Kia Plans to Tighten up Its Product Line, Offer 'GT' Versions

Kia plans to let its sister division handle the sensible grocery getters and track-ready racers (assuming Hyundai’s N-Division bears fruit), while it churns out hotter “normal” cars.

According to the automaker’s performance development chief, Kia plans to offer a global GT line of its most popular vehicles, boosting the models’ performance and appearance, Autocar reports.

Albert Biermann made the comments at the opening of the automaker’s new Korean test track. The company’s horribly named ProCeed GT hot hatch has been on sale in Europe for several years, so Kia’s global lineup is due for some excitement, Biermann said.

Expect GT-badged models to appear alongside their vanilla siblings, starting with the Optima GT. Sporting the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as the Optima SX, the GT version adds suspension, steering and tire upgrades. Also on tap: a Rio GT, designed to take on the Ford Fiesta ST. We don’t know yet whether the Rio gets a power boost.

“Kia is meant to be more emotional than Hyundai and we have to make cars that reflect that when you drive them,” Biermann told Autocar. “Hyundai is the quieter brand, that’s why the N-Division was created, because the brand cannot stretch as far. Kia can stretch much further, and I think we will be able to do more aggressive cars.”

Admitting that “GT is not right for all Kia models,” Biermann said he wants a Sportage GT, but hasn’t received approval for a hotter version of the brand’s stalwart crossover.

Improvements to the Optima GT prototype began last summer, after Biermann complained to engineers about its performance.

The report doesn’t say when we can expect GT-branded models on these shores, but it’s clear that Kia’s upcoming premium sedan (which rides on the Genesis G70 platform) will not carry the GT name.

[Image: Kia Motors America]