By Anthony Lim

Kia Motors' Forte Koup was unveiled last week at the New York International Auto Show, and the vehicle, which is to be known as the Cerato Koup in other markets, joins the lineup as the company's first offering in the two-door coupe segment.

The vehicle features design styling elements seen in the KOUP concept from last year, and will be available in two trim levels (EX and SX). Built on a front-wheel-drive unibody frame, the Forte Koup utilises the same platform as the sedan, just slightly shorter in length and height than the latter.

The Kia Forte Koup is unveiled at the New York International Show, April 9, 2009 in New York.

The vehicle will come equipped with a 156bhp 2.0l DOHC four-cylinder engine featuring Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection. As for the SX, this will feature an upgraded 2.4l block, also with CVVT, developing 173bhp.

Like the Forte sedan, two transmission options are available for both Koup models. On the EX, this is a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically-controlled four-speed automatic transmission, while the SX model gets a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic.

Among the equipment list on the Forte Koup EX are body-colour bumpers, power heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and 16-inch alloy wheels and 205/55R16 tyres, while the SX gets 17-inch alloys and 215/45R17 rubbers. --The Star/Asia News Network