12 Kia Optima Ex Sedan, Comfortable Leather Seats, Sunroof, We Finance! on 2040-cars

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Kia GT getting closer to production

The Kia lineup in the US has no lack of stylish models in their respective segments, but the brand's range doesn't have a larger, sporty model to appeal to more enthusiast-minded customers. A fix for that is on the horizon, though, because the official unveiling of the production Kia GT is possibly on the way. Since debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show way back in 2011, the GT has kept tentatively stepping closer to the showroom. Coming from the pens of Peter Schreyer and his team, the concept presented a fastback, four-door coupe that was motivated by a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 with 389 horsepower driving the rear wheels. As far back as 2013, the vehicle was reportedly being heavily considered for production, and last year it allegedly finally received the green light. With the four-door GT nearing showrooms, the fate of the similarly sized GT4 Stinger coupe concept likely isn't quite so bright. Kia Motors America Vice President of Product Planning Orth Hedrick recently talked about the future of both vehicles to Australia's Drive. "I think for us the GT is a sedan so it has a lot broader appeal than a two-door coupe. They don't do well here. They do really, really good for 18 months and then they really fall off. You can get just as much emotional experience in a sedan, a more practical car, than a coupe," he said. According to Hedrick, the four-door coupe appeals to younger buyers who are already more interested in cars. These are just the type of people that any brand wants to grab the attention of. Finally seeing the GT in its production guise is a chance that might be on the way, too. "We'll have an announcement soon," he said to Drive.

Kia Optima Sportwagon spied before Geneva

Kia showed off the Sportspace concept at the Geneva Motor Show this year, and we knew at the time that it previewed design elements that would migrate to the Optima sedan. On top of that, it's keeping its hump to transition into the Optima Sportwagon for what we presume will be audiences outside the US. When we asked Kia about the chance of it coming here, a company spokesman responded: "Right now we don't have plans to bring the Optima Sportwagon to the US but we are continuously studying the market and looking for new opportunities. The all-new 2016 Optima midsize sedan is one of our best selling vehicles and at this time we are focused on its launch in the U.S." Now in prototype form, spy photographers caught engineers testing the Sportwagon out on German roads. The roofline declines as it makes its way to the back, a nod to the concept and a sporty profile. Otherwise design matters appear quite toned down compared to the concept, which shouldn't be a surprise. And in spite of commenters who promised Kia their money if the South Korean automaker would produce the Sportspace with all-wheel drive and something like 400 horsepower, what buyers will really be faced with is front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with around 250 horsepower. A plug-in hybrid is said to be on the cards, too. Spy shooters said they saw Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo wagons at the Kia test facility, so you know the benchmarks and have more proof that it's not for us. It's expected to make its production appearance at next year's Geneva Motor Show.

2014 Kia Soul priced from $14,700*

Kia has announced pricing on the refreshed 2014 Soul. At $14,700 (*plus a destination charge of $795), the new funky crossover undercuts its two primary competitors, the Scion xB and Nissan Cube, by $2,850 and $2,060, respectively. That base model includes 16-inch alloys, cruise control, wheel-mounted audio controls and a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque.
The mid-range model, the Soul Plus, demands $18,200 and adds a spate of exterior items, like 17-inch wheels and chrome trim, to class up the Soul's look, not to mention a 164-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. Plus customers also have access to a number of option packages, including a $400 pack that adds Kia's UVO infotainment system and a backup camera. A $1,400 Audio Package adds navigation, an eight-inch display, an Infinity stereo and automatic temperature controls. A $3,000 Primo Package adds a few notable luxury items, like a panoramic sunroof, heated leather seats, and push-button start. Finally, a $400 Eco Package adds stop-start technology and replaces the 17-inch wheels with 16s shod in low-rolling-resistance tires.
The top-of-the-line Soul Exclaim starts at $20,300 and comes with LED running lights, LED taillights, 18-inch wheels and the Plus's UVO Package as standard. Buyers can opt for The Whole Shebang, a $2,500 option pack that apes the Primo Package from the Plus. Weirdly, the Audio Package from the Soul Plus is an extra $1,200 on the Exclaim, and has been rebranded the Sun and Sand Package. Feel free to peruse the press release below for more.