Kia Cerato GT 2018 readies for Australia
The warmer Cerato uses a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine tuned to produce 150kW/265Nm.
New images of the upcoming Kia Cerato GT sedan have emerged on the South Korean brand's domestic consumer website this week, following the reveal of the hatchback last month.
While timing and specification details are scarce, CarsGuide understands the warmed-up Cerato will hit Aussie showrooms early next year, with both body styles available.
The new model will follow the launch of the new-generation Cerato sedan that arrived in June, and the updated hatchback, expected to land in December.
Unlike its Stinger GT stablemate, and the i30 N from its sister company Hyundai – two unquestionably high-performance machines – Kia's new Cerato GT will play more as a warmed-up version of the current model.
Swapping out the standard 112kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine for a 1.6-litre turbocharged set-up (also used in the Hyundai i30 SR), the high-spec Cerato steps things up to 150kW/265Nm.
Some reports suggest the vehicle will be available with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
With the GT expected to borrow much from the i30 SR, which is priced from $25,990 plus on-road costs, it could land in Australia at around the same price. Although the current flagship Cerato Sport+ is priced at $26,190 drive-away.
In Korea, where the new Cerato GT is known as the K3 GT, the vehicle sports 18-inch alloy wheels with performance tyres, updated rear suspension, a more aggressive bodykit and dual exhaust outlets.
It's likely the Aussie version will gain much of the same gear, as well as its interior upgrades, which include a flat-bottom steering wheel and leather sports seats.
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