Kia Forte specs released: 33 mpg gas 39 mpg diesel

Kia has released the specifications for the new Forte, the Korean marque's new compact sedan. While the car is slightly larger the current Spectra (wider by 65 mm and 25 mm longer), the announced specs manage to reduce fuel consumption.

In its home market in South Korea, the Forte will have two powertrains available, one gasoline and one diesel, spotting the same engine size, 1.6 liters. The gasoline version will have 124 HP and produces 159 lb/ft of torque. Mated to the automatic transmission, it will provide 33 mpg or 7.1 l/100 km, which improves the Hyundai Elantra's fuel economy (a close corporate relative) by 15 percent. Regarding diesel, the engine has 128 HP and will reach mileage of 39 mpg (or 6.1 l/100 km). A 2.0 liter will follow on directly, and may be the only engine we get in the US when the Forte arrives on North American highways and byways in 2009.