Autoblog

Autoblog Podcast #331

Dan Roth — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts

2014 Toyota 4Runner, Hennessey SHO, the Chinese are coming, Volvo gives up on flagship

Episode #331 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the 2014 Toyota 4Runner, the Hennessey Ford Taurus SHO, the impending arrival of Chinese brands in the US market and Volvo deciding to let the big European flagships have their niche. We wrap up with your questions and comments, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #331:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross

Runtime: 01:36:14

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Autoblog Podcast #331 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900*

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:43:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia

During our recent First Drive of the 2014 Kia Forte sedan, Kia revealed many of the sedan's specs, but left out pricing and fuel economy for its all-new compact sedan. With the new Forte set to hit dealerships soon, Kia has announced the starting prices for the sedan's two initial trim levels and released the fuel economy for the EX trim level equipped with the bigger engine. Marking a slight $500 jump in price over the current 2013 model, the 2014 Forte sedan will have a starting MSRP of $15,900 (*not including a destination charge of $800).

This price is for the base LX sedan with the 148-horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-four paired to the manual gearbox, but buyers wanting an automatic transmission will have to pony up an extra $1,500. Some of the notable features standard on the LX include Bluetooth and heated, power-folding door mirrors.

Stepping up to the EX trim level will run $19,400, but it also brings the peppier 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder producing 173 horsepower and returning 24 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg highway and a combined rating of 28 mpg; Kia says these are EPA estimates, but the EPA's website does not yet list the 2014 Forte. Kia is still holding out on fuel economy for the base engine.

These are the only two trim levels mentioned for the new Forte - there is no word as to whether or not Kia is planning a sportier SX trim level - but you can check out some of the options and features that will be offered on the 2014 Forte in the press release posted below.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900*

2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hatchback, Kia

The US-bound 2014 Kia Forte first showed up in sedan form back at the LA Auto Show last year, but Kia unveiled the hatchback version of the car today at the Chicago Auto Show. Unlike the current Forte five-door the 2014 will feature styling that is distinct from its sedan counterpart, but the big news is it will also get a few extra ponies under the hood.

Since the Forte five-door will only be offered in EX and SX trim, the sedan's 1.8-liter inline-four is not offered on this model. The base engine in the EX is the 2.0-liter direct-injected four, producing 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. Those looking for more power should check out the Forte SX, which uses the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine currently found in the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. This engine produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, and it can be paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission; the latter of which is optional and comes with paddle shifters.

Aside from the obvious styling changes required for the added cargo area, the 2014 Kia Forte five-door gets numerous design elements to set it apart from the sedan. The face of the new hatchback will get a much smaller tiger-nose grille than the sedan, but it will get a larger lower intake, which we can't help but compare to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Kia also gave the Forte dual exhaust outlets and LED taillights, and the SX model will get stylish 18-inch wheels. Inside, the five-door design allows the Forte to increase its cargo volume to 23.2 cubic feet, and the cabin can also be equipped with features such as heated front seats, ventilated driver's seat, navigation, leather seating and dual-zone climate control.

While the sedan is expected to go on sale during the within the month, the Forte five-door won't be in showrooms until the third quarter of this year. Scroll down for the official press release.

Continue reading Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine

Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia's second Super Bowl commercial lets booth professionals have their revenge

John Neff — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Kia

This is more like it, Kia. After last year's highly successful Adriana Lima-infused Super Bowl commercial for the Optima, we weren't that impressed with this year's Super Bowl ad for the new Sorento called Space Babies that Kia showed us earlier in the week. Its second spot for this year's big game, however, gave us a chuckle.

Called Hotbots and starring Miss USA Alyssa Campanella as a futuristic robot, the ad plays out a fantasy that we know for certain has crossed the minds of many booth professionals. These are the attractive set of women and men who plant themselves next to new cars at auto shows. More than just eye candy, they're usually extremely well educated on the product's specs and features. Despite that fact, they have to put up with constant oogling and questions like, "Do you come with the car?" What this T-1000 won't put up with is fingerprints on her shiny new 2014 Kia Forte, and she does something about it. Watch for yourself below.

Continue reading Kia's second Super Bowl commercial lets booth professionals have their revenge

Kia's second Super Bowl commercial lets booth professionals have their revenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Kia Forte

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Kia, First Drives

Kia Tries Yet Again To Prove That Compact Sedans Are Its Forte

For those keeping track, the introduction of the 2014 Kia Forte sedan marks the second time in five years that Kia has completely redesigned its compact sedan offering. Put another way, car shoppers have now had three entirely different options in this category from Kia - the unloved Spectra along with two generations of the Forte - in the same period of time that Toyota has been building the current Corolla.

If nothing else, it's clear that Kia is committed to making as big of a dent in the compact class as possible. That said, none of Kia's entries have come close to challenging the dominance of the aforementioned Corolla, Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta, domestic offerings like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze, or even the Hyundai Elantra, its slightly older and more subdued Korean sibling, in the race for market share.

We spent a day driving the new 2014 Forte Sedan through the wide open spaces separating the copper mines of central Arizona to find out if Kia's latest offering has what it takes to play in the compact car Big Leagues.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte

2014 Kia Forte originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia previews its Super Bowl baby commercial, far cry from Adriana Lima

Seyth Miersma — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Kia, Celebrities

We're going to go ahead and give Kia the benefit of the doubt - the automaker brought us a bathing-suit-clad Adriana Lima in its Super Bowl spot from last year. That kind of thing doesn't go unappreciated.

But, if we're really honest, and judging solely on the "teaser" video below, the space suit-wearing, baby-star from Kia's commercial this year is really creeping us out.

In any event, the Kia ad (sorry, "mini-movie") called Space Babies will be set on the distant planet of "Babylandia," and will attempt to present some kind of lie about where babies come from in the ultimate service of selling the 2014 Kia Sorento. Don't let the panda, dog, pig, giraffe, rhino and unholy baby stare make you take your eye off the ball, folks - there's a car on sale here.

On a more promising note: We've also read reports in USA Today that Kia has engaged former Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, to play some kind of robot in a commercial for the Forte EX. More on that breaking story as we have it.

Continue downward to read even more about and watch the teaser for the upcoming Kia spot, which is set to air during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Or, you can just click here, to watch the Adriana Lima ad again.

Continue reading Kia previews its Super Bowl baby commercial, far cry from Adriana Lima

Kia previews its Super Bowl baby commercial, far cry from Adriana Lima originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Kia Forte is what's cookin', good lookin'

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Kia

We've said it a billion times now, but man, Kias are sure looking good these days. And under the lights of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, we're getting our first look at the next chapter in the Korean brand's quest for beauty, the 2014 Forte sedan. We've given it a good once-over in the flesh, and honestly, it might just be the best-looking car in the C-segment class.

There's a whole lot in store for the new Forte, including a choice of two four-cylinder gasoline engines: a 1.8-liter unit making 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque, and a larger, direct-injected 2.0-liter mill that cranks out 173 hp and 153 lb-ft. Six-speed transmissions are standard across the board, and a proper manual 'box is available on the base LX trim with the 1.8-liter mill.

As you can imagine, the Forte is available with lots of premium features that are no strangers to the compact class, including leather seating, navigation/infotainment, LED running lamps at the front and back, and even high-intensity discharge headlamps. A choice of 15-, 16- and 17-inch wheels are available (depending on trim - only the base LX manual gets the 15s), and all in, the Forte is now a seriously more attractive (literally) proposition than it was in its last generation.

Official pricing will be announced closer to the car's on-sale date in the first quarter of 2013. For now, scroll down to get the full skinny and see the pretty little Kia for yourself in the attached high-res image galleries.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte is what's cookin', good lookin'

2014 Kia Forte is what's cookin', good lookin' originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia mulling Forte production in US?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Kia

Since we already know what the 2014 Kia Forte will look like courtesy of the Kia K3 and Cerato, the big news at the car's official debut at the LA Auto Show could end up being where the car is built. Reuters is reporting that Kia is considering building the all-new Forte in the US, and while it didn't say which plant, we'd venture to guess the redesigned compact will be built alongside its sister car, the Hyundai Elantra, in Montgomery, Alabama.

This report is even more credible following an article in Bloomberg that indicates that labor disputes and union strikes in South Korea affected Kia's third-quarter profits and stock prices. The strike lasted from July through September, and it ended up costing Kia output of about 63,000 vehicles and resulted in a decrease in exports by 9.2 percent. Currently, 62 percent of Kia's production takes place in South Korea, and moving to non-union plants (such as those in the US) could help diversify output and avoid such impacting consequences in the future.

If true, this could make the Forte the third Kia model made in the USA following the Sorento and Optima that are both built right up I-85 from the Elantra in West Point, Georgia.

Kia mulling Forte production in US? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Kia Cerato (a.k.a. Forte) debuts at Chile's Santiago Motor Show

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia, Misc. Auto Shows, South America

Kia has already released official images of its next-generation Cerato, but thanks to Chilean blogger Ramón Rivera Notario, we have our first live look at what will become the 2014 Kia Forte sedan. The new Cerato, also known as the K3 in South Korea, is currently on display at the Santiago Motor Show.

The new Forte's styling is a clear departure from the current boxy design, and borrows heavily from Kia's upcoming flagship, the Quoris. These images also give us our first official look inside the new Cerato/K3/Forte, whose dark, upscale cabin is in keeping with what we've seen in other recent Kia releases. There's still no word on the powertrain we'll see in the new Forte, but a highway fuel economy rating of at least 40 miles per gallon, like the related Hyundai Elantra, is probably a safe bet.

We expect it the U.S.-market debut of the redesigned Forte next year at the either the Chicago or New York Auto Show. Until then, be sure to check out the live images sent in from Ramón Rivera Notario as well as a few images Kia has already released. You can also read Mr. Notario's coverage (his copy is posted in both English and Spanish) here.

2013 Kia Cerato (a.k.a. Forte) debuts at Chile's Santiago Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia shows off more of its next Forte

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Kia, South Korea

So far in the rollout for the 2014 Kia Forte we've had two helpings of sketches, now we get an artfully obfuscated look at the car's actual sheetmetal. Posting photos of the five-door hatch on its South Korean Facebook page (our Forte is the K3 in Kia's home market), what we can say so far is that it's got an attractive backside.

This is the budget maker's challenger to that thick slice of the market that's home to the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, and speaking of that last car, when we look at the image above we get definite hints of it, and that's not a bad thing. Kia's recent run indicates that the 2014 Forte should come with the kinds of detailing to keep it from being a long-shot competitor in that segment, but we won't know about that until we can see the entire thing.

The company hasn't said when it will be revealed, but since it will be released in markets outside the U.S. later this year, that should be soon.

Kia shows off more of its next Forte originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia releases sketches of next-generation Forte

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia, Design/Style

Remember that sketch of the next-generation Kia Forte that was leaked late last year? Well, now Kia has released an official version of it - and it's even more dramatic.

This new rendering has a more pronounced lower character line and larger rear taillights, but it retains the earlier version's menacing face, with a large implementation of the new Kia grille design. Other changes include chrome trim around the windows and fog lamps, plus a revised C-pillar that's similar to the forthcoming Kia Quoris.

Kia says the new Forte will go on sale later this year in Korea, where it is called the K3, before appearing in other markets, where it's also known as the Cerato. We should be seeing the car in spring 2013, on sale as a 2014 model.

Scroll down to read the brief press release.

Continue reading Kia releases sketches of next-generation Forte

Kia releases sketches of next-generation Forte originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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