Kia V8 coupe still on ice

Since Kia's radical GT concept was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, we've been asking at every opportunity just when the rear-wheel drive V8-powered four-door 'coupe' will make production.

To date, the answer has been vague, with most of the Korean brand's representatives being non-committal on the chances of a green light.

But it seems there is more than a glimmer of hope. Kia's vice president of overseas marketing told motoring.com.au this week that the model is now in the R&D stage and could be launched by 2018.

"After unveiling the GT concept we have been blessed with very positive feedback, and response from the journalists," said Lee.

"So the marketing team requested the R&D side develop the GT concept, and we are discussing [that] at the moment.

"For the 2018 Kia vision we need to consolidate our luxury image in the USA market, and in my opinion the GT concept will play a very important role in consolidating that luxury image. To realise the GT, we need a more powerful engine... so we are discussing this with the R&D side."

The inference suggests the GT will not share is architecture with the Kia K900 and Hyundai Genesis, which are both powered in other markets by the Korean car-maker's now aging 5.0-litre 'Tau' V8.

And unlike the Genesis – which is not badged as a Hyundai in any market outside of Australia – Kia will not attempt to disguise the GT's origins, Lee saying the luxury performance model will come "under the Kia nameplate".

These sentiments echo those made by Kia board member and designer head Peter Schreyer early last year.

The GT concept featured front-hinged doors at the front and rear-hinged doors at the rear, eliminating the B-pillar for easier passenger access. Its four-seat interior emphasises the model's grand tourer ideals and is upholstered in warm, earthy tones hinting at an upmarket image.

For the driver, a three-layer glass LED instrument panel sits front and centre with a minimalist centre stack showing only controls for the climate system, a theme replicated down the streamlined centre console.

Featuring obligatory concept car details like cameras in place of rear-view mirrors, the GT show car also had a roof that was slightly convex to extract more passenger space. The bonnet was likewise 'bubbled' and the car also features an air intake at the front and six deeply recessed LED lights.

Since then at the 2014 Detroit show, Kia has revealed another rear-drive concept, this time the compact GT4 Stinger (pictured here in orange) powered by a 235kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and likely based on the Genesis coupe.

As with the GT, Kia has stated its desire to produce a concept version of the GT4, at least for the US market. If it does so, the GT4 would be its version of Hyundai's Genesis coupe and the GT would be its answer to the Genesis sedan.