Meet the K4, which Kia is giving us a look at today ahead of a full global launch at the New York International Auto Show next week. Combining the fastback styling and thick D-pillars of the old Stinger with the crisp body surfaces and hi-tech face of the new EV9 SUV, the K4 looks far tougher and more sophisticated than the Forte, which went on sale in 2018. Kia calls its design language ‘Twist Logic’ and the twist part of that approach is clear from the way the light hits the upper portion of the muscular front and rear fenders, but leaves the lower sections in shade.
The combination of the rear fender shape,
strong D-pillar and the rear door’s hidden handle gives the whole car the look
of a long, two-door coupe, an image the plunging nose amplifies. It’s like a
modern take on a classic GT car, but there’s nothing retro about the front and
rear LED lights, or fully digital interior.
Inside, the squared steering wheel and
slim but wide digital instrument cluster are the focal points of a cabin that
features a mix of styling cues seen on the EV6, EV9 and newly facelifted
Sorrento. But unlike those Kias, which all feature rotary transmission
selectors, the K4 has an old fashioned T-bar lever on the console. Other
traditional – and welcome – details include the two rows of hard keys located
above and below the central air vents, and a rotary controller to help with
on-screen selections.
Kia says the K4 will be available in
various ‘exciting’ new seating trims, and while the Slate Green in the car seen
here doesn’t exactly set our pulses racing, it does look far more interesting
than boring old gray and black, which are still available, along with Canyon
Brown.
Today was only about showing off the K4’s
design, meaning we’ll have to wait until next week to find out what’s going on
under the skin. But we’re expecting the lineup to start at around US$ 22,000 and
include a 1.6-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and a hybrid model in
some markets, but no EV option.
