This was supposed to have been shown at the Detroit Auto Show, but no site I've seen has pictures or information posted. Anyways, found some pics of the Kia version (Cerato) that will come to the our shores as the 2005 Spectra.

 

The new Spectra will be powered by a revised version of the 2.0L Hyundai 4cyl engine putting out 143hp.

 

The styling, while hardly unique, is much more impressive and refined than its predecessor. The new Spectra's exterior does a good job of looking like a much more expensive car and loses a lot of the goofiness of the old model it replaces. I especially like the new grill and headlights. The car also grows a bit, increasing interior room, without increasing too much in price. I think this time around Kia has a much better compact car to compete with.

 

the back end says protege

 

I'm sure Kia/Hyundai didn't have to go too far into making this new car better than the outgoing Spectra (i.e. Sephia).

It looks hohum, but the Hyundai 2.0 liter is actually a pretty good motor (wee bit racuous here and there, but not bad).

The thing is the Sephia actually used to be quasi fun to drive in the mid 1990's when it had the high revving Mazda sourced motor. The rest of the car was just a piece of shit.

In 1998 the Sephia got revised styling and a new motor. The new motor was Kia's own effort and was not exactly, um...ground breaking. And oh, the car was still shit.

So maybe, just maybe, we have both a decent car and a decent engine this time.

 

Well, it's probably better than a Chevy Cobalt.

 

Styling wise its better than the Cobalt, and I'm betting the interior is too. It'll be cheaper than the Cobalt and probably even more reliable. Kia's been getting a lot better lately.