Is this Kia showing Honda how the new 2012 Civic should have looked like?






After only two years on the market, the Kia Forte is being fully redesigned, set to debut in 2013.

The new sedan was designed in Irvine and will retain the same 178.3-inch *length* as the current car, but will ride on a wheelbase some 2-inches longer at 106.3 inches. If that number sounds familiar, and it should, it's because that is exactly the same as the current Elantra. Kia has confirmed that this Forte shares a platform with the new Elantra while the old Forte rides on last-gen Elantra.

The new Forte gets a lower cD and a hood "with four pronounced contours -- they're sort of like pleats and kind of weird looking. No fake hood vents despite camo's suggestion of that." says our man on the scene. The lights, too, are apparently slightly odd, featuring a "little panhandle" where the light meets the grille. We've provided a highly detailed sketch after the jump to illustrate that. HID headlights (low beams) will be standard with LED head / tail lights optional.

Kia has also taken steps here to differentiate the models. The Koup's front fascia gets a much smaller slit for a grille that apparently works very well. While the Five-door "looks pretty awesome" with taillights "shaped like those on Audi A4 wagon/ Q5 and the same character line running between them -- thank you, Peter Schreyer." The Five-door and the Koup have dual exhaust as well and the Five-door gets a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

Two styles of 18-inch wheels will be offered.
- Insideline