DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: 2018 Kia Cerato previewed
New Korean small sedan shown in sketch form ahead of world debut next weekKia will unveil its next-generation Cerato – known as the Forte in the US and Korea — at next week’s Detroit motor show, and the early signs promise significant change.
Sketches released by Kia Motors today reveal wholesale change to its small sedan, including the adoption of the brand’s latest styling direction that sees it take inspiration from the larger Stinger sports sedan.
“What is most noticeable is that the Forte has evolved from a cab-forward design to one that is decidedly swept-back,” says Kia.
In all, the third-generation Cerato appears more upmarket than the outgoing version, sales of which were up by 43 per cent in Australia last year, helping Kia to crack 50,000 sales for the first time and overtake Subaru for ninth place in the auto brands pecking order.
New LED lighting flanks the front and rear, accompanied by indicators that are now relocated to the bumpers; a point of difference from the current model, which has indicators integrated into the headlight and tail-light assemblies.
Inside is where the Cerato arguably receives the biggest overhaul. In a design direction best described as minimalist, the replacement trades hardwired buttons and switchgear for swish digital displays, headlined by a floating tablet-style arrangement atop the dashboard.
Elsewhere, there are aero-inspired spoked circular air-vents and a sportier steering wheel, both which take inspiration from the Stinger.
The sedan version of Kia’s volume-selling model (sketched here) is due on sale in Australia by mid-2018 and will be followed by the new Cerato five-door hatch at the end of this year.
The new Cerato models will bookend a big year for Kia Motors Australia, which in 2018 will also launch facelifted Carnival and Sportage models – the latter bringing autonomous emergency braking as seen on this week’s Sportage AO Edition, plus an updated Optima sedan.
Stand by for more details on the new Cerato when it debuts at the Detroit show on January 15 (3:45am Tuesday Australian EDST).
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