Kia GT concept headed for production?

A new report finds the Kia GT concept (pictured) that debuted at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show has been given the light for production.

Expected to eschew the GT moniker, Kia’s upcoming range-topping sedan will lose the concept’s futuristic fins up front and gain a set of more conventional rear-hinged doors. The show car’s sleek and sporty silhouette will make it to production essentially unchanged, allowing Kia to position the yet-unnamed sedan as a more affordable alternative to the Audi A7 and the Porsche Panamera.

The sedan will feature a luxurious interior with room for up to four passengers on individual leather-upholstered seats. It will be packed with comfort-enhancing features including reclining rear seats, a heads-up display, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

Power will come from a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine that will spin the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission controlled by shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Buyers in Europe will have access to a turbodiesel mill, but Kia will likely not sell the oil-burner on this side of the pond. 

The production version of of the Kia GT will reportedly land in showrooms by the end of 2016, meaning it could be unveiled at a major auto show late next year.

If the rumor proves accurate, additional details about Kia’s ambitious Audi-fighting sedan will emerge over the coming months.