Kia Sephia

Kia Sephia GTX Saloon (1996-1999)

The Kia Sephia ( Kia Mentor in some markets ) was a compact-class car of the automobile manufacturer Kia Motors.

Production was started in autumn 1992 in the Korean Hwaseong, in early 1994 followed the sale in Europe and USA. Served as a basis in 1988, the gaming Mazda 323 BG series. First, the Sephia was only available as a sedan, what the buyers restricted. From the late 1990s is also the lack of a diesel supply was noticeable.

With the extensive facelift in summer 1994 (available in Germany from mid- 1996) was also a hatchback variant (on some markets, " Sephia Leo" ). This was already planned for the first model and was unveiled at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show, but management opted for a later launch. The new model received a more modern front, and as required by the Kia Clarus interior. Safety side, ABS and front passenger airbags were available for the first time, the former option to the last. The internal model abbreviation FA remained unaffected by the revision.

1998 debuted the further developed in-house second generation, which was available only as a sedan model called Sephia. At her side turned to an optically independent hatchback model, which was introduced in the U.S. under the model name Spectra. In Germany, however, both were sold from the beginning as Kia Shuma. Beginning of 1999, then ended the sale of Sephias in Germany.

The Sephia the first generation, there were up to facelift with 1.6 liter engine (80 hp), then with a 1.5-liter version of the same power and an optional 1.8 -liter free -rotor engine (112 hp). The latter reduced the sprint to 100 km / h but only by one second. He was a 1995 Kia Clarus published in -house development and available only in the hatchback model. A peculiarity of the Kia Sephia maintained until 2004 when the successors - just like the engine in an updated version.

The Sephia was there with the equipment descriptions SLX (basic, recognizable by the unpainted bumpers), GTX and GLX. The latter was more of a model name, as it was identical to the GTX line, but the 1.8 -liter engine included. The SLX variant took the option to ABS, electric windows and mirror adjustment, emphasized the otherwise standard tachometer, remote keyless entry and guided under the front seats rear heater and the interior lighting with reading lamps, the height-adjustable driver's seat and the rear headrests. For this purpose, the immobilizer also not included fits.

Sephia (1992-1996)

Rear view

Kia Sephia SLX ( basic equipment )

Sephia (1996-1999)

Rear view of the Sephia SLX Saloon

Kia Sephia SLX Hatchback

Kia Sephia sedan ( U.S. version )