2009 Kia Optima Lx Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Kia Telluride could head into luxury territory with flagship trim

Kia will expand the Telluride lineup with a range-topping trim level that will catapult the SUV into luxury-car territory, according to a recent report. The variant will arrive as one of the firm's most expensive models. Without citing sources, website AutoSpies wrote the yet-unnamed flagship Telluride will stand out from less expensive models with a two-tone paint job split below the roof line and additional interior colors, among other posh tweaks. And, somewhat surprisingly, Kia will allegedly offer buyers an off-road package that will bundle skid plates, beefier tires, and a bull bar. The off-roader described by the publication sounds a lot like the concepts Kia brought to SEMA 2018, and it could surf the ruggedization wave sweeping across the industry. There's no word yet on whether the deluxe treatment will continue in the engine bay. As of writing, the Telluride is only offered with a 3.8-liter V6 rated at 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive come standard, and all-wheel drive is offered at an extra cost. Kia hasn't commented on the rumor, and it hasn't announced plans to expand the Telluride's trim hierarchy. If it's accurate, the flagship version could make its debut in 2020 and arrive in showrooms during the 2021 model year. Its upmarket ambitious would push its base price toward the $50,000 mark, about $20,000 more than the entry-level model and a $10,000 premium compared to the SX currently positioned at the top of the line. While the idea of paying $50,000 for a Kia will certainly startle more than a few buyers, it's not as far-fetched as it sounds. The Stinger is already there, the most expensive GT2 trim is pegged right at that price point, so the South Korean firm has already proved it has the credibility to compete in this space. The Telluride lends itself well to an extra dose of opulence, especially considering demand for luxury SUVs continues to grow in America.

2019 Kia Niro EV starts at $1,500 more than Hyundai Kona Electric

Pricing for the 2019 Kia Niro EV has been revealed, and it has the highest starting price of any Hyundai or Kia electric car that we know the price of right now – assuming the Soul EV won't be pricier. The base price for the Niro EV EX is $39,495 before the federal tax credit. With the credit, the price falls to $31,995. The top trim Niro EV EX Premium jumps up to $44,995 before the credit, and $37,495 after it. For the extra $5,500, the Niro EV EX Premium adds a sunroof, real leather trim, heated and ventilated front seats, eight-inch touchscreen, navigation and wireless phone charging. The standard Niro EV is still well-equipped with standard adaptive cruise control, seven-inch touchscreen, lane centering, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning. Each also comes with standard DC fast charging capability. In comparison, the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $37,995 ($30,495 with tax credit), which is $1,500 less than the Niro. The Kona is a bit smaller than the Niro, though it also offers more range than the Niro with 258 miles versus 239. The Chevy Bolt EV's base price is the cheapest at $37,495, but the tax credit has been reduced for the Chevy to $3,750 – and Chevy isn't dropping the price any to compensate. That means with the credit, the Bolt EV ends up the most expensive of these three at $33,745. The Bolt EV doesn't include DC fast charging as standard, either, and its EPA-rated range is a mile shy of the Niro's.

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.