2011 Kia Forte Ex on 2040-cars

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UPDATE: 2021 Kia K5 name confirmed in fuel economy listing

UPDATE: Additional Kia K5 fuel economy data has been added to the FuelEconomy.gov website. It includes two sets of fuel economy numbers for what seems to be front-wheel-drive trims of the 1.6-liter turbocharged K5. You can find those numbers in the updated text below. The website has also seemingly removed the numbers for the all-wheel-drive version, but those are still present in this article. We've already seen Kia's new midsize family sedan, but details about it are still being fleshed out, including what it will finally be named. Based on a listing at the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website, it seems the sedan will officially be known as the 2021 Kia K5, dropping the old Optima name. Besides the name, we also get snippets of information about one engine in multiple configurations. The engine in question is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, likely the same engine found in the Hyundai Sonata, which makes 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The Hyundai uses an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Kia probably will, too. With what is likely the front-drive model, the K5 will get 29 mpg in town, 38 on the highway and 32 combined. There's also a version that gets slightly worse economy at 27 in town, 37 on the highway and 31 in combined driving. It's probably a heavier, more well-equipped trim. Both versions do get better fuel economy than the Sonata with the same engine (27 city / 36 highway / 31 combined). The third set of numbers is for the all-wheel-drive version, which will be unique to the Kia. According to the listing, it returns 26 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway and 29 in combined driving. Though all these numbers are for the 1.6-liter, there is another engine coming, which Kia has also previously said will be another turbocharged engine. It will probably be the 2.5-liter for the Sonata N-Line with 290 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. With the Kia K5's option for all-wheel drive, it will join a growing group of midsize sedans with the drivetrain: the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and the soon-to-be-discontinued Ford Fusion. Based on the engine size and output, this Kia K5 will be a direct competitor to the Altima and Camry, as well as the Legacy with the naturally aspirated engine. Depending on trim levels, the K5 ties or beats the Camry, which returns 28 to 29 mpg combined. The Altima returns 29 to 30 mpg combined depending on trim level, and the Legacy hits 30 mpg. Related Video:    

Hyundai reveals CEO's pay for first time ever

Thanks to some government pressure, Hyundai's billionaire chairman, Chung Mong Koo, has revealed just how much he gets paid each year. Honestly, the amount is a bit lower than we'd expect considering he helms such a huge industrial empire. The 76-year-old chairman brought home $13 million in 2013, $5.2 million of which came from Hyundai's automotive business while both Mobis and Hyundai Steel chipped in $3.94 million, each. For reference, Ford CEO Alan Mulally netted $23.2 million in 2013, although the vast majority of that money came from stock options.
The push for Chung to reveal his pay was part of a larger effort by the South Korean government called the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. The act forces several thousand companies to release info on annual pay, bonuses and severance for employees earning over $5 million won ($469,000), according to Bloomberg.
"With the disclosure of the executives' compensation, the pressure to deliver better profits will increase," said Heo Pil Seok, the CEO of Midas International Asset Management. It seems to be working, as Hyundai shareholders, of which Midas is one, have seen their shares increase by 6.1 percent in 2014, which includes a 1.2-percent jump as of yesterday, according to Bloomberg.

Kia rolls out updated Forte, Forte5 for 2017

Kia has updated the Forte sedan and Forte5 hatchback for the 2017 model year. Set to debut this week at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, the revisions revolve principally around updated exterior design and interior equipment. But there are a few mechanical updates as well. We saw most of the stylistic updates when Kia revealed the new K3 back in Korea a month ago. The new Forte (as we know it on this side of the world) is distinguished by a new front bumper design and what Kia calls the "tiger-nose" grille that blends into the new headlights, much like the new Optima. There are new taillights as well, and a revised interior centered around a seven-inch touchscreen display that will soon offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Under the hood, Kia has replaced the 1.8-liter four with a new 2.0, mated to either a six-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic transmission. There are new driver assistance systems as well, and the Korean automaker has added a new mid-level S trim in between the base LX and top EX models, with a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, a rear spoiler, and chrome exhaust tip. The revised Forte sedan will be the first new model produced at Kia's new plat in Monterey, Mexico. Pricing will be announced closer to launch in the next couple of months, as will a revised two-door Forte Koup, but Kia has also announced a revised Forte5 for 2017. The hatchback features similar cosmetic updates to the sedan. The 2.0-liter four carries over unchanged, as does the punchier 1.6-liter turbo, which can now be had with a new seven-speed DCT. That engine comes in the sporty SX model, which serves as the top of the three-trim line. Scope out the full details in the pair of press releases below. 2017 Forte overview - Compact Sedan Receives Updated Design, New Powertrain and Advanced Tech, Including Android Auto and Apple Car PlayTM - 2017 Forte adds 2.0-liter engine, plus updated six-speed automatic transmission - Advanced driver assistance features including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front Collision Warning, and Dynamic Bending Lights3 are newly available - Sporty S trim pumps up Forte's sport factor with exclusive interior and features Irvine, Calif., Jan. 11, 2015 – The Motor City today got an up close look at the refreshed 2017 Forte when Kia Motors America pulled the silk off the updated compact sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.