2012 Kia Sorento 2wd 4dr V6 Sx on 2040-cars

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Kia teases Cross GT concept for Chicago debut

Kia is headed to the Chicago Auto Show with a new concept. Details are scarce on the Cross GT at the moment, but we know the machine was penned as a luxury crossover. Larger than the current Sorento, we would wager there's three rows of seating on board. And while it's unclear whether or not Kia plans to bring something similar to market, we like what we see in the shadowy teaser above. The Cross GT seems to wear the company's "tiger nose" styling well, and the familiar D-pillar upkick ties the machine in nicely with the rest of the company's people-movers.
The 2013 Chicago Auto Show kicks off on February 7th, and should feature a number of interesting reveals. Those include the upcoming Toyota Tundra and what could be a special version of the Dodge Dart. Stay tuned for our live coverage on the show floor.

Watch these Super Bowl car commercials [UPDATE]

On Sunday, February 3, the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Some will watch because of the storyline of the old-school dynasty facing off against the new-school wunderkinds, but a large chunk of people will solely be watching for the commercials. Lucky for those who slot into the latter category, many of the manufacturers release their super bowl ads ahead of time, or have simply opted to release the commercials only online. Scroll down to see what car companies have already shown their cards. Audi Audi goes the comedic route in its clip for the Big Game. It starts with a grandpa showing his grandson a gorgeous Audi e-tron GT tucked away in a garage before he's shaken awake. Turns out he was just choking on a cashew in his cubicle at his boring job. Dodge Dodge does what it knows: create enough smoke to punch more holes in the ozone layer. Set to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia (the Super Bowl is in Atlanta, get it!?), a Challenger SRT Hellcat widebody, Charger SRT Hellcat, and Durango SRT are seen ripping through a city, leaving a trail of rubber crumbs in their wakes. Genesis Genesis has not yet released a commercial prior to the Super Bowl, but it is the official luxury vehicle of the NFL. Because of this, Genesis is hosting a fan experience for 10 days before the game. It will showcase the brand's cars, offer games, and have photos opportunities and autograph days. Hyundai Jason Bateman alert! Hyundai is one of the few companies to hook a major celebrity for its advertisement, and the casting is perfect. Bateman plays a doorman who takes people to various terrible events in life, including root canals, the middle seat, and shopping for a car. The ad centers around Hyundai's Shopper Assurance, which is Hyundai's new method for car shopping. Jeep An old 1963 Jeep Gladiator finds its strength in the crusher and transforms into a a new 2020 Gladiator, with a firm declaration that the nameplate is officially back. Kia Through Kia's commercial, a young boy wonders out loud what it'd be like if the millions spent on Super Bowl commercials were used to help others.

Kia Futuron autonomous, electric concept has scales and UFO design

Although the Kia Futuron Concept is styled and literally named to suggest a prospective automobile, it checks all the market trend boxes of right now. It's styled like a crossover coupe. It has all-wheel drive. It's electric. And it is said to have Level 4 autonomy. Oh yes, and it lights up, too.  Unveiled at the 2019 China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Futuron's name is technically two words put together, according to Kia: future and on. "On" is apparently meant to hint at "switched on," as in an electrical switch. Or just consider it Megatron's cousin. The Futuron is about 191 inches long, 61 inches tall, and has a 118-inch wheelbase. For reference, a Kia Stinger is 190 inches long, 55 inches tall, and has a wheelbase of 114.4 inches. Kia says it used a 360-degree design that is inspired by UFOs and flying saucers. A central eye-drawing crease starts at the new interpretation of the "Tiger Nose," disappears in the front wheel arches, and picks up again at the door, where it continues along the body and circles around the rear. The glass canopy roof is diamond-shaped and offers a unique airy design that extends beyond the dashboard. Kia says it wants its future designs to be "confident, sporty and modern, yet also elegant."  One of the key features of the Futuron is the evolutionary "Tiger Face." The headlights and front fascia of the car blend together, thanks to "Star Cloud" lighting. Kia says it pulls from the nebulae in space to create the geometric Matrix lighting. It also uses a "Dragon Skin" surface that mimics scaled armor on mythic Chinese dragons. A kinetic surface allows the car's scales to open and close to reveal daytime running lights or headlights, depending on the time of day. Hypothetically, the Futuron is powered by four in-wheel electric motors, which are fed by a battery beneath the floor of the cabin. Four motors means electric all-wheel drive, which will deliver "lightning-fast responses to driver inputs." Furthermore, sensors, radar, lidar, and cameras make the Futuron capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, which allows the driver to be completely free of road attention or guidance, for the most part. The steering wheel even retracts. Inside, the autonomous capabilities allow for a more flexible design. The Futuron has seats that can be switched between driving or zero-gravity reclining.