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2019 Hyundai Veloster will start at $19,385

Hyundai's 2019 Veloster hatchback will start at $19,385 for the 2.0-liter with a manual transmission when it arrives at dealers in the coming weeks. It'll also be available in Turbo and R-Spec trim configurations, which start at $23,785 for a manual and top out at a $29,035 starting price for the Turbo Ultimate fitted with a dual-clutch transmission. All prices are inclusive of Hyundai's $885 freight charge. Hyundai unveiled the 2019 Veloster as the car's second generation at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Production of the Veloster began in March in Ulsan, South Korea, while Hyundai says the hot hatch will come to U.S. showrooms in the second quarter, or before the calendar flips to July. Engine choices include a standard 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder, which makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, a slight uptick over its predecessor, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder that makes 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, the same as before. The former is coupled with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and three selectable driving modes, while the turbo is mated to a standard six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel. R-Spec manual-trans models will get a B&M Racing sport shifter later on. Fuel-economy numbers are in from the EPA and start at 25 miles per gallon in the city, 28 on the highway and 28 mpg combined for the 2.0-liter manual, and they top out at 28 mpg city, 34 highway and 30 combined for the automatic dual-clutch transmission found in the top-of-the-line Turbo Ultimate model. All models get lane-keeping assist and forward collision-avoidance assist, which helps apply braking when the front camera detects an imminent collision, plus available safety tech like high-beam assist and driver attention warning. A 7-inch LCD touchscreen is standard, as is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Upgrade to the 8-inch touchscreen and you get next-generation Blue Link remote safety and diagnostic service, traffic flow and incident data via HD radio and premium audio from Infinity. Related Video:

Least reliable cars and trucks of 2022

Related: Most reliable cars and trucks of 2022   Every year, Consumer Reports ranks new cars based on their predicted reliability. We often see Toyota, Lexus, and a few other automakers near the top. But on the other side of the coin, the list of least reliable vehicles sometimes contains surprises.   The organization surveys its members to determine the vehicles that exhibited the most problems over the prior year. Owners are asked about creaks and rattles, the durability of parts and trim, and mechanical issues. Consumer Reports assigns a weight to each problem and then uses them to create a score, with 100 being the best. Some familiar names appear on the list of least reliable vehicles (in order with the lowest predicted reliability score at the top), but there are a few eyebrow-raising models, followed by CR's score: Ford F-150 Hybrid: 4 Hyundai Kona Electric: 5 Lincoln Aviator: 8 Nissan Sentra: 9 Ford Explorer: 16 Chevrolet Bolt: 17 Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500: 19 Jeep Gladiator: 21 Mercedes-Benz GLE: 23 Jeep Wrangler: 24 Consumer Reports noted that sedans are the most reliable vehicle category and found that trucks are far lower on the list. That said, the survey showed that trucks from American brands tended to have better reliability scores, so it’s surprising to see GMÂ’s big two and the Ford F-150 on the list. Part of their problematic ownership experience could be due to the fact that all three trucks have received recent updates, and the Ford was completely redesigned for 2022. New tech, fresh drivetrain components, and other improvements can upset the balance of reliability and make newer models look less dependable than their older counterparts. Related video: Green Chevrolet Ford GMC Hyundai Jeep Lincoln Mercedes-Benz Nissan Car Buying Truck Crossover Hatchback SUV Electric Hybrid Sedan Consumer Reports reliability

Kia Soul EV starts production next month amidst modest sales projections

The hamsters in those Kia Soul commercials? Looks like they'll be riding real quiet and quite clean a little sooner than we thought. Kia is now saying it will start production of the 2015 Soul EV next month, and sales will start later this year in the company's home country of South Korea. Additionally, according to Reuters, Kia is keeping sales expectations low, suggesting it should sell about 5,000 Soul EVs a year at a price of around $39,000, though the out-of-pocket costs should be cut in half because of South Korean government subsidies. Kia's taking a somewhat conservative approach to its early sales target as it focuses largely on the US and Europe during its first phase, said Kia spokesman Michael Choo. "We are currently conducting launch feasibility studies for the secondary phase of Soul EV introduction and plan to expand sales to other countries at a later stage," he said. "Hence, we believe the sales volume of the Soul EV will steadily grow following our initial full year of sales." As for the US, Kia spokesman James Hope tells AutoblogGreen that while the company hasn't set a definitive debut date, "we are targeting Q3 of this year." Hope says Kia isn't providing Soul EV sales guidance for the US, so we'll just have to see where the EV chips fall come September or so. Reuters also notes that sister company Hyundai will start selling its own battery-electric vehicle in 2016, a timetable confirmed by Hyundai Senior Vice President Lee Ki-sang. Both Kia and Hyundai are shooting for a South Korean electric-vehicle market that they hope will expand exponentially from a total of just 713 sales last year. The front-wheel-drive Soul EV will have a 81-kilowatt electric motor, and its single-charge range will be about 120 miles. The model was first shown off at the Chicago Auto Show last month, but Autoblog scored an early prototype test drive ahead of the reveal – check out our feature drive report here. Kia Motors shows Soul EV and next-generation hybrid powertrain at Geneva Show (SEOUL) March 4, 2014 -- The new Kia Soul EV made its European debut at the 84th Salon International de l'Automobile in Geneva, Switzerland, today alongside a special technology exhibit of the brand's next-generation hybrid powertrain.