The new generation Kia Forte Koup (that’s Kia’s way of saying Coupe) is nowhere near as good-looking and sporty as the first-gen model. It is based on the new Forte (Cerato) sedan, which has awful headlights, and ungainly proportions. Still, XTomi designers have found a way to make things a little bit better.

That is by chopping the roof off, and turning the Forte into a convertible – virtually, of course. Visually, this car seems to be direct rival for the likes of Mazda MX-5. But it isn’t. The Forte is based on a fairly loose front-wheel-drive chassis that is nothing like as magnificent the Mazda’s rear-drive architecture. What’s more, the engines that power the Forte are not on the par with those of a proper sports car.

What Kia Forte Convertible could be then, if they ever decide to make it, is a cheap and rather cheerful drop-top for those who just want decent equipment, cutesy styling, and of course, the wind in their hair. That said, Kia has never done a convertible before, so the engineering work is going to be a bugger as well.

via XTomi Design