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Kia Sephia

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Kia Sephia
2002-2004 Kia Spectra
Overview
ManufacturerKia Motors
ProductionSeptember 1992–2003
Model years1994–2001 (North America)
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car (C)
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Chronology
PredecessorKia Capital / Kia Concord
SuccessorKia Cerato / Kia Forte

The Kia Sephia is a compact car that was manufactured by the South Korean automaker Kia Motors from September 1992 to 2003.

The first generation Sephia was badged Kia Mentor in some markets, and as the Timor S515/S516 in Indonesia. This convention continued on with the second generation version, which was also badged Kia Shuma and Kia Spectra.

First generation (1992)

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First generation
1994–1997 Kia Mentor GLX Liftback (Australia)
Overview
Also calledKia Mentor (Australia)
Timor S5 (Indonesia)
ProductionSeptember 1992–1997
Model years1994–1997 (North America)
AssemblySouth Korea: Hwaseong (Hwaseong Plant)
Indonesia: Tambun, Bekasi (Indauda); Purwakarta (Kia Timor Motors)
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door liftback
5-door station wagon (Indonesia)
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
  • 5-speed manual
  • 4-speed F4A-EL automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Length4,360 mm (171.7 in)
Width1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height1,390 mm (54.7 in)

The first-generation Kia Sephia is the first car that was actually designed by Kia with their own chassis.[1] Engines available were the B-series engines, with the 1.5-liter rated at 59 kilowatts (79 hp), the 1.6-liter 78-kilowatt (105 hp), and the 1.8-liter BP engine at 91-kilowatt (122 hp) from 1994. The car was presented in September 1992 to replace the aging Capital, which was rapidly losing market share. The Sephia proved quite successful, selling over 100,000 in its first full year in the home market (1993).[2] A total of 472,920 Sephias were sold over the life of the original Sephia.[3]

In the United States, sales began in late 1993 for the 1994 model year. This was the first Kia to be exported to the US. An update came in the 1995 model year when grille and tail lights were restyled and all US-market Sephias except California-market RS/LS models got upgraded to the new 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder BP engine as used in the Mazda Familia (BG). Kia licensed the engine design from Mazda, but manufactured it themselves.

It was launched in Europe in the spring of 1994 as the Kia Sephia in some markets and in others, including the United Kingdom, as the Kia Mentor. It was similar in size to best-selling European small family cars like the Ford Escort, but was priced similarly to smaller cars like the Ford Fiesta. Its key rivals in Europe were budget-priced Eastern European and Far Eastern imported products including the Daewoo Nexia, Hyundai Accent, Proton Persona and Skoda Felicia. In Brazil, the car went on the market in March 1994. It was only offered with the 1.5-liter twin cam engine with 112 PS (82 kW) and was considered a competitor to the domestically built Chevrolet Omega and Volkswagen Santana.[4] To make a car suitable for the Brazilian market, Kia went through the trouble of studying Brazilian road surfacing and importing 1,000 litres (260 US gal) of Brazilian gasoline to properly program the engine management.[4]

Kia presented a conceptual convertible version of the first generation Sephia, which was named "Kia Sephia Cabrio" at some auto shows.

  • 1992–1994 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
    1992–1994 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
  • 1992–1994 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
    1992–1994 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
  • 1994–1997 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
    1994–1997 Kia Sephia GTX sedan (Germany)
  • 1994–1997 Kia Mentor GLX Liftback (Australia)
    1994–1997 Kia Mentor GLX Liftback (Australia)

Timor S5 series

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The Sephia was sold in Indonesia as the Timor S5 since 1996. It was sold by PT Timor Putra Nasional which was intended to be the national carmaker of Indonesia. [5] Due to Timor's status as a national carmaker, the Timor S5 was exempt from taxes and duties levied on other cars sold in the country despite being imported from South Korea. As the result, Timor S5 was sold at half the price of a comparable Toyota Corolla.

Timor S515 with its Timor badge swapped to Kia

The Timor S5 range consisted of the "S515" (SOHC carbureted), "S515i" (DOHC, fuel injected), and "S516i LE" (sports-oriented limited edition, licensed by Prodrive). Timor also had produced the "SW516i" station wagon and a "SL516i" limousine in a limited number.

The Timor S5 was briefly assembled locally at the Timor assembly plant in Purwakarta, West Java with imported parts in 1998 before its discontinuation due to WTO disputes.[6] Sales continued up to 2007, using inventory from vehicles produced up to 1998.

Second generation (1997)

[edit]
Second generation
1998–2000 Kia Mentor GLX sedan (Australia)
Overview
Also calledKia Mentor
Kia Shuma
Kia Spectra
Production1997–2003
1997–2004 (export)
Model years1998–2001 (Sephia)
2000–2003 (Spectra)
AssemblySouth Korea: Hwaseong (Hwaseong Plant)
Egypt: Cairo (AAV)
Indonesia: Cikampek
Malaysia: Gurun (NAM)
Malaysia: Pekan (AMM)
Russia: Izhevsk (IzhAvto)
Pakistan: Sujawal (Dewan Farooque Motors)
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door liftback
RelatedKia Carens (RS)[7]
Powertrain
Engine
  • 1.5 L B5-DE I4 (gasoline)
  • 1.6 L B6 I4 (gasoline)
  • 1.8 L T8D I4 (gasoline)
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,560 mm (100.8 in)
LengthSedan (1997): 4,530 mm (178.3 in)
Sedan (2001): 4,510 mm (177.6 in)
Liftback: 4,525 mm (178.1 in)
WidthSedan: 1,700 mm (66.9 in)
Liftback: 1,725 mm (67.9 in)
HeightSedan: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Liftback: 1,425 mm (56.1 in)

In 1997, the Sephia was completely redesigned as a four-door sedan and five-door liftback, this time in-house by Kia itself with help from Mazda. Kia used a DOHC 1.5-liter and its own new DOHC 1.8-liter engine (the T8D engine, originally developed for the Kia Elan) and an improved air conditioning system. In South Korea, the Sephia label was retired in 2000 and replaced by the Spectra. The Sephia production totals were 628,168.[2]

The North American market received the Sephia sedan for the 1998 model year. For the 2000 model year, the liftback variant was launched, sold under the name "Kia Spectra". The Sephia (sedan) and Spectra (liftback) continued to be sold alongside one another until the 2002 model year updates were introduced. As part of this update, both body variants were facelifted, and the range was rationalized under the single "Kia Spectra" name. Three trim levels were available in the US: an entry-level "S", slightly upgraded "GS", and the top-of-the-range "GSX".

Arab American Vehicles (AAV) manufactured the Spectra in Cairo, Egypt, circa 2002.[8] In Russia production of the Spectra continued until 2011,[9] produced by Izh-Avto. The Spectra liftback was also assembled in Malaysia between 2001 and 2010. Production began at the HICOM AMM plant in Pekan, and was later transferred to Naza's NAM plant in Gurun.[10]

Australia

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The second generation Sephia sedan and liftback were badged "Mentor" in Australia[11] when released in May 1998.[12] Kia offered an entry-level "SLX" with the 1.5-liter inline-four engine, standard with five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, and equipped with power steering, air conditioning, and cloth trim.[11] The higher-specification "GLX" added central locking, power windows and mirrors, more upmarket trim, plus the option of the larger 1.8-liter engine on the liftback variant.[11][13]

From June 2000,[12] following the change of distributor in Australia to Ateco,[11] Kia discontinued the sedan variant and rebadged the liftback "Shuma".[14] Along with the sedan, Kia dispensed with the 1.5-liter engine and SLX/GLX model identifiers.[14] In their place, Kia offered an entry-level "Shuma" and a limited edition "Shuma FX", which added alloy wheels, central locking, power windows and mirrors, improved audio and higher-grade trim to the base model's air-conditioning and power steering.[14] The Shuma also benefited from a minor facelift, which changed the tail-lamp lenses, wheels and interior trimmings.

When the car was facelifted once more in May 2001,[11] Kia rebranded it once more to "Spectra".[15] This update brought redesigned headlights, a new front bumper, adjustments to suspension calibration, and an overhauled four-speed automatic.[15] Equipment-wise, the single-specification "LS" offered a driver's airbag, seatbelt pretensioners and immobiliser were added, along with standard powered mirrors and windows and a host of minor trim upgrades.[15][16] Kia Australia discontinued the Spectra in 2004.[15]

Sedan
  • Pre-facelift Kia Mentor GLX (Australia)
    Pre-facelift Kia Mentor GLX (Australia)
  • Facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
    Facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
  • Facelift Kia Spectra (U.S.)
    Facelift Kia Spectra (U.S.)
  • Facelift Kia Spectra (South Korea)
    Facelift Kia Spectra (South Korea)
Liftback
  • Pre-facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
    Pre-facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
  • Pre-facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
    Pre-facelift Kia Shuma (Germany)
  • Facelift Kia Spectra (U.S.)
    Facelift Kia Spectra (U.S.)
  • Facelift Kia Shuma LS (Ireland)
    Facelift Kia Shuma LS (Ireland)

Other versions

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Latin America (LD; 2003–2005)

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Main article: Kia Cerato (LD)

Although the Sephia's successor, the Kia Cerato, was released in 2003, this replacement vehicle was still named Sephia for Latin America until 2005,[citation needed] when it was discontinued in favor of the name Spectra, as used in North America.[citation needed]

Sephia Taxi (DC; 2003–2022)

[edit]
Main article: Kia Rio (DC)

Some models of the first generation Kia Rio were sold in certain countries of South America, such like Colombia, as "Sephia Taxi" already prepared with the legal requirements to work as Taxi cabs, including the yellow body paint. The Sephia Taxi came with the smaller displacement engine for that body (1.4-liter) and manual transmission.

Sephia Taxi (JB; 2005–2011)

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Kia Sephia Taxi (JB)
Main article: Kia Rio (JB)

The second generation Kia Rio also sold in certain countries of South America as "Sephia Taxi".

Grand Sephia (RD; 2008–2012)

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Kia Grand Sephia Taxi (TD)
Main article: Kia Forte (TD)

Some models of the Kia Forte, were also prepared to be sold as taxi cabs for certain countries of Latin America. The Grand Sephia has the smaller displacement engine available for that body (1.6-liter), and manual transmission.

Sephia Taxi (2020–present)

[edit]
Main article: Kia Pegas

The Sephia nameplate once again is used as a taxi nameplate in Colombia, this time it is based on the Chinese-built Kia Pegas/Soluto.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 서인경 (23 September 1992). "기아자동차 세피아 발표회". 매일경제. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b Limb, Jae-un (12 July 2010). "Blast From the Past #26: First Korean car produced in Indonesia". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  3. ^ "기아차, 45년만에 승용차 500만대 판매…'피아트124'부터 'K5'까지" [Kia Motors sells 5 million passenger cars in 45 years ... From the Fiat 124 to the K5] (in Korean). Newsway. 2015-03-17.
  4. ^ a b Bartolomais Junior, Luis (April 1994). "Um coreano em versão tropical" [A Korean of the tropical variety]. Quatro Rodas (in Portuguese). Vol. 34, no. 405. p. 160.
  5. ^ Nunn, Peter (1996), Norris, Ian (ed.), "Japanese Industry: Back on Track?", Automobile Year, 44 (1996–97), Lausanne, Switzerland: Editions JR, J.-R. Piccard: 99, ISBN 978-2-88324-043-8
  6. ^ Sanjaya, Yongki (2020-07-07). "Ketahui Kelemahan Sedan Timor, Mobil Kontroversial yang Bandel". Carmudi Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  7. ^ "[카&드라이브] 미니밴 : 온가족의 '모빌홈' 시대 활짝" [[Car&Drive] Minivan: The era of the ‘mobile home’ for the whole family]. 한경닷컴 (in Korean). 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  8. ^ "Arab American Vehicles Co". Aav.com.eg. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Izhevsk Car Factory Stopped Production of Kia". Wroom.ru. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  10. ^ "HICOM Automotive - Milestones". hicom-automotive.com.my. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Kia Mentor (Mentor II)". GoAuto. John Mellor. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Kia Mentor". GoAuto. John Mellor. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  13. ^ "1998 Kia Mentor SLX sedan – The Car". GoAuto. John Mellor. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  14. ^ a b c "Kia Shuma (Shuma)". GoAuto. John Mellor. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d "Kia Spectra (FB Spectra)". GoAuto. John Mellor. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  16. ^ Martin, Terry (26 August 2001). "2001 Kia Spectra LS 5-dr hatch – Our Opinion". GoAuto. John Mellor. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  17. ^ Mantilla, Óscar Julián Restrepo (2019-08-16). "Kia Sephia Taxi 2020: Características y precio en Colombia". El Carro Colombiano (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-10-18.
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