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2019 Kia Forte revealed | Bigger interior, Stinger-ish styling and 35 mpg

Even though it was updated for the 2017 model year, Kia has decided the time is right to completely redesign the Forte compact sedan. And the end result is a generally handsome car that looks more exciting in some ways, but less so in others. The front of the car is easily the highlight. It pulls from the sensational Stinger for its angrier headlights with aggressive "X" motifs, along with big side intakes and a more shapely grille. The lower grille is very wide and looks menacing in black. Some added creases to the hood and fenders also provide a muscular look absent on the rounded current model. What's disappointing is that the Forte's sides are rather boring. The only visual interest in the slab flanks are the soft shoulder line under the windows, and a crease at the bottom. Even the window line is a simple straight line, unlike the line on the current model that plunges low at the front and sweeps up to the back. Fortunately the tail brings back a modicum of style with nicely detailed lights, complete with a full-width section, and a nicely flared out rear bumper. The new Forte is also a bit larger than the old model. It's 3.2 inches longer, and 0.7 inch wider. Kia says this provides the Forte with more passenger space and cargo space. Specifically, the trunk is 15.1 cubic feet, which is 0.2 cubic foot larger than the current model. Kia hasn't announced whether a hatchback will be offered with this new generation. Besides the extra space, the Forte's interior is much more attractive than the monochrome cocoon of the current model. It has more contrast in materials and colors, and a trim, wide-looking dashboard. It also features a standard 8-inch touch screen infotainment system. Wireless charging, a 320-watt Harman Kardon sound system, and some additional driver aids will be available as options. Kia has only revealed one engine for the new Forte. It's a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder, now featuring a cooled exhaust-gas recirculation system. It makes the same 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque as the current Atkinson-cycle model, but Kia is expecting it to get notably better fuel economy. The final numbers have yet to be revealed, but Kia is targeting 35 mpg combined. For reference, the current Forte economy king is the automatic-equipped Atkinson-cycle car that gets 32 mpg combined, along with 29 mpg city and 37 on the highway.

Hyundai developing safety system calibrated for 'secondary impacts'

There is an inherent flaw with how traditional airbags are used and deployed: They can only reply to one impact. The Hyundai Motor Group wants to address this with a new "multi-collision airbag system" that focuses on impacts that occur after the first point of contact. Hyundai defines multi-collision accidents as "those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts or other vehicles." In a press release, Hyundai noted that about 30 percent of roughly 56,000 accidents between 2000 and 2012 in North America involved these types of multi-collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System division. The airbag systems in today's cars don't always go off when the first accident occurs, and when a car goes through a secondary impact, the airbags may no longer provide the best safety. Hyundai's new system can read the positions of the car's occupants and react in a more beneficial way. It can quickly recalibrate after the first impact based on readings from the vehicle and the people inside, which allows the second part of the crash to trigger the airbags. As of now the system is still in development, but Hyundai Motor Group is planning to use it in both Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the future. Which models and which markets it will apply to first are yet to be determined. Related Video:

Rumor suggests Kia Soul EV replacement will not come stateside

The replacement for the Kia Soul EV may not come to the United States after all. Despite the company's plans to introduce it here last year, presumably as a 2020 model, a Kia source has reportedly told Roadshow that plans to bring the next-generation compact electric hatchback to the U.S. have effectively been canceled. While Kia has not officially commented on the current status of the Soul EV, its delayed introduction is a troublesome signal to those who hoped to see the second-generation electric hatchback on U.S. dealer lots. While a delay of just a year is fairly minor compared to what we've seen from some promised introductions in the past decade (looking at you, Mazda), this rumor — combined with the lack of official updates from Kia — is nonetheless concerning to those who were excited by the prospect of Kia's small EV returning.  The Soul EV has been on sale in Europe since late last year. It can drive for up to 243 miles on a single charge, which is about double that of the last-generation model. Kia originally blamed the delay on supply issues related to its battery pack, which it shares with the Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV. Roadshow speculates that priority is being given to the Niro here in the United States, as it is already on sale and its crossover format gives it an advantage with American buyers. When reached for comment, a Kia spokesperson confirmed that the company is focused on Niro EV deliveries and that the Soul EV is not expected to arrive any sooner than 2021, but stopped short of confirming that it is currently on track for release next year.  If this rumor turns out to be accurate, it will be a blow to the compact electric car segment, as the Soul EV looked to be a highly competitive entry, with more polish and refinement than the Chevrolet Bolt and a healthy range advantage over the Nissan Leaf.  Related Video: