| Manufacturer | Kia Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1992–2003 |
| Predecessor | Kia Capital |
| Successor | Kia Cerato |
| Class | Compact car |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
The Kia Sephia is a compact car that was manufactured by the South Korean automaker Kia Motors from September 1992 to 2003. The name "Sephia" is an acronym of these words: "style", "elegant", "powerful", "hi-tech", "ideal", and "auto".
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 .
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| Also called | Kia Mentor Timor S515/S516 |
|---|---|
| Production | September 1992–1997 |
| Assembly | South Korea: Hwasung (Hwasung Plant) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
| Engine | 1.5 L I4 (gasoline) 1.6 L I4 (gasoline) 1.8 L I4 (gasoline) |
| Transmission | 4-speed F-4EAT automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) |
| Length | 4,360 mm (171.7 in) |
| Width | 1,695 mm (66.7 in) |
| Height | 1,390 mm (54.7 in) |
| Related | Mazda Familia (BG) |
The first generation Kia Sephia was loosely based on the Mazda Familia (BG). Engines were a 1.5-liter inline-four rated at 59 kilowatts (79 hp), a 78-kilowatt (105 hp) 1.6-liter, and a 91-kilowatt (122 hp) 1.8-liter 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).[1]
In the United States, sales began in 1993 for model year 1994. This was the first Kia to be exported to the US. An update came in the 1995 model year when grilles and taillights 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).
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.
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The Sephia-derived "Timor" was meant to become the national car of Indonesia, and was sold there in the mid-1990s.[2] It was intended fill a role similar to that of Malaysia's Mitsubishi Lancer-based Proton, and as such was exempt from taxes and duties levied on other cars sold in the country. The full name of the company was "PT Timor Putra Nasional" (TPN), literally meaning "Timor, National Son" in Indonesian. The patriotic name was meant to remind Indonesians of the importance of East Timor.
The Sephia-derived Timor range consisted of the "S515" (SOHC carburetted), "S515i" (DOHC, fuel injected), and "S516i LE" (sports-oriented limited edition, licensed by Prodrive). Timor had plans in place for an "SW516i" station wagon and a "SL516i" limousine, but these projects never eventuated.
The Timor itself proved controversial, because unlike the Proton Saga, it was not assembled in Indonesia when first released. Instead, it was imported completely built-up from South Korea, to the annoyance of companies like Toyota, which had undergone considerable expenses to produce vehicles in Indonesia. The Timor, in return for promising future exports and 60 percent local content within three years of starting production in Indonesia, avoided the taxes and duties that added 60 percent to the price of other imported cars. This cosy deal led to accusations of nepotism and cronyism, as the project was the brainchild of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, son of the then President Suharto. A welter of complaints followed, particularly from the Japanese automakers who controlled 90% of the Indonesian automobile market at the time.[1] The threat of a WTO lawsuit followed.[2] 45,000 cars a year were planned,[2] but with the Asian financial crisis in 1997 came the collapse of Kia. Combined with the 1998 demise of the Suharto regime, the Timor project was abandoned. In 2000, Kia briefly considered reviving the Timor by restructuring Timor Putra Nasional.[3]
Timor had also planned to build the Kia Sportage as the Timor J520i, but between the looming WTO lawsuit and the collapse of Kia and the Suharto regime this never materialized.[4] The controversy also led to the cancellation of Indonesian Government's own national car project, the Zagato-designed "M3 Maleo" (Mobil Murah Masyarakat Maleo).[5] This had been a joint venture between Konsorsium Mobil Indonesia (Indonesian Car Consortium), Millard Design and Orbital Engineering (Australia).
| Also called | Kia Mentor Kia Shuma Kia Spectra |
|---|---|
| Production | 1997–2003 1997–2004 (export) |
| Assembly | Egypt: Cairo Russia: Izhevsk South Korea: Hwasung (Hwasung Plant) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door liftback |
| Engine | 1.5 L I4 (gasoline) 1.6 L I4 (gasoline) 1.8 L I4 (gasoline) 2.0 L I4 (gasoline) |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2,560 mm (100.8 in) |
| Length | Sedan (1997): 4,530 mm (178.3 in) Sedan (2001): 4,510 mm (177.6 in) Liftback: 4,525 mm (178.1 in) |
| Width | Sedan: 1,700 mm (66.9 in) Liftback: 1,725 mm (67.9 in) |
| Height | Sedan: 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 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.[1]
The North American market received the Sephia sedan in 1997 for the 1998 model year. In 2000 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 2001, when 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.[6] In Russia production of the Spectra continues, produced by Izh-Avto.
The second generation Sephia sedan and liftback were badged "Mentor" in Australia[7] when released in May 1998.[8] 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.[7] 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.[7][9]
From June 2000,[8] following the change of distributor in Australia to Ateco,[7] Kia discontinued the sedan variant and rebadged the liftback "Shuma".[10] Along with the sedan, Kia dispensed with the 1.5-liter engine and SLX/GLX model identifiers.[10] 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.[10] 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,[7] Kia rebranded it once more to "Spectra".[11] This update brought redesigned headlights, a new front bumper, adjustments to suspension calibration, and an overhauled four-speed automatic.[11] 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.[11][12] Kia Australia discontinued the Spectra in 2004.[11]
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| Type | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| City | Visto | Morning/Picanto | Picanto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subcompact | Kia Brisa | Pride | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Avella | Rio (DC) | Rio/Pride (JB) | Rio (UB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | cee'd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sephia/Mentor | Spectra/Shuma | Spectra5/Cerato | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sephia/Mentor | Sephia/Mentor | Spectra/Shuma | Spectra/Cerato | Forte/Cerato | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Concord | Credos/Clarus | Optima/Magentis | Optima/Lotze/Magentis | Optima/K5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Enterprise | Opirus/Amanti | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potentia | Cadenza/K7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | Elan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Sportage | Sportage | Sportage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | Sorento | Sorento | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohave/Borrego | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Carens | Carens | Carens/Rondo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joice/Carstar | Soul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Carnival/Sedona | Carnival/Sedona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | Bongo | Wide Bongo | Bongo Frontier | Bongo III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus | (Asia Combi) | Combi/Power Combi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granbird | Granbird | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Subcompact | Rio | Rio | Rio | ||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Sephia | Sephia | Soul | ||||||||||||||||
| Spectra | Spectra | Forte | |||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Optima/Magentis | Optima/Magentis | Optima | ||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Amanti | ||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Sportage | Sportage | Sportage | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Sorento | Sorento | |||||||||||||||||
| Borrego | |||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Rondo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Sedona | Sedona | |||||||||||||||||