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Kia may produce all-electric version of the Niro crossover

Kia is considering producing an all-electric version of the Niro, the crossover vehicle that was the first from the South Korean company to be designed as a dedicated hybrid vehicle. Kia Motors operating chief Tae-Hyun Oh told the UK's Car Dealer magazine that the Niro's size, utility, and hybrid pedigree, along with stricter worldwide emissions mandates, may push the automaker to make a Niro EV. Kia, whose sister company Hyundai sells the hydrogen fuel-cell Tucson crossover in limited numbers, is also considering making a fuel-cell car in order to boost its green-vehicle pedigree further. Kia has sold more than 1,000 Niro hybrid vehicles since that model debuted in August. An all-electric Niro would be based on the same platform as the Kia Ioniq. That model has hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric variants, reflecting what Kia said earlier this year was a three-pronged attack to broaden the Ioniq's exposure. The all-electric version of the Ioniq, which debuted in South Korea earlier this year and is slated to start sales in the US by the end of 2016, has a 28-kilowatt-hour battery pack that provides a single-charge range of about 110 miles. Currently, Kia sells an all-electric version of the Soul crossover. That model can go 93 miles on a full charge, though reports surfaced in September that the Kia Soul will get a refresh in 2018 that will boost its single-charge range in order to better compete with longer-range models such as the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3. The Niro was first shown off as a concept model at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, while a production version was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show this February. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Kia Niro View 18 Photos News Source: Car Dealer via Hybrid Cars Green Kia Crossover Electric kia niro

Hyundai-Kia fuel-economy errors trigger $300M in federal penalties [w/video]

This amount includes $100-million in civil penalties, the largest such fines in EPA history.
Hyundai and Kia are getting more than a slap on the wrist for overstating the fuel economy of an estimated 1.2-million vehicles in their 2011-2013 model ranges. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice and the California Air Resources Board are hitting the automakers with collective penalties valued at around $300 million for Clean Air Act violations. This amount includes $100-million in civil penalties, the largest such fines in EPA history. Specifically, Hyundai is paying a $56.8 million penalty and relinquishing 2.7-million greenhouse gas emissions credits. Kia is paying $43.2 million in penalties and giving up 2.05-million credits.

Kia Stinger base trim is for people who hate colors

The 2018 Kia Stinger is a looker, and at least in twin-turbo V6 guise, a pretty impressive performer, too. Not only that, its base price of $32,795 is quite attractive for the base turbocharged four-cylinder model, which with 255 horsepower and rear-drive is still a compelling package. Unfortunately, there's a hitch with the affordable four-cylinder cars: You don't have any real color choice. As it turns out, the base-model Stinger has just three color options. They consist of white, silver, and black. Yay. Paying an extra $5,200 for the Stinger Premium, while adding additional features such as a sunroof and premium sound system, only adds one more color, blue. The only way to get the full spectrum of colors including white, silver, dark gray, black, blue and red is to pony up for a Stinger GT, the V6 version. That model starts at $1,250 more than the four-cylinder Stinger Premium, and $6,450 more than the base version. So if you want a colorful Stinger, you'd better be ready to buy the one with the big engine. On the plus side, though, you get a whole lot performance for not a lot more than a top-end four-cylinder. Related Video: Image Credit: Kia Kia Car Buying Hatchback Performance Sedan consumer kia stinger gt kia stinger