2014 Kia Optima gets a small update [Video]

Sooner of later, every car in the road will have a face lift a few years after it was first introduced, and Kia Optima is no exception. Both the exterior and interior of Kia’s sales leader suffered several changes in order to keep up with the latest models and technologies.

Both the front and rear fascias have been redesigned in order to look more modern. The brand’s signature tabbed grille has also been upgraded together with the new rear diffuser, trunk lid, LED head lamps, fog lights and tail lights.

Inside, when you push the start button, a new 4.3 inch TFT LCD instrument cluster and an optional 8 inch navigation and telematics screen come to life. From the optional screen you can control the UVO eServices, HD Radio 3, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, SiriusXM Traffic and the 8-speaker Infinity sound system.

The upgraded Kia Optima is available in four trims, LX, EX, SX and SX-Limited. With all versions you will have available the four cylinder 2.4 liter GDI unit while on the SX and SX-Limited you can have the more powerful 2.0-liter GDI turbocharged engine. There is also a 2.4 liter hybrid powertrain available. All engine choices only allow you to have the six-speed automatic transmission featuring Sportmatic clutchless shifting.

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Kia finally reveals the CUB Concept at the Seoul Motor Show

While everyone is paying attention to the New York International Auto Show, Kia decided to bring a new concept to the Seoul Motor Show, but at the same time revealed they have no plans to put this compact, "four-door coupe", designed in Seoul, into volume production. 

The four meter long concept with room for four people has "suicide doors" for the rear doors and doesn't have a B-pillar for an easier access to the interior. In the front of the car we find head lamps with two-point LED lights similar to those premiered with the Quoris, 19-inch alloy wheels and a bumper shaped to look like a "cheerful face".

In the rear, the LED treatment continues in the tail lights, while the bumper has a shape similar to the one in the front in order to accentuate the width of the vehicle.

Inside we have four individual seats, creating the sensation of a luxurious interior, that is complemented with the use of black leather with yellow color accents in the seats, steering wheel and door armrests.

The engine in this "four-door coupe", and i used quotation marks because this looks more like a five-door hatchback (read the definition in wikipedia), is the same one used in the pro_cee’d GT and cee’d GT. The 1.6 liter GDI with 204PS (150kW) and 265Nm (196lb/ft).

The CUB has an estimated top speed of 230km/h (143mph) and will take 7.7 seconds to reach 100km/h (62mph) when using the six-speed manual transmission.

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Kia CUB Concept | WG + PR

(SEOUL) March 28, 2013 – Kia Motors sprang a major surprise on visitors to the 9th Seoul International Motor Show today (Thursday) in Korea with the world premiere of its all-new ‘CUB’ concept.

Designed at the Kia headquarters studio in Seoul, under the direction of President and Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, the CUB is less than four meters long, has rearward-opening rear doors and an ‘access-all-areas’ interior concept without traditional B-pillars, providing excellent access to the luxuriously trimmed cabin.

“The new Kia CUB is a compact, four-door coupe created with a clear focus on driving performance and practicality,” comments Thomas Oh, Senior Executive Vice President and COO, Kia Motors Corporation. “Styled to appeal to trend-setting urban dwellers, the CUB features a comfortable four-seater cabin which generates an emotional, feel-good response and delivers everyday, real-world benefits.”
The exterior styling of the CUB highlights that it is both sleek and small, with a cheerful face and a daring character. Design features created by Peter Schreyer for the 2007 Kia Kee 2+2 concept are revisited in a new form. The CUB’s nose has a broad wrap-around ‘mouth’ and there is a ‘dip’ in the top of the windshield – a motif that is featured on Optima, Sportage and Cadenza models. The latest interpretation of grille is a shallower design incorporating the turbocharger’s air intake, highlighted in body color.

The headlamps feature two-point LED lights – similar to those which first appeared on the Kia Quoris large flagship sedan last year. Large 19-inch alloy wheels fill the wheelarches and the front doors have aerodynamic ‘turning-vanes’ at sill level to streamline and add definition the CUB’s flanks.
At the rear, LED tail lights complete the premium feel of the exterior and the nose treatment derived from Kia’s Kee concept car is replicated at the tail to accentuate the width of the vehicle.

The super-smooth exterior, with its flush glazing, minimum-drag wing mirrors and automatic touch-type door handles, promises ultra-low aerodynamic drag. A two-color paint finish with sporty stripe hints at the CUB’s high-performance potential, while the car’s broad track gives it an imposing stance.
Four-seater luxury cabin
With four individual seats, the CUB’s interior presents a unique ambience. The cabin creates the sensation of a luxurious coupe and is trimmed in black leather with yellow color accents around the seats, door armrests and steering wheel.
The instrument cluster design is inspired by the eyes of a wild animal. The center-stack design is minimalist with an air vent controlled by touch sensor. For extra safety, the steering wheel rim is capable of monitoring the driver's biorhythms.

As well as a steering-wheel, there is a DIS (Driving Information System) controller connected to a gesture camera which provides easier operation while driving. With well-defined motions, drivers can set up each menu on the center display. Hinting at the high-performance nature of the CUB, there is a footrest provided in the front passenger footwell.
Turbocharged 204 ps engine
The CUB powertrain features a new version of the company’s 1.6-liter GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine – recently confirmed as the powerunit for the new Kia pro_cee’d GT and cee’d GT sold in Europe.

Fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger and strengthened internal components, the new engine generates 51% more power (204 ps) and 60% more torque (265 Nm) than the regular 1.6 unit. This engine enables both of Kia’s European GT models, with a six-speed manual transmission, to accelerate to 100 kph in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 kph.

At present there are no plans to put the Kia CUB concept into volume production.

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2014 Kia Forte Koup is the third member of the Forte lineup

After the launch of the Kia Forte sedan and the Forte hatchback, it was time to show the world the all-new Forte Koup. According to the South Korean company the new two-door car has a design and performance inspired by European tastes, finishing the revamped Forte lineup.

The all-new Forte Koup will be available in two trim levels, EX and SX, and with two engine and transmission options. The EX is available with the four cylinder 2.0 liter GDI engine producing 173hp @6500rpm and 209Nm (154lb/ft) of torque @4700rpm mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the SX comes with the turbocharged four-cylinder 1.6 liter GDI that has a power output of 201hp @6000rpm and 264Nm (195lb/ft) of torque between 1750 and 4500rpm, and can be connected to either a six-speed manual or a optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

Kia's UVO eServices with Rear Camera Display is available as standard, and so is Bluetooth, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and LED head lights. But if that is not enough you have the optional navigation system with HD Radio, HID headlights, SmartKey with push-button start and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The SX version also has 18 inch alloy wheels (the EX comes with 16"), LED tail lights, dual chrome exhaust tips and different bumpers with with trim pieces that look like carbon fiber.

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2014 Kia Soul presented at the New York International Auto Show

We all knew sooner or later Kia was going to introduce an all-new Kia Soul, but it was a little bit surprising to find out it was going to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show. The new Soul is based on the Track’ster concept that was shown at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

The new Soul uses a new platform that is now wider, longer and stiffer allowing for more passenger and cargo room. The Soul can be considered a car with a iconic design, because when it was introduced there was nothing with such a shape, so i am pleased to see they maintained the same overall proportions.

The wheelbase is now longer by 20mm (0.8 inches) to 2570mm (101.2 inches), and so is the width, which is now bigger by 15mm (0.6 inches) for a total of 1801mm (70.9 inches). But the height remained the same 1610mm (63.4 inches).

Depending on the model (Base, Plus or Exclaim) you can choose between a 1.6 liter GDI DOHC four-cylinder engine with 130hp and 160Nm (118lb/ft) of torque, and a 2.0 liter GDI that puts out 164hp and 205Nm (151lb/ft). Kia also gives two options for the transmission, a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Inside we can have an eight-inch touchscreen working with Kia’s second-generation telematics and infotainment system, UVO eServices2, Kia’s first use of the Android-based operating platform, and Pandora3 internet radio.

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Kia teases another concept, this time its the CUB

First it was the Cross GT in Chicago, than the Provo in Geneva, and now it seems Kia will bring another concept to the Seoul Motor Show. The CUB (in English a cub is the young of certain animals, like the lions and bears) is the new concept, a car that according to Kia is "both sleek and small".

The four-door coupe has less than four meters in length, will have two-point LED lights similar to those found in the Kia Quoris and was created to appeal to an urban and younger crowd.

The Seoul Motor Show, like the New York  International Auto Show, starts on March 28.

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Teased | Kia CUB Concept

See Ya on Thursday!

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