2012 Kia Forte Lx on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai closes the books on fuel economy litigation

Hyundai-Kia ended up with a lot of kimchi on its face in 2012 when it admitted it had mistakenly exaggerated fuel economy estimates on several 2012 and 2013 model-year offerings like the Hyundai Accent, Veloster and Elantra and Kia Soul. Before the admission a lawsuit had been filed by an entity called Consumer Watchdog, afterward there were "approximately 53" lawsuits filed in federal court that were eventually consolidated into one case in a California Central District court.
The companies apologized profusely and gave customers prepaid gas cards that they could refill with funds for as long as they own their vehicle, as well as perks like free car washes and routine maintenance services. The company has just announced that it has reached a preliminary settlement of the case by adding another method of reimbursement, a lump sum payment that would free drivers from having to go back to the dealership to have their mileage verified for debit card refills.
Assuming the preliminary agreement is approved by the judge, customers could choose the lump sum or the cards. The settlement's value could be as much as $210 million, but the exact number depends on which program plaintiffs choose. On average, affected customers will receive $353. Approval could come in "early 2014," after which Hyundai will notify customers. You'll find more particulars on the potential settlement in the press release below.

Production version of Kia Imagine concept due in 2021

In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Kia Europe COO Emilio Herrera said the Imagine concept that debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show should turn into a production model "in one or two years." Gregory Guillaime, Kia's European VP of design, said the Imagine is a "large C-segment car" intentionally blurring the distinctions between body types, a press release describing the concept as "drawing together elements of a muscular sports utility vehicle, a sleek and athletic family saloon, and a versatile and spacious crossover." Herrera didn't give any details on how the production version will differ from the concept. Flourishes like the windshield glass flowing uninterrupted into the roof and the 21 interior screens aren't likely to make it out of the studio. We do know that Kia plans a new, pure EV architecture shared with Hyundai. This will support larger, more powerful electric offerings that boast more range than products like the Kia e-Niro and Soul EV. The e-Niro is rated at 282 miles on Europe's WLTP cycle, it's said Kia wants to hit 500 miles of range. The automaker would only say of the Imagine's powertrain that it is "a low-mounted, induction-charged battery pack that powers a compact drivetrain." More importantly, the powertrain will focus on performance, "approaching electrification purely from an emotional point of view,” and pitched by Autocar as competing against EVs like the Polestar 2. As a C-segment competitor like the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, the chances of the Imagine making it to the U.S. are unknown. Herrera made his comments in a conversation about Europe's impending CO2 emissions regulations. At one point, Herrera explained the five methods he sees for dealing with the emissions caps, and we can already divide automakers among those five tactics. The Imagine, and other Kia vehicles with alternative powertrains on the way, are how the Korean automaker will avoid fines. The full interview is worth a read. Herrera lays out some of the difficulties in the EV landscape, such as achieving the necessary volumes, pricing, and battery supply, and explains why he doubts some competitor's claims about launching inexpensive subcompact EVs. Related Video:    

2015 Kia Rio freshens up for France

We've always felt that the current-generation Rio is styled with European flair, so good on Kia for showing its refreshed new look here at the Paris Motor Show.
The B-segment hatchback's aggressive looks get modestly more so for the new model year, with a revamped tiger nose grille and new light fixtures, along with a pair of hash marks in the fog lamp area. To us, the current car, introduced for 2012, still looks quite fresh, but we like the subtly new light fixtures and suite of new wheel designs.