The Ray Concept was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show and it is a plug-in-hybrid concept designed for the eco-conscious. The concept features a direct injection 153hp 1.4L engine and a 78kW electric motor where the engine is mated to a CVT set-up. The Ray concept has an overall driving range of 1,200 Km and it can travel 80kms on the electric power alone while it has a fuel economy rating of more than 202mpg. The Ray Concept adjudges the driving conditions and then decides the escalation of power from the two sources i.e. the engine and the electric unit.
There’s no news anymore that Kia would like to have their share in the luxury sports sedan segment. Supposedly dubbed Kia K9, the company’s luxury sedan has made an appearance last week at a design conference near Seoul where Kia’s chief designer Peter Schreyer (the guy behind the original Audi TT) bragged with it. Comparable to Audi’s A8 or BMW’s 7 series, the K9 luxury sedan is a more streamline and futuristic Equus that is rumored to pack all Genesis motorizations along with a new petrol V8 or an 8-speed automatic gearbox to get the most bang out of it. Not much else is known and nothing confirmed for now, but boy that Kia K9 looks sharp enough to charm our hearts!
The new Kia Cadenza was presented to the Korean public today, creating a wave of excitement among them. The new vehicle will be the replacement for the Opirus/Amanti and will be called K7 in its home country. There are a lot of obvious borrowings from the design of the KND-5 Contept Car, and it’s worth noting that this is the first vehicle to use Kia’s new platform, branded “Type-N”.
The Cadendza comes out a bit shorter than its predecessor, but it’s been redesigned to make it a bit more roomy for occupants. There are also various other luxury goodies added to the interior, such as special lighting, a welcoming system, and advanced air conditioning. The car is driven by a 3.5l V6 engine capable of producing 290 hp and 338 Nm of torque, so it should give you the performance you’d expect.
The third generation model of the 2010 Kia Sportage Compact CUV was caught testing is Germany giving the auto fanatics a glimpse of the upcoming model. Based on the Hyundai ix35 platform, it borrows the roofline and the windshield rake from the 2010 Kia Sorento. More to it, although smaller than the Sorento it replaces, images have revealed that the upcoming model will come with plenty of cargo space.
As far as the engine speculations go, the Sportage will surface with a 2.0L petrol engine found on the ix35 that outputs 165hp and a 2.0L diesel R-Series engine that churns 180hp. For the US market specifically, the Sportage ‘might’ surface with a V6 petrol variant given the market conditions. All the engine options will be mated to six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. Not bad eh? [via WCF]
The luxury sedan which goes by the name of K7 in Korea, the Kia Cadenza (also called the VG Sedan) has hit the web with its first images and a limited set of details. This sporty and sleek luxury sedan takes inspiration from the KND-5 Concept with external features like an LED headlight surrounds, a bold grille and an upscale design.
However, a lot more work has been done on the interior of the Kia Cadenza where the floating dash is glorified with some avant-garde high-tech adaptations that include a heating steering wheel, automatic defogging of the windshield and ventilated front seats. The engine choices will probably include a 175 hp 2.4-liter Theta four-cylinder and a 273 hp 3.5-liter Lambda V6. These engines will power both the FWD and AWD options. This design upgrade as per the company officials is reflective of the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language where the lights and lines are blended.
What we’d like to know right now is the price this jewel will run for.
We all know Sorento as an SUV which was transformed from a compact variant to a mid-size crossover and the legacy was furthered with the 2010 MY Sorento unveiling at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April. It will now be the turn of the Europeans with this crossover coming their way at the Frankfurt Motor Show (along with the facelifted Ceed). The changes for the 2010 variant include a higher-class cabin (compared to its predecessor), with some sleek additions and a spacious interior.
The 2010 Kia Sorento will have a new addition under the hood which is the 2.2L turbo diesel unit which produces 197hp at 421Nm of torque. The transmission is a choice for you to make between a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic option. Gadgets on the menu will include an engine start button, keyless entry with an in-mirror reverse camera. The overall weight of the Sorento has also been decreased by 215 kg thanks to the redesigned body which also facilitates an improved fuel economy and a better controlled ride.
The 2010 facelifted Kia Ceed has just been announced and as per the automaker it will make its debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The small family car went under a facelift borrowing traits for the front of the face from the Ford’s new Fiesta look, also with a slight touch of Peugeot with the triangular side windows at the back on the wagon model.
The car best described as an evolving model gets a brand new suspension set-up and a start/stop system for the ECO dynamics variant capable of checking the emissions under check. With a freshly laden interior and equipment specs, the car has been increased 25mm in length as well. The 1.6 L diesel engine has also been updated with ISG Technology which is mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The facelifted Kia Cee’d will be available in showrooms across UK from October 1st.
This time there are no spy shots for the Kia VG Sedan, instead, a set of renderings revealing many facets of this saloon have surfaced. Slated to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Passat, this sedan will replace the current product model Avanti. The renderings reveal Kia’s signature H-shape front grille with LED lights. Ironically, this is what the images reveal for it is more of a teaser. Other things known about the car is the engine option- a 3.5-litre V6 Lambda and the car will be based on the next-gen Hyundai Azera platform. It will pip the Amanti in the luxury quotient with a roomier interior and better material usage. FWD will be s definite option and it is being speculated that a Haldex AWD system will also be offered.
The American buyers expecting the Facelifted 2010 Kia Rio will probably have to wait till the year end, but the Koreans could get it book in the coming few weeks. The latest variant has surfaced with some images on the web which give in a few crucial details though the official release is still awaited. The redesigned front-end is evidently visible with an aggressive air-intake, more prominent for lights and an all-new grille.
Another major change is the availability of colored body cladding but it is difficult to say whether all models will receive a monotone appearance or not. The changes to the interior include a redesigned center stack with an improved radio and a climate control system. There is also a new steering, with a redone instrument panel and stainless steel pedals. [via kia-world.net]
A compact four door, the new 2010 Kia Forte Sedan has been announced with prices starting from $14,200 for the base LX trim, including the $695 delivery premium. But other than the LX, the mid-level Forte EX is going to be priced North of $16,490 while the top shelf SX version (sportiest of them all) begins from $17,890.
Of course most of you would be tempted to get the new Kia Forte Sedan SX model as it’s powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, that outputs 173 hp. As for the other two versions, the LX and the EX, they’re but running on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque.
Looking good, but we’ll let you decide if it’s a good deal or not.
Kia took the cover off of its maiden twin-door coupe passenger car at the New York International Auto Show. Dubbed Forte Koup it’s going to be available in a couple of trim levels, namely the EX and the SX. The EX is the standard version powered by a 2.0-litre 156hp engine that comes with a Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), a 5-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission and 16-inch alloy wheels. The tuned-up SX version comes loaded with a 2.4-litre 173hp engine and offers a mileage of 22mpg in city mode and 32mpg under highway mode.
The exterior of the Kia Forte Koup though, is common with the wrap-around headlights, the aggressive air intakes, dual tailpipes and a rear diffuser making it quite a treat. With integrated safety and stability features and add-on goodies such Bluetooth connectivity, iPod and USB auxiliary inputs, a standard six-speaker audio system and steering-wheel mounted audio controls, the Koup already has attracted plenty of attention.
