We noted last year that Kia?s Novo concept (pictured above) could presage the brand?s entry into the four-door-coupe segment. At the time, we suggested that the car ?could give the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf a real run for their money among style-minded customers.? But it looks as though Kia?s aiming beyond the Mazda 3 with its next foray into a new arena. Its sights are set on BMW?s venerable 3-series.
According to a report in Automotive News, a new sedan, code-named ?CK,? is slated for production in May of 2017, meaning we?ll likely see a near-production or full-on production version this fall on the auto-show circuit, perhaps either at Paris or Los Angeles. The L.A. show would make sense, given that it?s practically the BMW?s natural habitat, and Southern California is Kia’s U.S. home. Like the 3, the Kia will be rear-drive, making it the second RWD machine produced by the company after the rather coolly received K900 luxobarge. With Hyundai?s Genesis brand aiming for the luxosphere, Kia sees sporty style as the way forward. Allegedly, the new sports sedan will offer 2.0-, 2.2-, and 3.0-liter powerplants, presumably putting it roughly in line with BMW?s non-M models in terms of power output.

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Kia is said to be targeting a volume of 60,000 examples a year, moving some Rio production to Mexico to...