THE best clue to the design of Kia's new high performance GT has come in a teaser image released by the Korean car maker.

It shows a sleek profile in silhouette revealing the car as fastback coupe which will sit above the Optima saloon in the current Kia line up.

Due for release in the summer, Kia has also put out a video of the new model being tested at the Nurburgring in Germany where the instrument panel shows it hitting speeds of 240kph - 150mph.

It is understood the new GT will be rear wheel drive and powered by a four-cylinder turbo engine boosted to more than 300bhp and capable of 0 to 60 in around five seconds.

As such it will be the most powerful - and quickest - model Kia has put into production and will rival the likes of the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class.

The engine has been developed under the guidance of Kia's new powertrain chief Albert Biermann who joined the company last year after working at BMW where he was responsible for the M series of models.

Biermann is based at Kia's research and development centre at Namyang near the South Korean capital Seoul where the new GT has also undergone testing.

The newcomer is based on the GT Concept Kia first showed in 2011 and it will have its debut in the next few weeks at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

A diesel version is also likely to be offered and the car is expected to be priced in the region of £30,000.