Kia's All-New 2005 Spectra5 Makes U.S. Debut in New York
Five-Door Hatchback Is Sportier Sibling Of Korean Automaker's Compact Sedan

New York 04/08/2004 -- When Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled the completely 
  redesigned 2004 Spectra5 compact sedan earlier this year in Detroit, it promised 
  a sportier follow-up later in the season. Today, at the New York International 
  Automobile Show, that promise was fulfilled as the fastest growing Korean automaker 
  pulled the wraps off the 2005 Spectra5, an all-new, sport-tuned and aggressively 
  styled five-door hatchback version of the Spectra sedan.
Building upon the strong foundation provided by its sedan sibling, the Spectra5 
  features class-leading safety equipment and adds a new sport-tuned, four-wheel 
  independent suspension and 16-inch wheels and tires for better steering response 
  and turn-in, a strut tower bar -- the first ever on a Kia -- for a stiffer chassis 
  and better handling, and design touches such as a rear spoiler, fog lights, 
  leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with perforated leather, sport 
  fabric on the seats and door panels and metal-finish trim throughout the interior, 
  including metal pedals.
"The Spectra5 was designed to be the sportiest Kia ever," said Peter M. Butterfield, 
  president and chief executive officer, Kia Motors America. "As our brand continues 
  to grow it was imperative to develop the Spectra5 not just as a complement to 
  the four-door sedan, but rather a fun, exciting vehicle that stands out from 
  the crowd and meets the needs of our young, active target audience."
The 2005 Spectra5 will take its place alongside its sedan counterpart in Kia's 
  growing product portfolio, and is the automaker's most recent new product designed 
  specifically to attract a broader spectrum of American consumers to the brand. 
  Kia believes the sporty Spectra5 will eventually comprise 30% of Spectra sales 
  in the U.S.
Designed to be Different
  Inside and out, the Spectra5 looks dramatically different than the four-door 
  Spectra sedan, although the two vehicles share the same new platform, providing 
  a longer wheelbase and increased overall width and height from the previous 
  generation vehicles.
Adding a sportier, more extroverted personality to the sculpted exterior design 
  of the sedan, the Spectra5 features an assertive front end highlighted by a 
  black mesh grille and black-out headlights, a deeper, more aggressive front 
  spoiler, fog lights and rear valance and spoiler. The Spectra5 maintains the 
  sedan's sharp crease-line that runs below and parallel to the green house, as 
  well as the distinctive, muscular arches at each fender, complimenting its wide, 
  aggressive stance and its standard 16-inch, eight-spoke alloy wheels.
Like its sedan counterpart, the Spectra5 offers best-in-class passenger room 
  at 98.1 cubic feet, larger than its key competitors, the Mazda3, Ford Focus 
  ZX5 and Toyota Matrix. The Spectra5's cargo capacity of 18.3 cubic feet is significantly 
  larger than the previous generation five-door Spectra.
Safety is a Priority
  The all-new Spectra5 follows Kia's brand philosophy of offering best-in-class 
  safety equipment, including:

  Six standard air bags, including dual advanced front and front seat-mounted 
    side air bags, and full-length side curtain air bags.
  Standard four-wheel disc brakes, with four-sensor, four-channel anti-lock 
    brakes available as optional equipment. 

To ensure that the front air bags are deployed properly, sensors controlling 
  the front supplemental restraints determine whether the seat belt is buckled 
  and gauge the severity of a frontal impact before deployment.
Additional safety features include: front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force 
  limiters, 3-point seatbelts for all five seating positions, Lower Anchors and 
  Tethers for Children (LATCH) and child safety door latches.
Tuned To Be Sporty
  Incorporating continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and multi-port fuel 
  injection, the Spectra5 is powered by a new 2.0-liter DOHC engine that produces 
  138-horsepower and 135 lbs.-ft. of torque. The Spectra5 offers more standard 
  horsepower than many competing vehicles in the segment, including the Toyota 
  Matrix, and Ford Focus ZX5. A five-speed manual transmission with improved shift 
  linkage is standard, while an electronically controlled four-speed automatic 
  transmission is available as an option.
A new, sport-tuned four-wheel independent suspension provides the Spectra5 
  with an athletic stance, while the addition of a strut tower bar provides additional 
  torsional rigidity for better handling.
  Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard on all Spectra models, a rarity 
  in the compact class, and aiding handling is a precise rack-and-pinion steering 
  system equipped with engine-speed-sensitive power assist.
A Dynamic Package
  Available in one trim level, the Spectra5 offers an impressive list of standard 
  features including: air conditioning, AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers, 
  power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power heated outside 
  mirrors, rear wiper/washer, and a height-adjustable steering column.
Inside, modern forms and a two-tone color scheme create a clean, integrated 
  look to complement the Spectra5's sport cloth seats and metal-finish trim on 
  the center stack and around the door handles. Adding to its sporty look and 
  feel, the Spectra5 also features a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift 
  knob, as well as metal pedals, a first for Kia.
The 2005 Spectra5 is built in Hwasung, South Korean and will be covered by 
  Kia's 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced 
  closer to the vehicle summer 2004 launch.
Kia Motors America, the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors 
  Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.