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Thanks to some spy photos obtained by the folks at InsideLine, we now know that Kia is planning to introduce a five-door hatchback to the Forte lineup. It's not clear when the car will debut or exactly what it will be called; there's the obvious Forte hatchback, or the Forte5 name (in reference to the Sectra5). Or perhaps it will be called the Forte Touring – like the Elantra Touring.

We can be confident it will come standard with the 156-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and there's a good change the larger and more powerful 173-hp 2.4-liter engine will also be offered. Interestingly, the spy photos (follow the link below) show the hatchback wearing the same wheels as the coupe – perhaps suggesting that Kia will take the hatchback in a sporty direction. While unconventional (at least on this side of the Atlantic), a sporty hatch would compete perfectly with the car's main competitors: the Volkswagon Golf and Mazda3. A sporty hatchback will also be important for Kia's continued expansion in Europe.

More: Kia Forte Hatchback to Expand Forte Lineup to Three Models on AutoGuide.com