Kia Motors America (KMA) is the fastest growing car company in the U.S.1, and the brand, which has recently undergone a design-led transformation, continued to turn heads today at the Los Angeles Auto Show with the North American introduction of the striking Kia GT concept vehicle during the show. The forward-looking Kia GT concept – originally shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show – signals the company's distinctive new design direction with graceful yet confident styling and is the first rear-wheel-drive concept in Kia's history.

"Over the past three years Kia's design-led transformation has delivered more new products than any other brand, and the first showing of the striking GT concept on U.S. soil provides a glimpse into our future showroom and the continuing role world-class design will play in the development of our vehicles," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "With its rear-wheel-drive platform and powerful engine, the GT concept represents exciting possibilities for Kia as we move forward to the next chapter in brand history."

Sleek and muscular, the Kia GT four-door sports sedan concept was created by Kia's European design team under the watchful eye of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer. The new concept allowed Kia to explore exciting new visual paths, including a unique interpretation of the Kia-family tabbed grille with a carbon-fiber insert to match the front and rear fascias and side sills.

Triangular swept-back headlamps with pronounced outlines flank the grille and transition seamlessly to the sloping hood and up to the wide windshield. The extended hood along with the rear-wheel-drive configuration also allowed for the design team to push the front wheels to the extreme front of the car to increase its sporty design. The swooping angle from windshield to rear window enhances the GT's aerodynamic presence, while vent-like tail lights, powerful rear shoulders and truncated rear end add to the vehicle's hunkered down appearance. Propeller-style rims complete the dynamic look.

The GT's front and rear-hinged back doors open slightly upward to ensure easy ingress and egress, and the spacious cabin provides comfortable seating for four, assisted by the concept's unusually long wheelbase of 112.6 inches and overall length of 184.6 inches. Despite its low stance, an overall height of 54.3 inches allows for plenty of headroom.

The GT is not all looks, however, packing plenty of heat under the hood. Coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission is a 3.3-liter turbocharged Lambda V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine, allowing the rear-wheel-drive sports sedan to offer a thrilling 395 horsepower and 393.5 pound-feet of torque.

"It's not coming soon, it's coming now." That's the official description of the Kia GT4 Stinger concept, which has every appearance of being a Kia version of the Genesis coupe.

It's the Kia GT4 Stinger concept car. As World Car Fans reports, the engine is a 315 horsepower 2.0-liter T-GDI (It stands for Thank God for Direct Injection, FYI) four cylinder. The brakes are two piece cross-drilled Brembos with four-piston calipers. And finally, praise be, there's a six speed manual transmission.

It's basically all you would want of a 2+2 sporty coupe. The styling is clean and modern. The engine is high tech. The power goes to the rear wheels. This is all part of the basic sports coupe formula seen in everything from the Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 to the Vauxhall Prince Henry.

What's interesting is the platform. There's only one way that Kia could develop a 2+2 rear-drive sports car, and that's by reworking the Genesis coupe (here's the next one) by their partner Hyundai. That's what Kia's already done with the Kia K900 and the Hyundai Genesis sedan.

What's also interesting is that Kia appears to have every intention of bringing this car to market very soon. The only question now is when and how much it will cost.

Inside, the track-oriented GT4 features a flat-bottom steering wheel, red pull straps instead of door handles and no audio system.