Kia has started the teaser campaign for its new sports sedan based on the GT concept that we first saw at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.
The automaker on Wednesday released a video highlighting the car’s Nürburgring-honed handling and capability of reaching speeds of up to 232 kmh (144 mph).
The automaker also confirmed a January 8 unveiling, which is the eve of the 2017 Detroit auto show.
The new model, which will be called a K8 in Kia’s home market of Korea and possibly a Stinger everywhere else, has hardly been a secret. Kia has been hinting at the car ever since the reveal of the GT concept and over the years we’ve seen a number of prototypes. A photo of a pre-production example also leaked in November, revealing a design that’s close to the original concept.
While not expected to be a big seller, Kia hopes to boost the image of its brand with the car’s looks and performance. The K900 flagship sedan has made some luxury buyers take note of Kia, and the new sports sedan might persuade some performance buyers too.
