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2019 Kia Forte First Drive Review | Slow, but steady

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Kia is in the midst of an sea change. The Stinger's release has shifted the brand's focus away from simply being rebadged Hyundais, giving the Korean automaker a new identity. The Soul and Niro have been solid and unique products, but one or two cars aren't enough to move the needle, especially in the eyes of the public. Our long-term 2018 Kia Stinger GT is a fantastic car, but it still gets plenty of "that's a Kia?" comments out in public. If Kia wants to reinvent itself in this new image, every product is going to have to look and feel as if it was cut from the same cloth. For 2019, the Kia Forte is entering its third generation, having debuted a decade ago as replacement for the Spectra. Like the previous two models, the new Forte shares more than a little with its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Elantra. Kia claims the Forte is more than just an Elantra with handsome new sheetmetal, with some minor updates and changes underneath the skin. There are some allusions to the Stinger in the Forte's design — thin, sweptback headlights, a wide lower air intake up front and full-width taillights in the rear. Both cars are also sprinkled with a number of black accents. It's clean and more distinctive than the recently refreshed but still conservative Elantra. The Forte's interior is less Stinger and more Optima — not quite as bold as the exterior might suggest, but purposeful. There are the practical details that make a difference: small spaces for your phone, sunglasses and more. The Honda Civic offers more, but the Forte is near the top of its class. Like the Elantra, the Forte's seats are comfortable and well positioned, though I do wish there were a little more thigh bolstering. Base models come with cloth, though heated and ventilated leather seats are standard on the top-tier EX trim. The EX also comes with two USB ports and an optional wireless charger. Fit and finish are impressive, too. There was nary a rattle or panel gap to be found. Kia's focus on improved noise and vibration was immediately evident, too. Both wind and road noise were both mild, with just a little bit of sound coming from the car's A-pillars. The chassis has been stiffened significantly compared to the Elantra, and it definitely comes across on the road. The overall impression inside is that it looks and feels as well-built as anything coming from Japan and better than some of the Americans. Unfortunately, things aren't quite as rosy when you get moving.

2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year entries announced

Over 40 vehicles will compete for the 2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. If that name looks a little strange, it's because the competition added a third category. In years past, pickup trucks, crossovers, SUVs, commercial vans, and minivans competed for the same award. That's why there were occasionally weird comparisons, like last year's competition between the Volvo XC90 and Nissan Titan XD. The new format separates pickups and commercial vans into the truck contest and CUVs, SUVs, and minivans into the utility competition. A complete list of eligible vehicles is below, but here are a few highlights. For one, the entire list of entries has a luxurious lean. Of the 43 vehicles, nearly half of them are from premium brands. There are two eligible Bentleys – the Bentayga and Mulsanne – the Rolls-Royce Dawn, Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q7, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-, E-, and S-Class Maybach. The performance ranks are lofty, too, with the Audi R8, Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Mercedes SL- and SLC-Class, Porsche 718, and F-150 Raptor. The mainstream entries are just as comprehensive. From the Chrysler Pacifica to the Chevrolet Cruze to the Fiat 124 Spider to the Mitsubishi Mirage, NACTOY has covered an enormous price range with this year's contestants. Of course, these are only the eligible vehicles. They'll need to run through three rounds of judging, starting in September at NACTOY's traditional Hell, MI, test drive. The Canadian and American journalists involved in the judging will announce this year's nine finalists – three in each category – on December 6. Cars Acura NSX Alfa Romeo Giulia Audi A4 Audi R8 Bentley Mulsanne Buick Cascada Buick LaCrosse Cadillac CT6 Chevrolet Bolt Chevrolet Cruze Fiat 124 Genesis G90 Hyundai Elantra Infiniti Q60 Jaguar XE Kia Cadenza Lincoln Continental Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Mercedes-Benz S550 Maybach Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Mini Clubman Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman Rolls-Royce Dawn Toyota Prius Prime Volvo S90 SUVs Audi Q7 Bentley Bentayga Buick Envision Cadillac XT5 Chrysler Pacifica GMC Acadia Infiniti QX30 Kia Sportage Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Jaguar F-Pace Mazda CX-9 Nissan Armada Trucks Ford F-Series Super Duty pickups Ford F-150 Raptor Honda Ridgeline Nissan Titan half-ton Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga View 23 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub.

Kia Cross GT concept gives glimpse of future premium CUV

Kia is looking to bolster its premium-car lineup beyond newly conceived products like the Cadenza and Quoris. Perhaps the best evidence of this initiative, to date, is the Cross GT Concept that has just been unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. Showing a larger, more premium crossover to slot in above the Sorento, the Cross GT Concept hints at a future product that could be what the ill-fated, body-on-frame Borrego never had a chance to be.
Compared to the current Sorento, the Cross GT Concept is 8.4-inches longer, 4.9-inches wider and rides on a wheelbase that is increased by 15.7 inches, and it shows a new possible styling direction for Kia as the automaker continues to attempt to venture up market. Some of the upscale styling cues include the clamshell hood. upright front end with signature Kia tiger nose grille and the multi-panel panoramic roof. The true luxury of the Cross GT is apparent inside where Kia has used real wood trim and rich leather on the seats, and there's also the buttonless, touch-screen infotainment system; rear occupants will have flat screen monitors with Internet access.
Based on a chassis shared with the rear-wheel drive GT Concept, which we first saw at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the fullsize Cross GT crossover is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 paired to Kia's hybrid system that gives the luxury crossover a combined output of 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, as well as an all-electric driving range of 20 miles. The engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which helps send power to the wheels through an advanced, torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system