Kia Forte Koup!

[2o6]

The current Cobalt SS turbo starts at 260 hp, and GM has a deal optional 300 hp model.

Oh.

[SVT_Power]

The current Cobalt SS turbo starts at 260 hp, and GM has a deal optional 300 hp model.

Wow are they trying to redefine torque steer or what

[SVT666]

Wow are they trying to redefine torque steer or what

Apparently GM did such a good job setting that car up that there is minimal torque steer.

[Xer0]

Its a very handsome car but that steering wheel has got to go. 

[MX793]

Wow are they trying to redefine torque steer or what

Not as bad as the Caliber SRT-4, which has I believe 285 hp stock (and an open diff).

Plus there's plenty of larger FWDs with 280+ hp.  The V8 W-bodies are/were making 300+.

[ChrisV]

Not as bad as the Caliber SRT-4, which has I believe 285 hp stock (and an open diff).

Plus there's plenty of larger FWDs with 280+ hp.  The V8 W-bodies are/were making 300+.

The '70 caddy Eldorado had a 500 cid V8 powereing the front wheels with over 500 lb ft of torque and no torque steer, even though it could blaze the tires at will.

[S204STi]

How much of a Civic ripoff is that? Holy cow!

+1.

Almost action-ably similar to the Civic up front.

[2o6]

The '70 caddy Eldorado had a 500 cid V8 powereing the front wheels with over 500 lb ft of torque and no torque steer, even though it could blaze the tires at will.

But the engine wasn't mounted transversely...........was it?

[ChrisV]

How the engine is mounted has little to do with torque steer, and everything to do with how the rotational forces are transmitted through the axles and through the steering gear/tire contact patch. It really doesn't even have anything to do with equal length axles or not.

[the Teuton]

How the engine is mounted has little to do with torque steer, and everything to do with how the rotational forces are transmitted through the axles and through the steering gear/tire contact patch. It really doesn't even have anything to do with equal length axles or not.

Equal-length driveshafts do help a lot.

[93JC]

I think the steering geometry has more to do with it.

[ChrisV]

Equal-length driveshafts do help a lot.

Supposedly, but there is now debate on that. It seems that the rotational point of the spindle vs the tire contact patch has more to do with it than axle length.

http://ask.metafilter.com/5467/Please-explain-torque-steer

http://mcasco.com/qa_ts.html

http://www.modified.com/editors/technobabble/9909scc_technobabble/index.html

IIRC, the Eldorado and Toronado had the trans and differential on one side of the engine.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's all in the design and alignment of the suspension. The Swift torque steers like a bitch, despite having an intermediate axle shaft to equalize the lengths, and very little torque to speak of. If you actually think about how a twisting axle will affect the hub, which can only pivot in one direction around the balljoints, the slight effect of the axle orientation on torque steer should not be related to length as much as it is their angles. And then there is caster, toe and scrub radius.

[cawimmer430]

Someone edit the thread title and put the correct name in it: Honda Civic. 

[2o6]

I'm lovin' it.




Anyone else see Audi A5 in it? After all, VAG's ex designer now works for Kia.......

[CJ]

That looks a lot like the Civic, except better.

[the Teuton]

That's a really attractive compact car.  Too bad about the badge.  I think a lot of people will overlook it because it's a Kia.

[S204STi]

That's a really attractive compact car.  Too bad about the badge.  I think a lot of people will overlook it because it's a Kia.

I have to admit, that's a very handsome car.  Seems to meld Civic with Audi with Camaro (taillights).  I love it.  May have to go drive one and see what the bride thinks of it.

[CALL_911]

That looks a lot like the Civic, except better.

Yeah.

[omicron]

Very sharp indeed.

[Raza]

It looks quite good.  What kind of drivetrain are we looking at?

[MX793]

It looks quite good.  What kind of drivetrain are we looking at?

FWD, probably either a 2.0 or 2.4 I4.

[Raza]

FWD, probably either a 2.0 or 2.4 I4.

Not bad.  2.4's a little big, but with some decent power output, it should be entertaining (if the chassis can keep up).

[2o6]

It looks quite good.  What kind of drivetrain are we looking at?

FWD, 2.0L GEMA engine (Naturally Aspirated) from the Genesis, a 2.4L from Kia.

[93JC]

FWD, 2.0L GEMA engine (Naturally Aspirated) from the Genesis, or a 2.4L from Kia GEMA engine from the Optima/Magentis, Sonata, Dodge Caliber, Journey, Avenger, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, etc.

Kia doesn't make their own engines.

[Vinsanity]

I've started to see a few of these over the weekend, and they're very sharp looking cars IRL. Easily better-looking than the Civic and Scion TC.

[ifcar]

I've started to see a few of these over the weekend, and they're very sharp looking cars IRL. Easily better-looking than the Civic and Scion TC.

You're seeing them?

[Vinsanity]

You're seeing them?

There's a big Kia office between where I live and work. I'm guessing it might be where your Soul press car came from.

[ifcar]

There's a big Kia office between where I live and work. I'm guessing it might be where your Soul press car came from.

Get some pictures! The Forte doesn't come out until the end of the summer.

[Vinsanity]

Get some pictures! The Forte doesn't come out until the end of the summer.

I don't know if their parking lot is guarded, so this will have to do for now:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=33.717444,-117.792355&spn=0,359.99746&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=33.717366,-117.79224&panoid=ribYzpOv1gN4SuuS6_vG_w&cbp=12,237.45,,0,6.02