specific vehicle.

deprecated account > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 11:49

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So hype!

Wobbles the Mind > spanfucker retire bitch 08/23/2016 at 12:06

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Well I love me some Kia and I find the Hyundai Group intriguing, especially since so much is done internally and rarely is information about them presented even though they are like the 4th or 5th largest automaker in the world and all they really make are FWD sedans (not even offering AWD)!

Jayhawk Jake > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 08/23/2016 at 12:10

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Different market.

It’ll sell poorly, but only because it’s a KIA badge instead of a BMW roundel, Mercedes star, or Audi 4 rings.

Wobbles the Mind > deprecated account 08/23/2016 at 12:16

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Truth! I’m watching this thing like a hawk on Adderall!! They found a huge opening in the market and they are about to pack it with a luxury arm (Genesis), a performance arm (Hyundai N Performance), a hybrid arm (3 variants of Ioniq, Kia Niro, the Midsized Hybrids, and Genesis Hybrids), and an upmarket arm (Kia-RWD and GT). Hyundai Group has four subbrands all coming out while Alfa Romeo is still trying to get one sedan launched in the US.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jayhawk Jake 08/23/2016 at 13:45

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That’s what I was hinting at with the “everyone else leased a luxury badge” - Kia won’t be able to play with the Teutonic sport sedans, no matter how good of a value it is. The Chevy SS already proved that. But even if it is dynamically great, it will probably fall flat with the enthusiast crowd too. But now you got me thinking... maybe it will actually be a success if Kia just has the dealers court everyone who gets turned down for a BMW/Audi/MB loan. They finance pretty much anyone who wants to buy a Rio, why not this?

Chasaboo > random001 08/23/2016 at 14:21

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Dude you suck, I never noticed the BMW GT before either. I’m going to go check one out here tonight as I’m looking for a larger car.

random001 > Chasaboo 08/23/2016 at 14:45

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You’re...welcome? Or I’m sorry? I don’t know which...

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > Wobbles the Mind 08/23/2016 at 17:05

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I am probably unreasonably excited for the reveal of this, but idc. It just looks so cool.

Wobbles the Mind > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 08/23/2016 at 17:29

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Nah, we’re all excited. Everyone else is just too cool to admit they find these RWD Korean cars intriguing. This is one of the few cars my eyes are constantly one, unfortunately it will be the same price as a 2011-2013 Jaguar XJL Supersport. But I’d be all over this since it hits all my interests!