kia

2011 Kia Sportage first drive

Something unexpected is happening at Kia. The Korean car company released new models, updated others, and put hamsters in its commercials. We took a preview drive in the Sportage, Kia's small SUV that has undergone a radical restyling.

With a base price of $18,295, the 2011 Sportage makes an economy play, and some of the car's appointments, such as hard plastics in the cabin, reflect that strategy. But other aspects of the car, such as the ride quality and handling, suggest something slightly more upscale. Think Honda when it ruled the economy roost.

At its highest trim, and fully loaded, Kia says the price only gets to about $28k. At this level, the Sportage includes features such as dual-zone climate control, a heated and cooled driver seat, locking all-wheel-drive, and navigation.

Following a trend Kia set with the new Forte and Soul models, all Sportage trims come with a Bluetooth phone system that lets you dial by name using voice command and a USB port for iPod integration. … Read more

Car Tech Live 169: We drive the real Chevy Volt (podcast)

We drive the Chevy Volt--yep the real one--and the 2011 Kia Sorento (with monkey.) The Nissan Leaf is open to anyone to preorder. Smart airbags may not be so smart. And we'll find out why mobile TV in your car may not be that easy to receive.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 169 SHOW NOTES

• We drive the Chevy Volt

• Smart airbags not so smart if you're wearing your belt

• Nissan Leaf reservations opened up to all

• Mobile TV in cars not exactly a slam dunk (map)… Read more

2011 Kia Sorento EX: The Santa Fe's sexier sister

Looking only at the spec sheets, it's easy to dismiss the 2011 Kia Sorento EX as a simple reskin of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS that we tested not too long ago, and you wouldn't be too far from the truth. Both vehicles feature the same 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine outputting the same 175 horsepower; and both feature Kia/Hyundai's latest cabin tech package based around an 8GB solid-state navigation system.

However, in practice the vehicles are quite different. They're both big girls, but the angular Sorento is something of a sexier, younger sister … Read more

BorgWarner technology boosts new Hyundai-Kia engines

BorgWarner today announced it will supply its fourth-generation variable-turbine geometry (VTG) turbochargers for the newly developed 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine featured in the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage.

According to a press release, BorgWarner's engineers replaced straight turbine vanes with a patented S-shaped vane design to improve thermodynamics, response and control. The new turbocharger also increases efficiency at low engine speeds.

The new technology will give a boost to the Hyundai ix35, which began production in Korea in late 2009, and the fuel-efficient diesel engine that is available in Europe this spring. The technology will also boost the … Read more

Poll: Best car from New York?

New York is the last major auto show of the season, and most automakers have already launched new models and concepts in Europe, Los Angeles, and Detroit, leaving little for the Big Apple. But a few automakers, notably Hyundai, hold back, using this otherwise quiet show to stand out from the crowd, and other automakers show off either cars that will play well in New York or special trim levels.

We went through our coverage from the show and found eight significant new cars. With a couple of exceptions, these cars are not particularly sporty or luxurious, tending more to the affordable and practical, the kinds of cars that actually make sense for a daily commute.

Check out the cars and vote for your favorite. … Read more

It's a wagon-apolooza at the New York auto show

NEW YORK--Gearheads appreciate a good wagon, but they've been in short supply for decades. That sad fact seems to be changing, as four new wagons launched at the 2010 New York auto show. Ranging from a badass hauler to an economy hatchback, these wagons all feature good cabin tech and a whole lot of cargo space, without having to sit up at SUV height.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Cadillac continues to expand the CTS lineup, having previously launched a sedan and coupe. And, as each one of those models got a high performance V model, so does the Sport … Read more

Kia optimizes the Optima

NEW YORK--Echoing the update to its sistership, the Hyundai Sonata, Kia radically redesigns its Optima midsize sedan for the 2011 model year. Looking like a car from the future, the new Optima blends creases and gentle curves gracefully. Owners of the 2010 model will kick themselves for not waiting a year.

Like the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Optima comes with a choice of three power trains, the base being a direct injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower. On the more powerful side, a turbocharged direct-injection 2-liter engine, making 274 horsepower, is also available. Early next year a hybrid version … Read more

Kia, Infiniti, Scion plan big splashes in N.Y.

NEW YORK--Several Asian brands plan world debuts at the New York auto show this week.

Kia will show a stylish redesign of the Optima sedan, Infiniti is rolling out a new QX56 luxury SUV, and Scion is expected to show either its new iQ minicar or the next version of the tC coupe.

Meanwhile, Acura, Subaru and Suzuki plan variants of models already on sale. Mercedes-Benz will unveil a freshened R-class crossover. And Cadillac, Chevrolet and Lincoln are expected to show derivatives of existing vehicles.

Press conferences are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, March 31 and April 1. … Read more

Kia unveils next-generation Optima

The current Kia Optima is a bit of an also-ran in the US sedan market; however, that may be about to change. A few weeks ago, Kia released conceptual sketches of the upcoming Magentis-Optima sedan. This week, we received the first official photos of the sedan, which is set to bow at the 2010 New York auto show.

Although the slab-sided sedan is much taller than the low-slung sketch we saw, the next-generation Optima shown in the photos appears to be longer and wider than the current model is. If you look closely at the front end, you'll … Read more

Kia sketches next-gen Optima

Kia is getting a head start generating buzz around its 2010 New York auto show offerings, with a set of conceptual sketches of its upcoming Magentis. Magentis not ringing a bell? Perhaps you're more familiar with the sedan's North American nameplate: the Kia Optima.

The Optima appears to be receiving some rather substantial changes for the next generation, although the previous design was so forgettable that we're having a hard time calling up a mental image. Changes include increased width and length, while simultaneously lowering the roof line for a more coupe-like profile, a la Volkswagen CC. … Read more