By Andy Hum

FIFTY PEOPLE DID, during a recent road show by Kia. Specifically, those 50 orders were for the upcoming Kia Forte Koup, a two-door coupe based on the highly successful Cerato Forte and one that is still more than a month away from being launched.

Available with the same 1.6- and 2.0-litre engines that power the Cerato Forte, the Forte Koup also shares the same chassis, with the same wheelbase. Because of that, passengers in the rear have a rather generous amount of legroom – 862mm (only 28mm less than the Cerato Forte) – which is hard to find in most other two-door coupes.

There’s a choice of the same four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox found in its sedan brother, which allows the 1.6- and 2.0-litre Koup to get from 0-100km/h in 10.3 and 9.3 seconds, respectively.

Cycle and Carriage Kia senior manager of Kia operations, Chin Kee Min, said, “We’re quite pleasantly surprised because it shows that the Singaporean society is becoming more cosmopolitan and are heading towards lifestyle choices.

“This car offers another dimension to customers and people who are more individualistic and want to show their sense of style. It’s good for those who want a two-door car but also want the convenience of a four-door.”