2014 Kia Forte Koup Ex on 2040-cars

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Kia previews the seven electric cars it plans to launch by 2027

Kia released a dark design sketch to shine a sliver of light on the seven electric cars it plans to launch by 2027. It hopes that battery-powered models will represent at least 25% of its global sales by 2029. Long on vision but short on details, the image shows the vague outline of seven vehicles that will join the South Korean company's range in the coming years. Company CEO Ho-Sung Song noted the models will be positioned in a variety of market segments, and the image depicts several different silhouettes. The cars on the left look like SUVs and crossovers, while the ones on the right seem to ride a bit lower; there may even be a sports car in the mix. All are linked by a crease-free design, though keep in mind they're still under development. Kia is not a newcomer to the electric car segment. It released its first series-produced EV, an electric version of the Ray sold in global markets, in 2011, and its current range includes battery-powered variants of the Soul and the Niro. The aforementioned septet represents the next step in its offensive. Its members will be standalone EVs, meaning they will not be based on gasoline-powered cars, and they'll all be part of the same family. In a way, Kia is following the same path as Volkswagen, which chose to group its future EVs under the ID umbrella. We'll get our first taste of Kia's new range of electric models when the firm releases a car code-named CV in 2021. It was designed for "many regions globally," though whether that includes the United States is up in the air, and it will usher in the design language that will characterize the line-up. Unofficially, we hear it will arrive as a sedan-SUV cross that will draw inspiration from the Imagine concept introduced at the 2019 edition of the Geneva auto show. Croatia-based Rimac (which Kia has invested in) will play a role in the development process. At the other end of the spectrum, Kia is working on a rugged, body-on-frame pickup that's about as big as the Ford Ranger. It could spawn a large SUV positioned above the Telluride as an alternative to the Chevrolet Tahoe.  

Kia, Mercedes, Carmax poised to return to NBA after league bans Sterling

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dispatched some swift justice yesterday on the bigoted owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling. The 80-year-old billionaire was banned for life and fined $2.5 million for making strongly racist remarks that were recorded on tape. Commissioner Silver has also vowed to try and force Sterling to sell the Clippers in a bid to sever any and all connection between him and the NBA.
Sponsors had rapidly abandoned the Clippers, with covers like the one above going up on sponsor logos during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors earlier this week, due to the strong and vocal public condemnation of Sterling and his views. With the punishments in place, though, the door has been opened for Kia, the southern California dealer group for Mercedes-Benz and used-car retailer CarMax (among other, less auto-related organizations like State Farm, Red Bull and Sprint) to renew their sponsorship with the team.
"We stand with the Commissioner, the league, the players and the fans condemning Mr. Sterling's views. We look forward to a positive resolution and continuing our relationships within the NBA community, including our league and team sponsorships and our personal ties to [Clippers star] Blake Griffin," Kia said in a statement obtained by Automotive News.

10 of 18 midsize SUVs earn 'good' IIHS side impact safety rating

It's not terribly surprising that midsize SUVs earned better safety ratings than small SUVs in the latest side-impact tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Just how much better they scored, on the other hand, certainly raises an eyebrow. Ten out of 18 midsize SUVs earned the highest rating of 'good' in the stringent new test, altered for vehicles starting with the 2020 model year with a heavier barrier (4,200 pounds) that moves at a higher speed (37 miles per hour) and is fitted with a hard honeycomb frontal structure. By way of contrast, just one out of of 20 small SUVs earned a 'good' score.  SUVs that receiving 'good' scores were the Ford Explorer, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Volkswagen ID.4. For EV fans, it's worth noting the ID.4 was the only electric vehicle included in the test. The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse scraped away with 'acceptable' ratings while the Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Wrangler 4-door, Kia Telluride and Nissan Murano were deemed merely 'marginal' in the tough new test. Only two models — the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen ID.4 — earned a "Good" rating in every test category.  Interestingly, the Jeep Wrangler would have scored a 'good' rating if it were equipped with side airbags for the rear seating positions. It would likely be an engineering challenge to equip its removable top and/or doors with airbags, but the lack of that safety feature allowed the head of the rear passenger dummy to hit the vertical support of the top. Otherwise, the Wrangler scored good ratings across the board. The new Ford Bronco, which makes more allowances for side-impact safety, has not yet been tested.  The popular Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride SUVs stand out in the test with 'poor' ratings for driver pelvis injuries. The Nissan Murano, a vehicle last redesigned for the 2015 model year, was the only vehicle tested that received a 'poor' rating for its structure and safety cage. Videos of the tests of 12 of these 18 SUVs can be found on the IIHS' YouTube page. Related video: Green Buick Chevrolet Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jeep Kia Mazda Nissan Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Safety Crossover SUV IIHS Insurance Institute for Highway Safety