Forget everything you knew about the Kia Sorento—if you knew anything at all. The former body-on-frame SUV has been reinvented in its second generation as a far more relevant, if slightly less macho, crossover. And not a moment too soon.

“Everything is new except for the Sorento name,” says Sorento product strategy manager Steve Hirashiki. He’s right. Even its birthplace is new. Built at Kia’s brand-spankin’-fresh factory in West Point, Georgia, about 85 miles southwest of Atlanta, the Sorento is the American car industry’s newest naturalized citizen.

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Kia’s current and upcoming product catalog suggests a naming strategy solely inspired by someone’s old music dictionary. Both the Rondo and the upcoming Cadenza draw their names from musical terminology—as does parent Hyundai’s Sonata—and now we have the Forte, christened with an Italian word that directs performers to play loudly.

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One of the reasons automakers build concept vehicles is to gauge the public’s reaction to a new design. Apparently, the Kia Soul’ster garnered enough goodwill and interest after its debut at the Detroit Auto Show the Korean automaker is strongly considering putting the canvas-roofed Soul-amino into production. Previously, Kia’s Alex Fedorak said the Tonka-mobile was created “in a fashion that was production-capable.”

According to Kia-World, though the automaker isn’t officially saying the Soul’ster will be mass produced, unnamed Korean magazines are reporting it’s looking good and that a decision is on the way in short order. If there’s any truth to the rumors, we can expect to see the little subcompact pick’em-up truck on American roads in the second half of 2010.

Continuing its long-term assault on the market, Kia blew the covers off the production version of the Koup concept that was unveiled during last year’s New York Auto Show. The Korean automaker’s first-ever two door coupe model is based on the new Forte Sedan with which it shares the mechanical hardware as well as the interior design. On the outside, it’s another story as Kia has come up with a sharp looking design featuring a lower stance and a series of unique styling cues that differentiate the Koup from the sedan.

And while it’s evident that the Kia’s small coupe bears a few design similarities with Honda’s European Civic hatchback (front) as well as from the Acura RSX (rear), overall, the 2010 Forte Koup looks pretty neat.

“On the heel of the introductions of the Soul and Forte sedan, Forte Koup represents the next exciting step in the transformation of Kia design and offers a blend of sporty and emotional appeal,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA. “We believe our new design evolution coupled with standard Kia value and safety features will continue to attract customers to the Kia brand.”

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The Kia Spectra, last redesigned for 2004, is the oldest model in Kia’s range. In tacit acknowledgement of the Spectra name’s lack of cachet, its replacement is called Forte. Debuting at the 2009 Chicago auto show, the 2010 Kia Forte is dressed in sheetmetal that looks strikingly similar to that of the current Honda Civic.

The Forte is offered in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX, and the latter sports a newly offered 2.4-liter inline-four with 173 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. Buyers cross-shopping the Kia should take note that the 2.4 offers more horsepower than the 2010 Mazda 3 s and Toyota Corolla XRS. The SX comes with 17-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and larger front brakes than lesser Fortes. LX and EX models receive a 2.0-liter four with 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, up 18 hp and 8 lb-ft from the outgoing Spectra. Opting for the LX or EX yields customers their choice of a five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic transmission, while the SX offers a standard six-speed manual or an optional five-speed auto. A Fuel-Economy Package will also be offered on the 2.0-liter that includes the five-speed slushbox and low-rolling-resistance tires with “aero enhancements,” which Kia says will result in 36 mpg on the highway.
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