04/07/2008 11:25. SEOUL, South Korea — With official pictures of the Kia Forte hitting Web sites around the globe, it appears that the Korean brand is veering off into an edgy direction with the brand's first serious Honda Civic fighter. The detailed first look at the Forte provides broad clues to what Kia's new corporate face looks like, as well as being the impressive debut model for design director Peter Schreyer, the former Audi design boss.

Although Kia remained silent about the release of the images, they appear to have been leaked intentionally by the automaker. The images originated at Clubforte, a Korean-language enthusiast site. The Forte will be the upcoming replacement for the Kia Spectra in the U.S.,... // Edmunds.com/Inside Line