Kia Teases K4 Ahead of 2024 New York International Auto Show

When it comes to rumors, it would be wise to ignore them – especially when the source is unreliable. It can be easy to become easily convinced and believe the rumor, but when there aren’t a lot of facts or evidence to support it, it’s best to wave it off. It’s why we don’t tend to write too much about rumored vehicles with very few facts, because speculation doesn’t offer much to talk about. We wait for the specs, or news straight from the automaker before setting off the fireworks, and it would seem one rumored vehicle from the Kia Corp is finally making its debut. The New York International Auto Show will be the first time anyone gets a look at the mysterious Kia K4!

Well, this is a surprise. We literally just talked about the 2024 Kia K4 last week. And yes, we talked about it as if it was merely a rumor making its rounds around the internet like Y2K. There wasn’t much to speak of, with many automakers speculating on the specs and powertrain that may be offered on the K4. With very little information to go on, there has been a lot of guesswork, especially with another vehicle model that is unclear, the Kia K3. It only makes sense that the Kia K4 will sit somewhere between the K3 and the K5, so we have some information to work with.

If no one remembers the Kia K5 sports car, then maybe they’ll remember the Kia Optima. A popular vehicle that spawned a hybrid and plug-in hybrid model, the Optima did well for itself and lasted 18 years before Kia decided it was time to release a new generation of the vehicle with a new name. The fifth generation of the Kia Optima was badged as the K5 worldwide, the nameplate already used for the same model overseas in South Korea. Turning the Optima into a true sports car in the waves made by the Kia Stinger, the lineup was starting to change and needed something fresh. With the automaker putting a lot of focus and resources into its battery-electric vehicle (BEV) lineup, it’s amazing to watch it also juggle new gasoline models every few years.

The 2024 Kia K5 comes standard with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, able to generate 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and a GT trim powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, able to generate 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. We expect the K4 will hit smaller numbers, and will be more akin to a passenger sedan than a sports car. Even so, said to replace Kia Forte – another vehicle that has seen better days – the K4 does look pretty slick in the above image. Called the Kia K4 next-generation compact sedan, we won’t know much about what kind of comfort and technology the K4 brings to the market until the New York International Auto Show.

Good thing we won’t have to worry and speculate for much longer. The New York International Auto Show opens to the public on Friday March 29, 2024 and lasts until Sunday, April 7, 2024. As for the Kia K4, automotive journalists and the press always get an early preview days before the auto show opens its doors to everyone. That means, we should be getting more information about the Kia K4 on or around March 27, 2024.

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Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media