2012 Kia Cerato Pictures

The Kia Spectra, Kia Cerato, or Kia Forte is a compact car / small family car produced by the Korean automaker Kia Motors since 2000, originally sold only as a hatchback. When the car was redesigned in 2004-05, it later became Kia's top-selling vehicle in the United States, which it remains.

When introduced for the 2000 model year for Korea and the United States, it was a hatchback version of the Kia Sephia and Kia Shuma (pronounced Shü-mä´), and replaced the Sephia. It was developed from Kia's previous hatchback, the Mentor (Sephia Leo). Several years later, Kia reveals the minor redesigned model. Renamed as Spectra Wing / Shuma II. Its successor is also the Kia Cerato as the Spectra / Sephia II models. The Shuma was powered 1.5L and 1.8L fuel injected four-cylinder petrol engines and its £8,500 starting price was £3,000 less than the approximately equivalent Ford Focus. In 2002 it replaced the Sephia and Shuma completely, though it was the same vehicle. In Russia production of first-gen Spectra is continued by Izh-Avto.

• Kia Shuma/ Spectra 2000-2004 performance:
• 1.6L DOHC engine 107hp 0-100km/ h: 11 sec., top speed: 115mph (185km/ h) MT
• 1.6L DOHC engine 107hp 0-100km/ h: 13 sec., top speed: 111mph (178km/ h) AT
• 1.8L DOHC engine 125hp 0.100km/ h: 9.8 sec., top speed: 123mph (198km/ h) MT
• 1.8L DOHC engine 125hp 0.100km/ h: 10.9 sec., top speed: 118mph (190km/ h) AT
• 2.0L DOHC engine 132hp 0.100km/ h: 8.9 sec., top speed: 128mph (206km/ h) MT
• 2.0L DOHC engine 132hp 0-100km/ h: 10.0 sec., top speed: 125mph (201km/ h) AT

Three trim levels were available: an entry level S, slightly upgraded SX, and the top-of-the-range GSX.