Cerato Koup priced below $26K?

Kia doesn't plan to milk the Cerato Koup cash-cow for all its worth when the small sporty two-door arrives here in September. At least, that's among the best-laid plans of local management for the importer.

Speaking to Jonathan Fletcher, Kia Australia's PR Manager during the international launch for the new car in Korea this week, the Carsales Network raised the thorny question of price.

"Worst case scenario?" he mused, "Cerato sedan and a bit... Perhaps $26,000?"

The value in that price will depend on the kit that comes standard, but Fletcher believes Koup will be equipped in line with the top-spec Cerato SLi sedan. Based on Aussie journalists' assessment of the Koup (keep an eye out for our upcoming review of the car), that's a pretty sharp price -- and anywhere up to $6000 less than the guesses of a couple of writers.

If there's one thing to make you pause and think before dashing out and buying a Cerato Koup right now, it's this: Kia plans to offer an in-house six-speed automatic transmission for the Koup around this time next year.

Kia will offer the Koup in Australia with a 2.0-litre 'Theta II' four-cylinder engine developing 114.7kW of power at 6200rpm and 194.2Nm of torque at 4300rpm.

There's also a 1.6-litre engine available in other markets, but we won't see it here.

Depending on the wheels fitted, the 2.0-litre Koup uses between 7.5L/100km of fuel (manual with 15/16-inch wheels) and 7.8L/100km (auto with 17-inch wheels) in combined-cycle testing. CO2 emissions range from 178 to 186g/km.

The engine drives to the front wheels through either a five-speed manual transmission or (for the present), an optional four-speed automatic.

Underpinnings for the Koup consist of Mac struts at the front, a coil-sprung torsion beam behind, hydraulically-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, ventilated front disc brakes and drums or solid discs at the rear. The question of whether the Australian-delivered Koup will come with rear discs as an option or as standard is followed by the further question, will the steering will be hydraulically-assisted or electro/hydraulically assisted? The latter is an option in other markets.

In Eastern European markets -- the specification of car we drove in South Korea this week -- there are three levels of trim, but this seems like at least one grade more than necessary for Australia.

Features fitted as standard to the entry-level Cerato Koup LX are: 15-inch steel wheels, 195/65 R15 tyres, space-saver spare, hydraulic power steering, automatic remote central locking, auxiliary power outlet in centre console, electric front windows/mirrors, keyless entry, tilt-adjustable steering column, fabric seat trim, four-speaker CD audio system, driver's airbag.

For the Koup EX, the added standard equipment amounts to: electrically-heated mirrors, remote audio controls, trip computer, 60/40 splitfold rear seat, height-adjustable driver's seat, MP3-compatible CD audio with USB/iPod connectivity and cruise control.

At the top of the range, the Koup SX also features: 17-inch alloy wheels, 215/45 R17 tyres, full-size spare/alloy wheel, front fog lights, leather-bound steering wheel, alloy pedals, four-wheel disc brakes, premium instrument cluster, active front headrests, instrument lighting rheostat, auto-on/off headlights, reverse-parking acoustic guidance sensors and added under-bonnet sound insulation.

Watch the Carsales TV review of the new Kia Koup.

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