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2020 Kia Soul pricing starts at $18,485

Pricing for the 2020 Kia Soul hatchback-crossover-thing has been revealed, and it's a bit more expensive than the old model. The base manual transmission-equipped LX starts at $18,485, which is exactly $1,000 more than the old base manual model. And for those curious, the manual transmission is only available on the LX. The price gap is a tad narrower with the CVT-equipped 2020 Soul, which is only $800 more than the previous one at $19,985. Both versions of the LX, and all trims except the GT-Line with the turbo engine, get a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up from the base LX trim are several new variants. First up is the S that costs $21,285 and adds standard keyless entry, cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, alloy wheels and body-color door handles and mirrors. The non-turbocharged GT-Line starts at the same price, and it brings sportier bodywork, bigger 18-inch wheels, and leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob. On the other hand, safety features standard on the S, such as blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, become options on the GT-Line. X-line is next and is similar to the GT-Line, but comes with crossover-inspired plastic body cladding, faux skid plates and real roof rails. It costs more at $22,485, though, and it gets even fewer safety features still, losing the GT-Line's options as well as lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking. Topping out the range of Souls with the 2.0-liter engine is the EX at $23,685. It comes with all the features of the S plus heated mirrors, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10.25-inch infotainment screen, wireless phone charging, push-button start, and leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob. At the top of the range is the GT-Line with turbo engine, and it starts at a shocking $28,485. That's $4,500 more than the outgoing turbocharged Soul, and it's right in line with some pretty serious sporty hatchbacks such as the VW GTI ($28,490), Mini Cooper S ($26,750) and Hyundai Veloster N ($27,820). Compared with other Souls, the top-spec GT-Line gets a force-fed 1.6-liter inline-four making 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It's coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the only transmission option.

NHTSA opens probe into 3 million Kia, Hyundai vehicles for fire risks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday it would open a new safety defect investigation into three million Hyundai and Kia vehicles for fires not caused by crashes. The investigation is in response to a petition seeking a probe by the Center for Auto Safety. The auto safety agency since 2007 has been investigating some Hyundai and Kia vehicles for fire risks. The South Korean automakers have recalled more than 2.3 million vehicles since 2015 to address various engine fire risks. Hyundai did not immediately comment, while Kia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NHTSA said the decision to initiate the additional safety defect probe was based on its analysis of information received from multiple manufacturers, consumer complaints and other sources. Last month, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said a group of U.S. states is investigating Hyundai and Kia for potential unfair and deceptive acts related to reports of hundreds of vehicle fires. In November, Reuters reported that federal prosecutors had launched a criminal investigation into Hyundai and Kia to determine if vehicle recalls linked to engine defects had been conducted properly. Reuters reported in January that the companies would offer software upgrades for 3.7 million vehicles not being recalled. A South Korean whistleblower in 2016 reported concerns to NHTSA, which has been probing the timeliness of three U.S. recalls and whether they covered enough vehicles. In 2015, Hyundai recalled 470,000 U.S. Sonata sedans, saying engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. At the time, Kia did not recall its vehicles, which share the same "Theta II" engines. In March 2017, Hyundai expanded its original U.S. recall to 572,000 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles with those Theta II engines, citing the same issue involving manufacturing debris. On the same day, Kia also recalled 618,000 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles, all of which use the same engine.Reporting by David Shepardson.

Kia shows off 2 tuned Stingers, modified Cadenza at SEMA

Ascendant Korean automaker Kia is leaving its mark on the SEMA Show in Las Vegas with two versions of its forthcoming 2018 Stinger GT, including the wide-body version developed with West Coast Customs that we previewed recently, and a sumptuous version of its premium sedan it's calling the Cadenza Obsidian. The third model is the Stinger GT Federation, which Kia says marks its foray into offering high-performance aftermarket parts through suppliers in conjunction with a vehicle launch (the production Stinger hits showrooms in December). Kia pairs the GT Federation with Air Design USA performance kits like a rear spoiler, rear diffuser and redesigned hood vents that contrast with the fastback's custom creamy-orange paint. The GT-standard twin-turbo 3.3-liter engine gets an added 15 horsepower, taking it to an estimated 380 hp, thanks to a K&N cold-air intake and a low-restriction quad-tipped Borla exhaust. It also gets Eibach springs, beefier antiroll bars and a reduced ride height, plus staggered 20-inch TSW wheels with Falken tires. Kia teamed with West Coast Customs for both the Stinger GT Wide Body and the Cadenza Obsidian sedan. The latter gets an upscale aesthetic makeover with ultra-dark ceramic window tint, metallic black body paint and copper accents inside and out. It rides on a lowered suspension with stiffened sport springs and custom 20-inch gloss-black Keen wheels with Cosmic Copper trim. Inside, there's hand-stitched suede dashboard top panel, "butter-soft" brown leather seats with suede inserts, and custom brown suede door panels. Oh, and there's a Harmon Kardon 630-watt premium sound system with an integrated subwoofer — perfect for belting out "Let It Go" at full voice during your morning commute. Kia also revealed new details about the Stinger GT Wide Body, which takes its inspiration from grand-touring racing cars of the 1970s. Its suspension has been lowered 1.4 inches up front and 1.2 inches in the rear, and it rides on 21-inch Keen forged wheels fitted with high-performance tires. The body gets wide fenders, a lightweight carbon-fiber aero kit and rear diffuser, plus quad-port exhaust tips. Inside, the makeover features custom blue leather seat piping, a hand-stitched gray leather dash panel, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and gloss-black center console trim.