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Archive for the ‘Kia’ Category

Kia will soon launch an all-new high-riding crossover model based on its Ceed hatchback and, thanks to the first batch of spy photos showing a camouflaged prototype, we can start to tell you what it’s going to be like. The plan for this model is to slot in between the Stonic and Sportage in the Kia range, although judging by its overall shape it looks like a more hatchback-like crossover (like the Stonic) and not a more SUV-like model such as the larger Sportage. There’s definitely a new Kia Ceed look about this as of yet unnamed model, although it does look quite a bit higher than the regular hatch model. The automaker really wanted us not to see the details, so it covered the front and rear fascias with especially heavy camouflage that doesn’t really allow us to see anything.

We can, however, spot that it will have a similar face to the Ceed (the latest Kia family face), complete with headlights and grille that look similar to those of the hatch.

This model will go up against models such as the Ford Focus Active or Subaru Crosstrek (also known as the XV), some of which have all-wheel drive, others not – in this example, for instance, the Subaru has it as standard, while the Ford doesn’t get it at all and the big question with this Ceed crossover is whether or not it will be offered as an option; it definitely won’t have standard all-wheel drive like the Subaru, that’s for sure.

Ever since the Kia Soul first broke into the auto scene in 2009, it has carved its own path unique path in the auto industry. Almost ten years later, the Soul is entering its third-generation, and it includes an improved EV model as well. The 2020 Kia Soul EV has arrived, and it’s a far departure from what we know of the Soul’s all-electric model. It has a fresh new look and, more importantly, a bigger battery pack to go with a more potent electric motor. You think that the 2020 Soul EV is the still the same electric crossover from year’s past? You’d be wrong. The 2020 Kia Soul EV will launch sometime in mid-2019 but pricing figures have yet to be announced.

Kia used the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show as an opportunity to finally introduce the Kia Niro EV. As the almost identical sibling of Europe’s Kia e-Niro, the Niro EV showcases a handful of new technologies that could serve as precursors for Kia’s plans for its own electric future. It’s easy to get lost in the crossover’s aesthetics and appreciate, for example, the “Arrowhead” LED daytime running lights, the closed-off grille, the multifunctional center console, or even the blue mood lighting. But just as those things define the Niro EV, so, too, do the list of safety and tech features that could one day end up in other Kia models – one of the most important being Kia’s updated UVO system that can now send notifications of battery and charging status, as well charging station updates in real-time.

Nine years after first gracing us with its all-around quirkiness, the Kia SOUL is now in its third-generation, and it looks as quirky as ever. The all-new SOUL was unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show with a fresh new look, albeit one with a more modern slant to its design. It’s still the SOUL, though, which is to say that it retains its upright and boxy look. It’s still very much the square crossover we’ve all had in our lives since 2009. Give Kia credit, though, for giving it a fresher design. To add to the new design, it’s also longer and wider than the outgoing model. That’s a win-win in our book.

The Kia Stinger has received a lot of attention since it debuted some two years ago and while at first the attention was mainly due to it being a new model that nobody knew anything about, now it gets attention specifically because people know it’s actually pretty good. But for those that think that the factory look just isn’t aggressive enough, now there’s a bold widebody kit that completely transforms its look.

Kia has brought a bold modified example of its yet to be launched, all-new K900 to the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas. The look of the vehicle has been transformed by DUB, a famous name on the aftermarket scene, specializing in big rims and other accessories. However, it seems somebody over at dub is stuck in the year 2002 because the way the car is modified could only be described as droll and old-fashioned by late-2018 standards. Sure, it stands out, but it may not necessarily attract the right kind of attention.

This year, nearly one-third of the cars to be showcased at The Los Angeles Auto Show will have eco-friendly powertrains, and the 2020 Kia Soul is expected to be one of them. We haven’t seen or heard much about the 2020 Soul as the automaker has managed to keep a tight lid on details thus far.

Hot hatches are big business in Europe, but not everybody wants the stiffer ride, or the higher associated fuel bills, which is why Kia has made the Ceed GT-Line which it revealed at the Paris motor show.

Kia has been one of the top automakers to adopt electrification in its portfolio. At a point where other manufacturers would probably focus on stabilizing the sales of their present electrified models, Kia is relentlessly working towards increasing its fleet of plug-in hybrid models to counter CO2 emission regulations all across the globe. This is what commitment looks like: competition!

Kia has been one of the top automakers to adopt electrification in its portfolio. At a point where other manufacturers would probably focus on stabilizing the sales of their present electrified models, Kia is relentlessly working towards increasing its fleet of plug-in hybrid models to counter CO2 emission regulations all across the globe. This is what commitment looks like: competition!

After unveiling the Niro EV at the International Electric Vehicle Expo in South Korea, Kia has also revealed the European version, dubbed e-Niro, at this year’s Paris Motor Show. It comes with two battery pack options, a range of up to 301 miles (or 485 km) on one charge, and it even comes with a system called Coasting Guide Control which informs the driver of the best times to coast calculated based on a planned route.

You may also have noticed that its name sounds like the surname of Robert DeNiro and Kia has gone ahead and embraced this and featured the movie star in its TV, digital and print adverts.

Crossovers are vehicles designed to look like they can go off-road, but really be at their best on the road. Sure, some can do light off-roading, but realistically you won’t want to stray too far from the blacktop or the occasional bumpy gravel backroad.

To this end it’s not trivial to know which of these 4×4-aping high riders are best out on the open (and sometimes twisty) road, since it’s where they will spend most of their time. But don’t go thinking that they are on par with more conventional car shapes, because their higher center of gravity and usually higher mass will affect handling.

Safety is at the top of buyers’ lists these days, but what many don’t think about when browsing lists of cars rated with safety stars is that good, predictable road manners and sharp handling are one of the biggest safety features a car can have, since they allow the driver to avoid crashing in the first place.

And while crossovers may give occupants a feeling of extra safety when they’re on board, their poor road manners bring this into question.

Here’s a list of the 10 best handling high-riding vehicles ever made.

Kia has been pretty active lately with new launches and facelifts. While the world gets its cars and SUVs, the company produces all sorts of vehicles in its home country. Take a look at the third-generation of its military truck known as the
Kia Light Tactical Vehicle, or in short, KLTV. It looks very similar to the AM General Humvee, don’t you think?

This is the new Kia Ceed GT – something called a warm hatch and is destined to reach Europe in an effort to upscale the entire Ceed family there. It will do so along with the new Proceed Shooting Brake. None of these cars will ever be available in the U.S., but they do show rather impressive effort focused on Kia’s reimagination of its brand. Kia isn’t a super-cheap car producer anymore. It has a coupe-like sedan with 373 horsepower, a grille called Tiger Nose, and now the Ceed GT that is powered by a 1.6-liter, turbocharged engine that develops 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Yup, the very same engine you can get here in the Veloster. Actually, imagine that I am whispering to you now – the Ceed GT is really, really similar to the Veloster Turbo R-Spec. Only, it has a normal number of doors.

Kia has chosen to reimagine its next-gen ProCeed as a five-door fastback-like wagon, ditching the three-door layout of the previous model. Called a shooting brake by the company, and set to be revealed to the public next month at the Paris motor show, it is essentially a more rakish looking version of the load-lugging Ceed Sportwagon for those looking to blend practicality with making a more dramatic entrance.

This new ProCeed is slightly longer than the Sportwagon (by 5 mm) and a fair chunk shorter too (by 43 mm) and it even has a lower ground clearance too (also by 5 mm). Kia promises it’s still almost as practical as the actual wagon, though, offering only 30 liters less load volume.

Proceed will sit at the top of the Ceed lineup and Kia actually calls it “the most emotionally engaging car in the range.” It will, however, carry over all the engines found in the regular Ceed and also be offered as a sporty-looking GT Line model or warmed up GT.

Along with the new Ceed GT, Kia is also bringing a new ProCeed to this year’s Paris Motor Show. The 2019 Kia ProCeed is a compact estate, or shooting brake if you like, with fabulous looks, versatile space and plenty of value. This time it’s going Korean that shows you have good taste in cars. 

Coming in high-end ‘GT-Line’ and high-performance GT guises, the 2019 Kia ProCeed offers a package that appeals to anyone and everyone. Whether you want a practical car, or a handsome runabout, or a performance-oriented family car, this thing has it all. The GT model shares its 2-4 PS 1.6 turbo engine the Ceed GT, and there is a choice of engines for the GT Line model. You can have it with a 120 ps and 172 Nm torque 1.0 liter unit, a 140 liter 1.4 liter, or the all-new ‘Smartstream’ 1.6-litre CRDi diesel with 136 PS and 280-320 Nm of torque (depending on the transmission.

So if you want the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake a bit much for your needs, 2019 Kia ProCeed could be a good alternative. The swooping roof line is complemented with taut lines around the body and 18 inch wheels, not to mention the sport bumpers and trims. Inside, high quality material and contrast stitching accommodate a host of advanced features. Smartphone integration, available JBP sound system, infotainment, and heated windshield are just some of the available features for this car.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The ProCeed is a car that represents everything Kia stands for. This beautiful shooting brake body offers drivers an unmatched combination of design, space and versatility, representing a unique proposition in the mid-size family car segment. Engineered on European roads, for European drivers, the ProCeed will be engaging to drive. Built in Europe, to the highest standards of production, it also offers owners the reassurance of Kia’s unique 7-Year, 100,000-mile warranty.”

The post 2019 Kia ProCeed Shooting Brake Looks Rather Excellent appeared first on Motorward.

We’ve been waiting to see the new Kia Ceed GT ever since we saw its first teaser. And we’re glad to report that the real thing does not disappoint. The performance hatchback has great specs for a car in this class and it boasts some sexy looks to boot. 

Kia’s Ceed family have always been a head and shoulders above the rest of the firm’s compact models in terms of looks and quality. The 2019 Kia Ceed GT is no exception. The body of the new Ceed, which by the way has no apostrophe in its name, features sharp and “taut” lines. That gives the car a performance-oriented appearance, like that of a world-class athlete. Larger air intakes and gloss black trim, ice-cube LEDs and 18 inch wheels are among other cool highlights of the exterior.

Inside the new Kia Ceed GT the high-quality soft-touch materials that are characteristic of modern Kias are found aplenty. These are complemented with Kia’s ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system, sport seats, D-shaped steering wheel, black headliner, black leather and suede, and red stitching. Depending on the trim level, you can get 7 or 8 inch display with Kia Connected Services, TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Andoird Auto. Standard safety technologies will include High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist.

Powering the new Ceed GT is 1.6-litre T-GDi with 204 PS and 265 Nm of torque. This peppy engine comes with either a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional seven-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission. The hatchback benefits from Drive Mode select with Sport and Normal modes,  as well as Torque Vectoring by Braking, fully independent suspension, and Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system.

The post 2019 Kia Ceed GT Unveiled Ahead of Paris Debut appeared first on Motorward.

The soon to be released 2020 Kia Telluride, the production of this concept model, revealed itself to the American public during the New York Fashion Week show. It wasn’t the showroom model, but a heavily customized version by designer Brandon Maxwell. The car was sent there to raise awareness for its market launch in early 2019, and also to raise money for charity. 

Brandon Maxwell’s custmoized Kia Telluride has a Texas theme about it and features natural wood interior trim and saddle-inspired double-stitched leather adornments on the dash, door panels and grab handles. It also has a similar deep green paint to the Detroit concept, custom front and rear bumpers, skidplates and sidestep sills, 265/50R-20 off-road tires wrap around flat-black alloy wheels and leather trimmed cargo area. This vehicle is supposed to be a super deluxe ranch vehicle, and it’s equipped accordingly. Just like the production version, this Telluride has a V6 engine and carries up to 8 people.

“My Mom drove me to school in East Texas in a Kia Sedona, and my adoration for the brand runs deep,” said Maxwell. “When I left Marfa, Texas, where I designed my SS’19 collection, I started talking with Kia. I wanted a partner who could help fill a need in Marfa’s public school system and Kia was looking to create a unique integration for their new Telluride. It was a natural fit as Kia has a long history of philanthropic initiatives that support education. Kia is not just funding necessary technological purchases and educational programming to give the children of Marfa the quality education they deserve, but also providing a vehicle for local teachers’ use. I am honored to collaborate with Kia Motors.”

The post Custom Kia Telluride Makes Runway Debut in New York appeared first on Motorward.

A lot has happened since Kia showcased the Telluride Concept at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, and at the time, we were told that it was a “theoretical exercise.” For the longest time, the trail went cold but the SUV market continued to grow and, to little surprise, we eventually got our hands on some spy shots of a large KIA SUV being put through the paces. With that in mind, you’re looking at a three-row, eight-seater SUV with will serve as a flagship of Kia’s SUV lineup. It has changed dramatically so far, so let’s dive on in and see what we can make out!

Update 9/10/2018: Kia has chosen to debut the new Telluride, full-size SUV as a concept-like one-off during New York Fashion Week. Check out our special section below to see the first shots of it and learn about what we know about the production model thus far.

Kia finally pulled the covers off of the Telluride, giving us our first look at the automaker’s full-sized SUV. The debut took place at fashion designer Brandon Maxwell’s event during New York Fashion Week. In keeping with Maxwell’s Texas-themed Spring Summer 2019 collection, the Telluride was dressed up in rough, off-road specification, complete with custom bumpers, skid plates, and an aluminum and wood roof rack.