SEMA 2010: Kia Forte Koup Hybrid Concept is green, Koup R Concept is smoky gray goodness

�� · #1 04-11-2010, 02:30 AM

Filed under: SEMA Show, Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Kia

Kia Forte Hybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Kia Forte Hybrid is neat enough - green on the outside, green and leafy on the inside. Riding cast alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires, the hybrid system mixes it up with a 1.6-liter LPG engine tied to lithium polymer batteries. Saving the world is counteracted with killing your ears, though - this eco-friendly concept has a 1,200-watt Infinity 2 audio system on board.

The Kia Forte Koup Type R Concept, on the other hand, is unbridled awesome. Built to commemorate Kia's first year in the Grand Am racing series, it's a hotness-added version of the Forte Koup put together by Kinetic Motorsports. Blistered and vented panels are adorned with 18-inch BBS wheels and some diffuser action in back, plus a green-mesh and carbon accented interior kicked up a notch by a short throw shift kit. Best yet, Kia says that this has "an eye on future production vehicle applications." Yes, please! It's something like what the second-generation Scion tC should have been, and you'll find more on it in the presser after the jump and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Kia Forte Hybrid Concept