2014 Kia Optima Sxl Turbo on 2040-cars

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Hyundai will launch 26 green models through 2020

Hyundai Motor Group, which comprises both Hyundai and Kia, believes that launching a blitz of 26 green models through 2020 could place the Korean automaker among the leaders in the segment. Only Toyota would be larger in the electrified vehicle market, if Hyundai Motor's plan works, Automotive News reports. The 26 models run the gamut of the green car field, and they include at least 12 hybrids, six PHEVs, two EVs, and two hydrogen fuel cells, according to Automotive News. If customers latch onto them, Hyundai and Kia could move as many as 300,000 electrified vehicles a year by 2020 versus about 43,000 in 2015. Kia is responsible for at least 11 of these vehicles like the upcoming Niro crossover. Meanwhile, Hyundai wants the upcoming Ioniq (above) to challenge the Toyota Prius, and the Korean company has hybrid, PHEV, and EV versions on the way. To save money on the development of so many electrified vehicles, Hyundai Motor uses shared components. "For example, all our electric motors have the same diameter," Lee Ki-Sang, Hyundai's green powertrain boss, told Automotive News. "The power output is different, but we can just adjust the width of the core winding. Or for the motor controller, we standardized to use the same printed circuit boards." Trying to go from a relatively small player to a market leader is an audacious move, but it's especially risky right now. Gas prices are the cheapest in 12 years in the US, and green car sales are down in the US and in Europe. Toyota even predicts the inexpensive fuel could cut into Prius sales, and it's far more established than Hyundai's models. The South Korean company could have an even tougher time because these efficient vehicles still lose money for now. "Our target is before 2020, we would like to make profits on these eco-friendly vehicles," Lee told Automotive News. Related Video:

Kia previews new midsize sedan concept for Geneva

Kia has released a teaser and brief statement about a new concept it'll be bringing to the Geneva Motor Show. Though there's not much to go on, there are a few details to be extrapolated. Firstly, Kia says this is a D-segment model – which is Euro-speak for a midsize sedan. And as far as Kia's concerned, that means the Optima. Considering that the current model is the better part of five years old now, it'll be due for replacement soon, and this could be our first look at the fourth-generation model. What's interesting is that this concept was designed by the company's European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany. (And it does look rather European: in fact if you covered certain parts like the tell-tale tiger-nose grille, and didn't tell us what we were looking at, we might start seeing elements of Jaguar and Skoda in its design.) Which could mean that this is simply the German office's proposal for the Optima's replacement, or that the model line could be split between European and North Ameican models – much like the Cee'd occupies the largely same segment in the Euro market as the Forte does here. Finally the "elegant energy" handle could suggest hybrid or fully electric propulsion, but we'll have to wait a little while long as its debut at the Swiss expo approaches, now just weeks away. ELEGANT ENERGY – KIA TO SHOW NEW CONCEPT CAR AT GENEVA - Concept to be unveiled at the 85th Salon International de l'Automobile in Geneva on 3 March 2015 - D-segment model is the 11th concept car created by Kia's European design studio - The concept has been created as a spacious and versatile accessory to an active lifestyle Kia Motors Europe will exhibit a stylish new concept car at the 85th Salon International de l'Automobile in Geneva on 3 March 2015. This new D-segment model is the 11th concept car created by Kia's European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany. With confident, powerful lines which sweep elegantly from Kia's hallmark 'tiger-nose' grille towards the rear of the vehicle, Kia's new concept car embodies modern design and refined, understated energy. The concept has been created as a spacious and versatile accessory to an active lifestyle, as a purposeful, energetic design study for the style-conscious, and as a sanctuary from the stresses of the modern world. News Source: Kia Geneva Motor Show Kia Concept Cars Sedan 2015 Geneva Motor Show

New Kia Soul Turbo gets futuristic full-width headlight treatment

When we last saw a prototype of the next-generation Kia Soul, it looked like it wouldn't look all that different from the old one, except for having trendy split headlights. As it turns out, those split headlights are more interesting than we thought. The example of the new compact hatchback shown above reveals that it will have a futuristic-looking full-width headlight treatment, something we haven't really seen since the early Mercury Sable. It's clear from these photos that the full-width lights are not the actual headlights that provide forward illumination. They're just accent lights, but the effect is still impressive. It appears the turn signals are integrated into each end of the big light. The center section also eliminates the old Soul's center grille. Below the lighting unit is an expanded lower grille and large lighting elements on either side. These are real forward-illuminating lights. In the bottom of the lower grille are a pair of foglights much like on the current model. The Soul's profile looks almost unchanged from the current model, leading us to wonder if this is a major update to the existing car, or if it is a new platform that just looks mostly like the old one. The tail end receives some major changes, though. The taillights are now almost completely visible, and although they still run up the rear pillars, they now descend lower and into the hatch area. They appear much more shapely and aren't form fitted to the body. This particular prototype also has a sporty dual exhaust tip in the center. This seems to indicate this is a Kia Soul Turbo model, as does the fact it's parked next to a Hyundai Veloster N. Not much is known about the new Kia Soul. We expect it to be roughly the same size as the current model, and we wouldn't be surprised if Kia offers all-wheel drive to keep it competitive with other tiny crossovers. As for the Kia Soul Turbo, we predict it will use the same turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that the current model and the new Hyundai Veloster Turbo use. We do hope that Kia will offer it with a manual transmission this time around. Related Video: