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Kia Niro hybrid and PHEV refreshed with Niro EV's looks and tech for Geneva

Two years ago, Kia unveiled the Niro hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show. This year, Kia will bring updated versions of the Niro hybrid and PHEV to Geneva, putting the battery electric crossovers under the influence of the Niro EV. The powertrains don't change, but the looks do. New projector headlights adopt what Kia calls its "ice cube" design above a new bumper. The DRLs turn into double arrows beneath, mimicking the single arrow DRL on the Niro EV. LED fog lights are optional. In back, new LED taillights pair with new light reflectors and rear fog lamps that sit between a silver skid plate. Two new 16-inch wheel designs will be standard fit, a new 18-inch wheel on the options sheet. The interior get a serious spruce in color and technology, especially with the optional color packs. A soft-touch coating covers the instrument panel, gloss black or satin chrome highlight the rest of the cabin. Paddle shifters for the six-speed double-clutch have been grafted onto the steering wheel. The handbrake lever gives way to an electronic parking brake, and there are larger rear brake discs. Depending on market, Kia will offer Red-Orange or Plum color packs. The former merely splashes hues about the cabin, as in the red contrast stitching and red-orange dash trim. Plum turns the interior fruity, adding perforated plum-colored leather to the seats, "warm purple stitching," and a plum armrest on the doors. Standard digital touches include a 4.2-inch TFT screen in the binnacle, and an eight-inch infotainment screen. The optional system installs a seven-inch TFT panel in the binnacle and a 10.25-inch TFT infotainment window. That upgraded spec will run Kia's new Uvo Connect, which uses a SIM card to retrieve and update live data. The lengthy list of driver assistance and safety features Kia's known for welcomes two optional features. The new adaptive cruise control adds a stop and go function, able to restart on its own after stopping in traffic. Lane Following Assist will follow the vehicle in front. Related Video:

IIHS study finds minivans are unsafe for second-row passengers

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) updated its moderate overlap front crash test in late 2022, and it found that four minivans struggle to protect second-row passengers. The agency stresses that minivan manufacturers need to prioritize safety for the rear occupants. While the minivan is no longer a common sight in driveways across America, it remains relatively popular among buyers with kids and gear to haul around. The IIHS tested four models: the Chrysler Pacifica, the Kia Carnival, the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. These vans were put through an updated test that places a dummy the size of a small woman or a 12-year-old child in the seat directly behind the driver. IIHS explains that, for a vehicle to earn a "good" rating, there can't be an excessive risk of injury to the head, neck, chest or thigh. None of the four minivans achieved that distinction; the Pacifica, the Carnival and the Sienna got a "marginal" rating, while the Odyssey scored a "poor" rating. IIHS also points out that, with the exception of the Sienna, these vans lack a seatbelt reminder for the second-row passengers. Chrysler Pacifica View 5 Photos "The restraint systems in all four vehicles leave the second-row occupant vulnerable to chest injuries, either because of excessive belt forces or poor belt positioning. That's concerning because those injuries can be life-threatening," said Jessica Jermakian, the IIHS vice president of vehicle research, in a statement. IIHS stresses, in spite of these results, the back seat remains the safest place for children to travel in. In the Sienna, the rear dummy "submarined" (or slid forward) beneath the lap belt while the shoulder belt moved toward the neck. In the Carnival and the Pacifica, the seatbelt put too much force on the dummy's chest. IIHS adds that, alarmingly, the Pacifica's side curtain airbag did not deploy during the crash test and that the forces exerted on the dummy's neck were high in the Carnival. In the Odyssey, the forces exerted on the head and on the neck were even higher, and the dummy's head came too close to the front seatback in spite of the seatbelt. On a brighter note, all four vans earned a "good" rating for front-passenger protection. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Chrysler Honda Kia Toyota Safety Minivan/Van IIHS crash test Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Hyundai Q1 profit triples, as it adjusts production due to chip shortage

  SEOUL — Hyundai Motor Co posted a first-quarter profit that nearly tripled to its highest in four years as people bought its luxury cars, but warned it would have to adjust production again in May because of a chip shortage. Unlike its rivals, the South Korean automaker staved off production halts in the first quarter, thanks to a healthy chip inventory. But the shortage, exacerbated by factors including a fire at a chip factory in Japan and storms in Texas, is now catching up with Hyundai. Hyundai, which has lagged its rivals in the electric vehicle (EV) race, also said on Thursday that it was developing solid-state batteries and planned to mass produce EVs using solid state batteries in 2030. In February, Hyundai launched its Ioniq 5 electric midsize crossover, the first in a planned family of EVs that it hopes will propel it into the third rank of global EV makers by 2025. Hyundai Motor and Kia together aim to sell 1 million EVs in 2025. In the quarter ended March 31, Hyundai was unscathed as people at home and the United States snapped up its high-margin sports-utility vehicles and premium Genesis cars as the coronavirus pandemic dragged on, fueling car ownership. Net profit surged 187% to 1.3 trillion won ($1.16 billion) from 463 billion a year earlier, when business slumped as countries shut down to limit the spread of the coronavirus. This was in line with an average Refinitiv SmartEstimate. Revenue rose 8.2% to 27.4 trillion won. Hyundai is expected to report net profit of 1.4 trillion won for the April-June period, up 536% from the corresponding period a year earlier, Refinitiv SmartEstimate showed. Hyundai affiliate Kia Corp reported operating profit of 1.1 trillion won for January-March, up 142% on the year. Hyundai, which together with Kia is among the world's top 10 automakers by sales, has temporarily paused production three times since the beginning of this month and saved chips for its most popular models. "The condition of semiconductor parts is being a little more prolonged than we expected," said Seo Gang-hyun, an executive vice president at Hyundai. "As the semiconductor procurement condition is rapidly changing, it's difficult to predict production status after May.