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.