2014 Kia Forte -- first photos

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Although offering no new facts regarding its platform mechanicals or powertrain components, we now have confirmation of what we'll see in the exterior redesign of the new-for-2014 Kia Forte. Like the teaser illustrations released earlier, these official factory photos show the automaker's global best-selling model will introduce an even edgier interpretation of Kia's current design language.

The automaker has confirmed that the 2014 Forte is longer, lower and wider than the vehicle it replaces, and that this compact front-drive sedan will arrive with a more spacious and even better appointed passenger compartment. Collectively, those attributes should help it meet the ever-intensifying challenge of primary foes like the Chevrolet Cruze, Dodge Dart, Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla as well as its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. On sale here early next year, the 2014 Kia Forte sedan will ultimately be joined by a coupe and a 5-door hatchback with at least some version or versions expected to boast a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or better.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Kia among 2012 Cars Drivers Love Best

While it would be reasonable to assume that the the models most beloved by their owners are also the best-selling vehicles, based on the sheer numbers of buyers, that’s not necessarily the case. Those choosing segment stalwarts like the Toyota Camry midsize sedan and the Ford Escape crossover SUV no doubt like and even adore their cars, but rides like these are typically purchased according to more-practical matters, like having a roomy back seat and an affordable purchase price, than those of the heart.

Buyers who tend to be truly head-over-heels enamored with their cars, on the other hand, can usually afford to succumb to the allure of costlier models that are typically more-emotional purchases and deliver higher levels of, well, everything. Or at least that’s how we construe it as luxury nameplates again dominate the list of most-appealing car brands in the just-released 2012 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif.

And yet, one telling result from the 2012 APEAL Study is that motorists are becoming increasingly captivated with the new wave of smaller vehicles that afford a combination of solid performance, thrifty fuel economy and reasonably upscale accommodations. The study determined that 27 percent of new-vehicle buyers who replaced a vehicle downsized their rides by choosing a model in a smaller size segment. Only 13 percent of buyers bought larger vehicles, while 60 percent stayed the course by purchasing a new model in the same size segment.

“Although larger models continue to attain higher APEAL Study scores than smaller models, as they typically provide higher performance, have more pleasing styling, are more comfortable and include more features, owners who downsize find that today’s compact models are not the ‘econoboxes’ that they may have once feared,” says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates.  “Automakers are heavily focused on providing the U.S. market with appealing smaller models, and buyers may be surprised at just how good some of them are.”

Overall, the study determined that buyers in all vehicle categories love their cars more deeply than ever, with APEAL scores again at their highest levels since the study was first conducted in 1996 to measure so-called “things gone right” (versus other new-car buyer surveys that tended to dwell on a vehicle’s initial or long-term problems).

The accompanying slideshow details the top-ranked models in each of 21 separate vehicle segments, including small, midsize, large and premium-grade cars as well as crossovers, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks. J.D. Power’s APEAL ratings for individual models are given according to a five-point “Powercircle” system that grades a vehicle’s performance, comfort, features/instrument panel and styling, with five being the highest score. 

Porsche boasts the most slaphappy adoration among buyers for the eighth consecutive year, with the brand’s 911 sports car and Cayenne midsize premium crossover SUV being singled out for top scores in their respective segments. The next 10 top-rated brands are all luxury nameplates, including (in order of ranking) Jaguar, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Land Rover, Cadillac, Infiniti, Acura and Lincoln.

The domestic automakers continue to gain ground in terms of offering more-appealing wares than ever. Chevrolet received the most individual per-segment awards in the 2012 APEAL Study for its Avalanche full-size pickup truck, Sonic subcompact and the electric Volt compact car, while Dodge  and Ram (along with Jaguar) garnered the greatest year-over-year improvements in APEAL scores; Dodge placed two models as best-in-class, the Challenger sports coupe and Charger full-size sedan.

Other noteworthy models receiving 2012 APEAL awards include the Audi A6 and A8, BMW 3 Series, Ford Expedition and Flex, Infiniti QX56, Kia Optima and Soul, MINI Countryman and Coupe/Roadster, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Nissan Frontier and Quest, Range Rover Evoque and Volkswagen Passat. The Audi A8 luxury sedan boasted the highest APEAL ranking among all vehicles.

In cross-comparing results, we found five vehicles that received class-leading scores in both J.D. Power’s APEAL survey and its 2012 Initial Quality Study. These include the Ford Expedition SUV, Kia Soul multipurpose vehicle, Nissan Frontier pickup, Nissan Quest minivan and the Porsche 911 sports car.

Source: Forbes

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2012 Kia Sportage among the Best compact SUV for $25,000!

Compact SUVs are increasingly popular with U.S families, from couples starting out to empty-nesters. The good news for families on a budget is that these haulers are getting more affordable even as they offer more standard features and get better gas mileage. To see which offers the most value for a family, experts from USA TODAY, car-shopping site Cars.com and PBS' MotorWeek— plus a real Chicago family — compared six models that met a mainstream price limit and were EPA-rated at least 30 miles per gallon for our $25,000 Compact SUV Shootout.

To see just how much a family on a moderate budget can get in a compact SUV, we set the price cap for entries at $25,000 before shipping.

And with fuel efficiency increasingly important for the family budget, we required at least a 30-miles-per-gallon EPA highway rating. That left out a couple of well-known crossovers — Toyota's RAV4 and Nissan's Rogue — each at 28. But expect their coming redesigns to post higher mpgs.

The contenders

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox; the 2013 Ford Escape (new); the 2012 Honda CR-V (new); the 2012 Hyundai Tucson; the 2012 Kia Sportage; and the 2013 Mazda CX-5 (new).

The testing and scoring

The six SUVs were tested over three days in and around Chicago, including:

•A 200-mile gas-mileage test from urban driving to interstates.

•A day of back-to-back testing by our five experts over the same course to score the features, cargo and storage space, technology and the driving dynamics, including ride, noise, handling, acceleration and braking.

•A day of testing by a family of four in the market for a compact SUV to replace their 2001 Chevy Tracker.

The winner got the most points out of 1,000, with the real-world gas mileage rank weighted to count for 10% of the total score, the five experts' scores for 75%, and the family's scores for 15%.

The expert and family testers

Our experts: David Thomas, Cars.com managing editor; Jennifer Geiger, an editor at Cars.com; Bill Jackson, a Cars.com senior editor; Fred Meier, automotive editor for USA TODAY; and Brian Robinson, auto journalist and a producer for PBS' MotorWeek program.

The family: Erin and Nicholas Ravelingeen of Chicago, and their children, Trudy, 4, and Mason, 2. In addition to the Tracker, they own a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. They use the vehicles for errands and road trips, says Erin, a stay-at-home mom. Nicholas, who works in risk management downtown, doesn't use a car to commute. They put about 8,000 miles a year on each auto.

No. 3: 2012 Kia Sportage LX

Points: 774 (out of 1,000)

Price with shipping: $24,575

Observed gas mileage: 28.5 mpg (city/highway EPA rating 22/32)

Key features: Navigation system (only one). Heated mirrors. Cooling glove box (only one). Backup camera. Five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain (tie for longest). Satellite radio. IIHS Top Safety Pick. 

What they liked: Navi and audio. "A full navigation system with an upgraded stereo at a price in the middle of our range was a huge win," says Thomas. Styling. "Definitely has attitude," says Geiger. "The edgiest-looking of the bunch." Storage. "A deep center console, coupled with underfloor bins in the cargo area, means plenty of places to stash stuff," says Geiger. Handling, ride. "Has the crisp handling of mechanically similar Hyundai Tucson," Meier says, "but its good ride and quiet interior are amazingly better." 

What they didn't: Rear visibility. The rakish roof "means you'll need its backup camera and wish for a blind spot alert," says Meier. Interior quality. "Doesn't seem on par with most recent Kias," says Robinson. Cargo area. "Too small with a high load floor," Thomas says. Navi screen angle. "You've got a great nav system and install it leaning backward toward the windshield? That leads to a lot of glare," Thomas says.

Bottom line: "The sticker price and features wowed me, the family and likely other shoppers," says Thomas. "If cargo space isn't a concern, the Sportage will be hard to ignore."

Source: USA Today

Official: Kia K9 Flagship Sedan Named “Quoris” for Global Markets

Kia has just announced the new K9 flagship sedan will go on sale in select countries later this year, but it won’t be known as the K9 once it leaves Korea’s shores. The rear-drive luxury car has been renamed the Quoris for global markets.

Kia says the Quoris name is derived from the English words “core” and “quality.” The K9 officially launched in Korea a few months ago, looking much larger and more upscale than any Kia we’ve seen here before. Falling in length between the Hyundai Genesis sedan and the Equus, the rear-drive sedan wears Kia’s signature tiger nose and headlights accented with LED lights. The Quoris’ profile is decorated with side vents, while its rear looks similar to that of the BMW 7 Series.

Under the hood, it packs a 286-hp Lambda V-6, though another 329-hp 3.8-liter V-6 is expected to launch later on. Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Kia Quoris is based on the Genesis sedan, it’s about as luxurious as the Equus, with features including a an advanced blind spot monitoring system, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control that can come to a complete stop, and a premium rear-seat package with heated and ventilated seats and a reclining backrest.

Though the luxury sedan was recently spotted on American soil, Kia still isn’t saying anything about whether it will offer the Quoris in the States.

Source: Kia

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2013 Kia Sorento SX AWD Review

Last week I was given the opportunity to borrow a 2013 Kia Sorento to test drive for a little over a week.  As I sat in my living room waiting for them to arrive with the car, I repeated “please let it be red” over and over and over again.  I’ve never driven a red car so I thought it would be fun to test drive a red one.  However, it wasn’t red.  But that’s OK!  Usually I’m not a fan of silver cars, but the Kia Sorento in Bright Silver with black interior was really sharp looking!    Don’t you think?

From the second I began driving this car, I knew I was in love.  The thing I liked the MOST, even more than the satellite radio, was the air conditioned drivers seat.  And since I test drove this during our major hot spell, that feature came in handy!  My next car will HAVE to have this feature!  My kids really liked the fact that there were vents in the backseat for them.  In the car I have now, they don’t have vents so it gets very hot back there for them.  But if you ask Zack and Bella what they liked best about the car, hands down it was the seat belts.  I know that sounds weird, but they have a really hard time with seat belts and their booster seats because the seat belt either gets stuck behind the booster seat or it sinks down into the seat and it’s difficult for them.  With the Kia Sorento, there is something looped around the seat belt to hold it up, making it easy for them to buckle!

I obviously didn’t get to try out the heated steering, but I am guessing that would be a really nice feature to have in a car during our lovely Michigan winters!  Overall, I really enjoyed driving this car.  So much so that I was very sad when they came and picked it up.  I would have gladly given them my current car AND continued to pay the lease on it, just so I could keep the Kia Sorento!  I’m serious!  The only thing I didn’t care for, and it’s so minor I feel silly to even say it, is the cup holders in the front seat.  They had a rubber flap around the edge to hold the drinks more securely.  Well I like to get fountain drinks or slushies from Speedway in a Styrofoam cup and it made it difficult to pull it out and put it back in.  While it was annoying, it was definitely not a deal breaker when it comes to how much I like this car!

Source: Kia

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Review

If you haven’t been following what the South Koreans are doing, it might look like they have come from nowhere and taken the automotive world by storm. Kia, which is owned by Hyundai Motor Group has been steadily moving up the automotive ladder in a number of key areas. The quality of their cars has improved significantly, they are bringing new cars to market quicker than any other manufacturer and they are building stylish vehicles. The Kia Optima is a good example of what the South Koreans have been able to do.

When you think of family sedans, the first word most people associate with them is dull or boring. The 2012 Kia Optima is anything but dull. It is sleek, aggressive and modern. Although it doesn’t get many changes for the 2012 model year, it doesn’t need any. The big news this year; the 2012 Optima adds a Hybrid version to the lineup.

Hybrid technology

The all-new 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid ($25,700) uses a 2.4-liter Inline 4 Atkinson cycle gas engine that produces 166 horsepower. The Hybrid’s gas engine is connected by a wet clutch to an Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) synchronous electric motor producing 40 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque.

The 270V lithium-polymer (Li-PB) battery that powers the electric motor is state-of-the-art. Hyundai says that compared to a nickel metal hydride system, this 95-pound Li-PB system is 20-30 percent lighter, 40 percent smaller, holds a charge 25 percent longer, is 10 percent more efficient, and offers twice the power density.

The Optima Hybrid can be driven in full-electric mode at speeds up to 62 miles per hour. Hyundai says when the car comes to a stop and the electrical load is low, the engine shuts off to completely eliminate idle fuel consumption and emissions. We didn’t experience this in the week of testing the Hybrid. A unique Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) plays a pre-recorded engine sound during electric-only operation up to 12 miles per hour, to help notify people outside the vehicle that it is approaching.

Optima Hybrid features

Outside, Optima Hybrid ($25,700) comes loaded with extra features like 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, heated outside mirrors, a rear spoiler, and LED taillamps. Inside, there’s an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, electric dual zone automatic temperature control with rear vents, push-button start with Smart Key, and Sirius radio. The Hybrid also offers a Microsoft voice-activated infotainment system with its audio system, incorporating Bluetooth and back-up camera, and Infinity’s deluxe 12-speaker audio system.

The Hybrid’s Premium Technology Package ($5350) adds 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, panoramic sunroof, a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, driver’s seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, HID head lights with automatic leveling, leatherette-wrapped center fascia, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with Homelink and compass, a navigation system with back-up camera and SiriusXM Traffic, and the premium Infinity audio system.

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More Hybrid features inside

The 2012 Optima Hybrid features a display on the instrument panel with flowers that grow in the Eco mode. The driver can watch the bouquet grow which means the driver is being as green as possible while driving. In the center of the instrument cluster, a display shows average and instant fuel mileage, with blue bars that move with the throttle position and scores the driver’s efficiency. An Eco guide with white, green and red zones flows back and forth between the wheels, battery, and engine, and is more of a distraction than anything very useful.

Optima Hybrid performance

The Optima Hybrid is reasonably powerful. The gas engine and electric motor have enough power and torque to move the new hybrid sedan quickly. Because it’s a hybrid, there is no plug-in, so you just fill it up with gas and go. The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 35/40 miles per gallon city/highway. But these are just estimates and in real-world driving, the Optima Hybrid won’t match these numbers. The only way to hit those numbers is to drive at 60 mph in Eco mode. That’s not very realistic for most drivers. Expect more like 33/35 city highway if you drive normal.

The 2012 Optima Hybrid uses a six-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission. The transmission is programmed for optimum fuel-mileage and not performance. The Hybrid transmission has a bit of hesitation when needing to accelerate quickly while in traffic. If you want performance, the Optima with the 2.0-liter turbo is the car for those who like to drive.

For 2012, the Kia Optima lineup includes three different models, each with distinctive characters. The base Optima EX is great for families, the fast and silky Turbo for sport minded drivers, and the new Hybrid which offers the best fuel mileage. The South Koreans are catching up fast to the competition and may have passed them in styling and sportiness.

Source: Kia Media

Folks, happy Monday! It’s time for our weekly car care tip - Premium gas is always best

When it comes to regular, midgrade, and premium gasoline, oil corporations have worked overtime to drill the “good, better, best” concept into our collective driver psyche.

Premium gas has a higher octane rating, usually 91 or above, making it more resistant to pre­ignition, a condition in which fuel burns uncontrollably in the engine. Higher-performing engines are the most susceptible to preignition because they tend to run hotter, which is why premium is often recommended or required for sports and luxury vehicles

Source: Yahoo Autos

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2012 Kia Optima Hybrid road test and review.

Rating for Kia Optima Hybrid

It's got looks, luxury, and lots of economy, the Kia Optima Hybrid. How does it pull it all of successfully? Let's find out.

Most of us were probably brought up to think that looks aren't everything. But to me the Kia Optima is a great looking car and that alone should help to make it a strong seller.

I'm even a fan of my test car's blue grey color and the blacked out grill, but the alloy wheels have a bit too much alloy for my tastes. It looks like they were going for a bit of an Alfa Romeo cum VW GTI cloverleaf shape, but to me in the wheel department, less is more. Still overall it is a clean and luxurious look.

The interior is also clean and luxurious. The all power heated and ventilated seats are a combination of cloth and leather which gives them a distinctive style. The driver also gets lumbar support.

You get a leather wrapped console with two tiered storage, two cupholders, a non CVT standard transmission, dual zone climate control and in my opinion, Kia's excellent infotainment screen which houses controls for the sound system, navigation and information about the hybrid system. UVO is Kia's voice control system which helps you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

There is a menu display on the dash that lets you scroll through two trip distance meters, outside temperature, service information, hybrid energy flow, eco level, eco score, fuel economy and distance to empty. The dash by the way looks really good day or night.

Out back you get two vents, storage, a cup holder and your own heated seats! The large trunk also has a pass through for skis.

Under the hood you will find an eerily quiet 2.4 liter 4 cylinder that produces 166 horsepower and 154 lb. ft. of torque. With the electric engine total horsepower jumps to 206. That will get you from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. That's pretty quick for a hybrid!

The Kia Optima Hybrid starts at $25,700. By the time you add all of the options, you are out the dealer door at $32,500. With so much convenience, luxury, economy and safety, I think its a very fair deal.

Out on the road if I had to sum up the handling of the Optima Hybrid I would call it "un-hybrid like". The engine has a surprising growl when pushed.

There is a bit of hesitation but once the Kia realizes that you want quick acceleration it really gets up and goes. Also the handling is better than I expected. With its standard transmission, other than being very quiet, it doesn't really feel much different from a normal gasoline only sedan.

With the Optima Hybrid it seems that Kia really has thought of everything. There's a panoramic sunroof that lets the sun shine in on both the front and rear passengers. There's even two chargers up front.

I've always made the point that Kia has been very good at taking the best from all of the other car makers and making it there own. Kia was, not too long ago, a basically unknown car company, and now I think they are at the top of the game in terms of price and features. At this point, some of those other car makers might want to take a look back at Kia!

So the Kia Optima Hybrid has looks, luxury and lots of economy so how did they pull it off? Well for starters, they brought in a former Audi executive who has helped in the total design of the Optima.

It's a nice modern shape that holds every modern convenience. Ergonomically, the navigation system, the UVO system, changing channels on the radio, setting your presets, these are all very well executed and engineered.

Of course there's also the fact that not only does the Optima Hybrid get great fuel economy, but it is also quick for a hybrid. All around the Optima Hybrid is definitely a great car. Could it be the optimal hybrid for you? Take it for a test drive and see! I'm Drivin' Ivan Katz.

Source: Kia.

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Spied: Kia’s Mazda 5-Sized People Mover

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We spotted this camouflaged Kia test vehicle near our offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan — which is no surprise given that Hyundai and Kia have a joint technical center on the outskirts of the city. This model appears to be a new people mover, slightly smaller than a minivan but without the typical proportions of an SUV .

Our spy photographer informs us that the Kia was approximately the same size as a Mazda 5, which is a seven-passenger vehicle that is about two feet shorter than every other minivan sold in America. The Kia’s fascia wears the wide, rounded mesh grille seen on other new models like the Rio and Optima. The rear doors are quite long, presumably to make for easier access, while the roofline curves only subtly toward the rear window.

We believe this is a new version of the Kia Carens people mover, which is sold in several foreign markets. As with the almost-identical prototype we spied in Europe, the new vehicle is probably based on the European-market Kia Cee’d. The Cee’d hatchback and wagon ride on a very similar platform to the Hyundai Elantra, and that platform sharing could make it easier for Kia to federalize a Cee’d-based people mover for the U.S. market.

Even if the company decided to do so, it’s unclear whether Kia would find success selling a mini-minivan in America. A version of the Carens, called the Kia Rondo, was offered here from late 2006 to 2010. The Rondo was initially a runaway success, selling 26,020 copies in 2007 and 28,645 in 2008. But by 2009 sales had slipped to 14,206, and in 2010 the Kia Rondo recorded only 3588 sales. The model was eliminated for the 2011 model year. (The Rondo shouldn’t be confused with Kia’s larger minivan, the Sedona, which is still in production for the 2012 model year.)

If a Kia mini-minivan were to be sold here, it would have only two real competitors: the long-standing Mazda 5, and the upcoming 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid.

Source: Automobilemag

Happy Monday guys!

We wanted to star this week off by asking you all what is your ONE favorite car care tip?

 

Folks, have you checked out Kia Dubstep Contest World Final yet?

Happy 4th of July folks! We'd like to know what’s the best caption you can come up with for this photo?

Folks, happy Monday! It’s time for our weekly car care tip - DIY, change car light bulbs.

Changing a light bulb isn't difficult—most these days have a twist-and-pull bayonet base or they simply pull out and push in. Bulb specifications are usually found in the owner's manual. However, accessing a bulb (usually called a lamp in industry parlance) can be a real chore. Consult a service manual or look online if access to the bulb isn't obvious. Auto-parts stores and your franchised dealer carry good selections of replacement bulbs. If you're replacing a halogen headlight bulb take care not to touch the glass with your bare fingers. Skin oils on the quartz glass are said to shorten its life.

Source: Yahoo Autos.

Kudos team, let's keep the good reviews coming!

 

"Great buying experience! Thank you to Danny, Able, Mike and Maggie."-  Shirley H.

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