Posted on 27 February 2009
Kia Sorento teaser image
Kia has released some teaser pictures of its new Kia Sorento compact crossover vehicle, which is slated to debut at the Seoul Motor Show this coming April. The teasers show the car’s bigger frame and more-aggressive looks.
The new Sorento will have an added third row of seats, because of the vehicle design’s shift to the platform used by the Hyundai Santa Fe CUV (which is essentially the Sonata platform). This makes the new Sorento larger and longer.
Kia will also be using Hyundai’s Theta II 2.4-liter engine, which goes for 170 horsepower at 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers have an option to get a 3.8-liter V6 engine good for 275 horsepower. Either variant will likely be mated to a six-speed transmission.
The new Kia Sorento will be manufactured in West Point, Georgia.
Source: Left Lane News
Posted on 19 February 2009
The Kia Soul
Meet the Kia Soul, the new urban crossover from the UK arm of the Korean car manufacturer. It is set to start sales on March 1, and the company expects great things out of this new vehicle.
The FWD 5-seater is powered by a 1.6-liter engine, and customers can choose between a petrol that can go for 124 brake horsepower or a 126 bhp diesel. A Soul 2 CRDi with automatic transmission is also available.
The Soul combines classic and modern styling for its design, making the boxy crossover look different, bordering on the radical. It will be targeted towards young and trendy people, but Kia says that the appeal is not lost on older customers, as well.
Posted on 06 February 2009
The then-unnamed YN spotted during testing back in 2008
One of the vehicles that Kia will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show will be the new Kia concept mini MPV, codenamed the YN. It is the first Kia model designed solely by the company’s design director, Peter Schreyer.
The YN is built on the same platform as the Kia Soul subcompact wagon/mini MPV. A full-length glass roof is just one of the features of this vehicle, which Kia touts as one that reflects the future of the brand.
Schreyer spent 25 years as the head of design at Audi and Volkswagen AG before moving to Kia in 2006. His influence is clear on some of the latest Kia models, including the highly-acclaimed Kia Cee’d family car and the Soul.
The production model of the Kia YN is expected to be released sometime later in 2009. In the meantime, let’s just wait and see the entirety of what the YN offers when it is officially revealed at the Geneva Show.
Source: Autocar
