Kia has been spied testing what appears to be the next-generation Cerato in the US, sporting much bolder styling.
A video posted on YouTube by Kindel Auto shows the next-gen sedan with Michigan license plates. This new vehicle was he was previously spied on in Korea bearing the CL4 marking on its tires, the internal designation of the next Cerato.
The US market currently gets the Cerato in sedan guise under the Forte nameplate, while in Korea it’s known as the K3. Europe gets a different, albeit mechanically related, small car called the Ceed.
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Like recently revealed the K3 sedanwhich replaces Rio in markets such as Mexico, this prototype features a faster silhouette than the current Cerato sedan, with a steeply sloping rear roofline.
Unlike the K3 and K5 sedans, however, the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillar.
There’s no mistaking that this is something different from Kia, with the prototype sporting the brand’s new front and rear styling with distinctive sideways L-shaped lighting units.
The interior remains under wraps, so it’s unclear if it will be such a dramatic departure from the current car.
The Korean Car Blog reports that the new model could use a version of the existing Cerato platform and powertrains, but potentially get a hybrid option. That would give Kia a hybrid rival Hyundai i30 Sedanarriving late to Australia this year, and Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
The K3 nameplate was previously used on the Cerato in some markets, leading to speculation that with the introduction of the new K3 replacing the Rio, Kia’s next-generation small car could be called the K4.
The K4 nameplate was previously used on a sedan for the Chinese market produced from 2014 to 2020, which sat between the Cerato and Optimum in size.
Despite abandoning the Rio hatchback locally, Kia is committed to staying at the more affordable end of the Australian passenger car market.
Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith told CarExpert that the small passenger car segment has traditionally kept the company going.
“I think our small passenger cars – Picanto, Rio, Cerato – form the basis for our growth,” Mr Meredith said.
“[The small passenger car segment has] was really important to us and the Picanto and Cerato in particular will continue to be important to us.”
“We are quite confident that the Cerato and Picanto will continue to sell reasonably well for a long period of time,” added Mr Meredith.
“They are one of our great strengths. Where other manufacturers deserted [the small car] segment, we continued in those areas.”
This essentially confirms that there will be updated and new generation versions of the Picanto and Cerato in the future.
Picanto, similar to Sorrento and Carnivalwas treated with EV9facelift in style as Kia launches its new, bolder front and rear styling across the range.
MORE ▼: All Kia CeratoMORE ▼: 2023 Kia Cerato review
