2018 Kia Stinger

2018 Kia Stinger

Kia  

At an event typically dominated by introductions from American auto companies, Kia Motors America (KMA) stole the spotlight with the world debut of the all-new 2018 Kia Stinger at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. 

A five-passenger fastback sports sedan poised to redefine a segment currently populated by European automakers, the Kia Stinger promises to be the highest-performance production vehicle in the company's history and is backed by Kia Motors' industry-leading quality and reliability. Offered with multiple engine and drivetrain configurations and luxurious accommodations, the Kia Stinger is planned to go on sale in the U.S. in late 2017.

"Unlike any Kia that has come before it, the Stinger really is a dream car for us, and here today in Detroit, that dream is now a reality after years of commitment and hard work from a passionate group of designers, engineers and executives around the world," said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America. "From its GT concept-car origins to the years of tuning and refining on the legendary Nurburgring circuit, no detail was too small to be obsessed over, and the result is simply stunning."

2017 Kia Picanto

2017 Kia Picanto

Kia  

Kia Motors has released images of the all-new Kia Picanto, the third-generation of one of Kia's global best-selling cars.

Created by Kia's design centres in Namyang, Korea and Frankfurt, Germany, the new Picanto brings youthful and energetic character to the A-segment. The all-new model - revealed in Kia's sports-inspired 'GT-Line' specification - conveys a more assertive stance through bolder body lines and subtly sculpted surfaces. 

A 15 mm-longer wheelbase (2,385 mm to 2,400 mm) also pushes the wheels further out into each corner for a more confident appearance. The Picanto's colour palette is more vibrant than ever, with a range of bold paint colours designed to make the car stand out.

Inside, Picanto's suite of high-tech comfort, convenience and safety features is underscored by a modern and refined new cabin design. At the heart of the cabin is a new 'floating' touchscreen infotainment system, making the latest in-car technology available to occupants.

2017 Kia Sportage

2017 Kia Sportage

Kia  

Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled the all-new 2017 Sportage at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. The fourth-generation Sportage, KMA's longest-running nameplate, wraps stunning contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than before. Advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD vastly improve the Sportage's driving dynamics while premium materials and world-class craftsmanship create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment.

"Simply put, the Sportage is a breed apart in the compact CUV segment," said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. "Instead of bland utility, the Sportage combines distinctly European and sporty styling with thoughtful design and functionality, including innovative packaging, premium materials, a turbocharged engine and surprising features. Sales of compact CUVs are on a sharply upward trajectory, and the all-new 2017 Sportage hits the sweet spot by providing an alternative for those seeking to express themselves with a vehicle that's versatile enough to suit their unique lifestyle."

The all-new Sportage's roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship, with high-quality, soft-touch materials and a range of technologies improving overall comfort, convenience, and connectivity. Updates to the drivetrain provide enhanced efficiency and performance, while changes to the suspension deliver better ride and handling. Like the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage will be built at Kia's production facility in Gwangju, Korea, and be available in three distinct trim levels (LX, EX, SX Turbo) when it goes on sale in 2016.

Aggressive, Inspired Design

Designed under the direction of Kia's president and chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, the 2017 Sportage's exterior juxtaposes smooth curves with sharp creases. Although every body panel is new, the "face" of the new Sportage features the most significant change over the outgoing model. Kia's hallmark "tiger-nose" grille resides vertically in the front fascia while the headlights are positioned higher, sweeping back along the outer edges of the sharply detailed hood. A lower, wider front clip - enlarged to provide greater engine cooling - adds visual volume to the lower half of the Sportage's face, resulting in a planted and aggressive stance, though it keeps the same overall width, 73.0 inches, as its predecessor. The wheelbase has been stretched 1.2 inches (now 105.1 inches), while overall length has increased 1.6 inches to 176.4 inches.

2017 Kia Niro

2017 Kia Niro

Kia  

A key component to Kia Motors' Green Car Roadmap was unveiled at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show as Kia Motors America (KMA) hosted the global debut of the all-new 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV). A no-compromise vehicle that combines driving enjoyment with eye-catching design, functional utility and hybrid efficiency, the all-new Niro strikes the perfect balance for today's consumers and stakes claim to a unique position between the hybrid-electric vehicle and CUV segments.

"The Niro hits the sweet spot by offering the best combination of outstanding mpg, an engaging driving experience, utility, and most importantly, a stunning design that doesn't shout 'hybrid,'" said Orth Hedrick, vice president product planning KMA. "The subcompact CUV market continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the world, and the Niro offers a uniquely alluring yet practical package that consumers haven't seen before."

The Kia Niro is yet another vehicle introduced under the Kia Motors EcoDynamics environmentally friendly sub-brand and represents a number of firsts. While it was preceded by clean mobility products such as the Optima Hybrid and Soul EV, Niro is the first Kia to make use of an all-new, dedicated eco-car platform and is an important next step on the path to nearly tripling the brand's global green car line-up by 2020. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is due to be added to the car's line-up later in its life-cycle.

An "Un-Hybrid" Design

Designed at Kia's design centers in Irvine, California, and Namyang, Korea, the Kia Niro demonstrates that owners don't have to sacrifice emotionally engaging design or functional utility in the name of efficiency. The HUV's design language is atypical of a hybrid, appearing strong and confident with subtly sculpted surfaces offset by robust styling cues. The Niro sports wide and low proportions with a long roofline and short overhangs that give it an overall athletic profile. Up front, the Niro bears a familiar front fascia highlighted by Kia's signature grille and flanked by aggressively shaped headlights that accentuate the Niro's strong shoulders. Contours on the hood lend visual interest and, along with voluminous wheel arches, rocker cladding, roof rails, and rear skid plate, contribute to a sporty look. Although the Niro has a cohesive crossover theme, it was designed with aerodynamics in mind, with its carefully shaped bodywork contributing to a relatively slippery coefficient of drag of .29.

2017 Kia Forte

2017 Kia Forte

Kia  

The Motor City got an up close look at the refreshed 2017 Forte when Kia Motors America pulled the silk off the updated compact sedan at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2017 Forte sedan has been improved for the new model year with subtle visual changes, a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder powertrain engineered for improved fuel economy and performance, and a host of advanced convenience and driver-assistance features.

Visual enhancements to the 2017 Forte add even more sophistication to its European sport-sedan styling. Up front, the Forte dons a new front bumper and "tiger nose" grille that has been extended to connect with new headlights, much like the all-new 2016 Optima. This new take on the front fascia gives the Forte a more fluid appearance, and customers will have the choice of two designs, one highlighting the Forte's sophisticated personality and one that's more aggressive and sporty. Completing the exterior redesign are newly designed taillights, with optional LEDs.

Now available in three trims, a new sporty S trim sits in between the entry-level LX trim and the top-trim EX model. The new S trim amps up the Forte's dynamic demeanor by adding a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, rear spoiler, and a chrome exhaust tip. For 2017, the EX trim remains the top of the range, and with that, comes standard with premium exterior features such as LED taillights, Smart Key with perimeter approach lighting and front door pocket lighting, and new 17-inch alloy wheels. Like its bigger Optima sibling, the Forte is available with Dynamic Bending Light technology, which uses steering wheel inputs to angle the light around corners and bends.

Inside, LX and S trims get upgraded cloth materials for the seats, with the S trim featuring exclusive black cloth seats with white contrasting stitching, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

2017 Kia Cadenza

2017 Kia Cadenza

Kia  

The Big Apple played host to the world debut of the all-new 2017 Kia Cadenza at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. The stunningly beautiful Cadenza improves upon all the elements that made its predecessor an award-winning success, boasting a precisely crafted cabin, cutting edge technology for connectivity and driver assistance, a stronger body structure, and powertrain enhancements for a more premium experience behind the wheel.

"The new Cadenza adds an extra dose of excitement to the large-car segment with its striking, aggressively handsome looks and premium refinements," said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, Kia Motors America. "Everything you see and touch in the Cadenza's cabin has been improved, but it's underneath where the Cadenza truly shines with a stiffer and lighter chassis, eight-speed transmission and vastly improved driving dynamics."

The second-generation Kia Cadenza is set to go on-sale in late 2016.

Elegant and Confident Exterior

Designed at Kia's California design studio, birthplace of the unforgettable Track'ster and GT4 Stinger concepts as well as the iconic Soul, the Kia Cadenza's precision-machined exterior exudes confidence, with clean lines offset by expressive details. It all starts with Kia Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer's oft-quoted philosophy focusing on "the simplicity of the straight line," which is defined by a single gestural contour that spans the length of the car, creating a sleek profile. This lineation visually links matching Z-shaped lighting signatures in the headlights and LED tail lights, affording the all-new Cadenza a more distinctive road presence, day or night. The overall impression is one of modernity and power, which is achieved by visually shearing away surface area to create a more angular form.

Head on, the Kia Cadenza is more expressive thanks to the newly designed front fascia. While the signature Kia "tiger nose" grille is still an unmistakable design trait, it has evolved into a new hexagonal shape that emphasizes the Cadenza's visual width with lines extending underneath the headlights. But the more substantial change to the grille is its distinct concave form, which curves in toward the engine bay, giving the Kia Cadenza its handsomely chiseled face.