Kia's all-new Koup has a turbo

Published Mar 27, 2013

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The first-generation Kia Cerato Koup made sense as an affordable two-door runabout, but it didn't quite have the go to match the show.

With the all-new one you see here, we're asking whether it has the show to match the go. We'll let you be the judge of that.

The big talking point here is that the new Koup now has that much-needed turbo power. This comes in the form of the Hyundai group's latest 1.6-litre direct injection petrol motor, also found in the Veloster and Kia Proceed GT.

Fitted to the Koup SX, it pushes 150kW at 6000rpm and 264Nm from 1750rpm, all through the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

A naturally aspirated 2-litre engine is offered in the EX model, this one good for 129kW at 6500rpm and 209Nm at 4700rpm.

The EX is fitted with 16-inch alloys and the SX ups the grippy stakes with a set of 18-inch rims. The Koup's suspension system, with a torsion beam at the back, is hardly sophisticated but Kia has at least stiffened it for this application.

The Koup made its global debut at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday and it's set to hit the streets later this year.

Yet while Kia South Africa has confirmed that the new Koup will arrive here in the fourth quarter of 2013, the local availability of the turbo engine has yet to be confirmed or denied.

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