2010 SEMA: Kia Forte Koup "Type R" Concept Live Photos

By Nelson Ireson

Nelson Ireson

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2010 SEMA: Kia Forte Koupe Type R Concept

The Kia Forte Koup might not be your go-to front-drive two-door for performance modification, but maybe that ought to change. Andy Lally, Trevor Hopwood, and a handful of other great drivers take the wheel of a pair of modified Koups for Continental Tire competition as part of the Grand Am series, after all. And this SEMA concept builds on those Kinetic Motorsports cars to push the envelope even farther--while remaining streetable.

Because the Kinetic racing Koups are built for a spec series, there's not a whole lot of work done to make them more powerful. Instead, they're focused on being light, quick, stopping and turning well, and reliably going the distance. Accordingly, the Forte Koup "Type R" Concept gets mods in that vein: upgraded Alcon Monobloc 4 piston brakes with 48-vane, 343-mm front and 315-mm rear discs, 18x8.5 BBS single-piece forged wheels, a SPEC stage two clutch, Kinetic lightweight flywheel, custom Kinetic limited-slip differential, Kinetic Performance springs and lowering kit, Kinetic underdrive pulley kit, K&N race filter, chassis braces, Kinetic exhaust, and more.

But because this is a Type R Concept and not a full-on race car, it also gets a unique body kit, a racy interior treatment, an Infinity Kappa stereo system, a tint job, and a Dark Shadow Grey Metallic PPG paint job.