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2014 Kia Optima is better by a nose

Kia is showing off a slew of vehicles here in New York, including the ever-so-slightly refreshed 2014 Optima sedan you see here. The brunt of the changes surround the new front fascia, with repositioned LED lighting above the headlamp units and some new quad-LED fogs rounding of a touched-up front bumper. At the rear, Kia has reworked the taillamps, and of course, LEDs are found there, as well.
Other changes to the Optima for 2014 include the additions of two new displays inside the cabin - a 4.3-inch TFT display in the gauge cluster and a larger, eight-inch high-resolution screen that houses the navigation and infotainment data. There are also new seats inside the Optima, which are hopefully more comfortable and offer better bolstering than the decidedly flat chairs found in the current car, plus Kia has added available new safety features like blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert.
The powertrain offerings have not changed for 2014 - base cars still get a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine while the SX models get the 2.0-liter turbo. There is, however, a new Drive Mode Select system specifically for the SX, which adjusts transmission shift points and steering weight for a more engaging dynamic, or so we're told. (The Optima Hybrid model did receive upgrades to its battery and electric motor just recently, but those changes technically hit during the 2013 model year - it is not immediately clear if the gas-electric model will receive the updates shown here).

Poor headlights cause 40 cars to miss IIHS Top Safety Pick rating

Over the past few months, we've noticed a number of cars and SUVs that have come incredibly close to earning one of the IIHS's highest accolades, the Top Safety Pick rating. They have great crash test scores and solid automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems. What trips them up is headlights. That got us wondering, how many vehicles are there that are coming up short because they don't have headlights that meet the organization's criteria for an "Acceptable" or "Good" rating. This is a revision made after 2017, a year in which headlights weren't factored in for this specific award. This is also why why some vehicles, such as the Ford F-150, might have had the award last year, but have lost it for this year. We reached out to someone at IIHS to find out. He responded with the following car models. Depending on how you count, a whopping 40 models crash well enough to receive the rating, but don't get it because their headlights are either "Poor" or "Marginal." We say depending on how you count because the IIHS actual counts truck body styles differently, and the Infiniti Q70 is a special case. Apparently the version of the Q70 that has good headlights doesn't have adequate forward collision prevention technology. And the one that has good forward collision tech doesn't have good enough headlights. We've provided the entire list of vehicles below in alphabetical order. Interestingly, it seems the Volkswagen Group is having the most difficulty providing good headlights with its otherwise safe cars. It had the most models on the list at 9 split between Audi and Volkswagen. GM is next in line with 7 models. It is worth noting again that though these vehicles have subpar headlights and don't quite earn Top Safety Pick awards, that doesn't mean they're unsafe. They all score well enough in crash testing and forward collision prevention that they would get the coveted award if the lights were better.

2017 Kia Cadenza has new styling, greater efficiency

The current Kia Cadenza went on sale in the US in April 2013, and three years later a new generation arrives at the 2016 New York Auto Show. This isn't just a mild refresh of the existing sedan, either. The latest Cadenza hits showrooms in late 2016 with improved styling, a stiffer platform, and a more efficient engine. Kia is holding back the 2017 Cadenza's exact powertrain specs until closer to launch. The new sedan still uses a 3.3-liter V6, which now has an estimated 290 horsepower, and the company plans to retune the powerplant for better fuel economy. The sedan also has an eight-speed automatic gearbox rather than the present six-speed. The current Cadenza makes 293 hp and has EPA estimates of 19 miles per gallon city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The model's lighter platform makes the most of the improved powertrain. The updated chassis now consists of over 50 percent Advanced High Strength Steel, which is twice as much as before. The 2017 model has the same length as its predecessor but a longer wheelbase that increases rear legroom by half an inch. Additional sound deadening and acoustic absorbing laminate for the windshield and front windows create a quieter interior, too. The 2017 Cadenza's styling is a more angular evolution of the current sedan's stodgy look, with sharper edges for Kia's tiger nose grille, which is now convex. The Cadenza's lower trim levels feature mesh in the center, but the more expensive versions have vertical fins (pictured above). The four-door also has Z-shaped signature lights in the headlights, and the same motif is on the taillights. The latest Cadenza's interior cossets occupants with more soft-touch materials and high-tech amenities. Customers can spec active safety systems like adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, and the Smart Blind Spot Detection System that can brake the wheels to keep from drifting toward an adjacent vehicle. The rapid replacement for the last Cadenza suggests Kia wants to stay relevant among large, front-wheel drive sedans, like the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, and Buick LaCrosse. The new styling at least makes the Kia look more interesting in the segment, and the updated powertrain makes sure the four-door keeps up in the class.