2016 Kia Cerato hatch facelift hits Detroit auto show
The US-market version of the 2016 Kia Cerato hatch and sedan has surfaced at this week’s Detroit auto show, ahead of the Australian model’s debut in the coming months.
Today’s debut in the US - where the Cerato is known as the Forte - follows the December debut of the sedan body in South Korea, where it is sold with K3 badges.
As with that Korean version, the Forte/Cerato’s styling update brings a slender wraparound look to the headlights, which now also feature slim new integrated LED daytime lights.
A longer and more upright grille is also now featured, replacing the upswept butterfly-like design worn with the current outgoing model.
The new face is matched to a more muscular bonnet look and a re-styled bumper, with the ‘SX’ turbocharged sports variant of the US-market hatch also getting a red GTI-inspired highlight band through the centre of the lower grille.
As that earlier unveiling in Korea revealed, the 2016 Cerato also picks up a flat-bottomed steering wheel design in the cabin.
Australian details for the revised Cerato range won’t be revealed until closer to its late second-quarter launch.
Don't expect to see the American market's 150kW 1.6-litre turbocharged variant join the range, however. That option, although not strictly ruled out, is not in any current plans.
