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What is it? The KOUP concept is a sleek, sporty-looking coupe derived from the small Kia Spectra sedan. The KOUP was largely designed at Kia's new California design studio. Although the car shown at the New York Auto Show was a hand-built prototype, the rumor is that it looks a lot like the production model slated to appear at dealerships within the next two years. That suggests the KOUP would face off against such competitors as the Scion TC or perhaps the Honda Civic Si. The concept has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder rated at 291 horsepower. Production versions of that direct-injection gasoline engines do not yet exist, but clearly Kia aims to equip the real car with as much power as possible. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic. The exterior is notably unadorned, with a swoopy wedge shape. The new front-end treatment features a fairly short grille with a large air-intake maw beneath it. That supposedly hints at one of Kia's new design elements. The interior has nicely illuminated instruments and deeply contoured "sport" seats. A glass roof stretches from the windshield header all the way back to the trunk.
What is new or notable? The Koup displays swoopy design cues for future Kias. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is said to get 291 horsepower.
CR's take: Exterior styling is distinctive and up-to-date. An all-glass roof is no fun when you're headed into a bright sun. Let's hope that feature is consigned only to the concept car.
Consumer Reports New cars: A to Z
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