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Next-gen 2021 Kia Sorento shown inside and out in leaked pics

We’ve seen spy shots of the next-generation Kia Sorento in both heavily camouflaged form and running laps around the Nurburgring (!), where it was wearing a more form-fitting wrap. Today, Instagram user CocheSpias leaked photos of the redesigned midsize SUV with the cover partially pulled back, giving us our best look yet inside and out. Kia has given the front fascia a thorough and stylish overhaul. It looks much more muscular and chiseled, with a crisp, curved line defining the hood and grille and a much more squared-off shape to the lower bumper. The clustered trio of LED headlights are more integrated with the grille by removing the chrome strip that formerly separated them. The exposed taillights that featured on the mule spotted on the ‘Ring have been resolved as double vertical hash marks. The lower bumper is still concealed. Inside, the seat stitching is similar to the pattern found on the larger and more upmarket Telluride, introduced last year. The cluster and center stack have been redesigned, with a larger touchscreen that is now separate from the heat vents. The shifter has been replaced by a dial shifter. Kia has reportedly confirmed that the new Sorento will be offered a plug-in hybrid variant. The Korean Car Blog, citing an unnamed source, reports the new Sorento will debut as early as mid-February in Korea, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions coming in May, though itÂ’s not clear whether all versions would come to the U.S. The current version of the three-row crossover comes in a choice of two engines: a 2.4-liter inline-four making 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, or a 3.3-liter V6 offering 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. We should get a more official rundown about what's in store soon. Related Video:    

Tesla exec calls rival EVs 'little more than appliances'

Tesla's Vice President of Business Development Diarmuid O'Connell called the company's competition "little more than appliances" at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI yesterday. "In essence, [mainstream automakers] delivered little more than appliances," O' Connell said. "Now, appliances are useful. But they tend to be white. They tend to be unemotional." According to Automotive News, O'Connell's main critique is that vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 don't deliver enough performance or range to draw the attention of consumers outside of a small group. The solution, in O'Connell's mind, is more power, more range, more excitement and a lower price – that last point is particularly rich coming from an automaker whose cheapest current offering, the Model S 60, costs $66,000 – although the cheaper Model 3 is on the horizon, way out there, somewhere. But some EVs are better than none, O'Connell added. "On balance, I'm happier that [traditional automakers are] doing these cars than not," O'Connell said. "I just wish they would do them better and faster." O'Connell also used his appearance at the Management Briefing Seminars to launch a volley at the Michigan legislature, blaming its opposition to Tesla's direct-sales model for the lack of available EVs in the Wolverine State. "I think if the Michigan Legislature would allow Tesla to sell cars in Michigan, we could probably address [the lack of available electric cars]," O'Connell said. Related Video:

Kia reveals updated 2016 Rio hatchback and sedan [w/videos]

Kia makes vehicles of all different shapes and sizes (or many shapes and sizes, in any event), and the smallest of them all... well, that'd be the Picanto, but that's not sold here. The smallest Kia we get Stateside is the Rio, and it's just been updated for the 2016 model year and revealed here in Chicago. An update on the existing version rather than an all-new model, the new 2016 Kia Rio actually debuted in hatchback form at the Paris Motor Show a few months back. But this is the first time we're seeing the US model, where it's being showcased alongside its betrunked stablemate, the Rio sedan. Both bodystyles benefit from updated styling at both ends with new grilles and new lights front and rear. There are also some new paint options, and the interior has been updated with more high-density foam, higher-quality materials and revised trim. In addition to the choice of bodystyle, the Rio can also be ordered in three trim levels with varying levels of equipment, but they're all powered by the same 1.6-liter inline-four with 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. They're mated to a six-speed transmission in either manual or automatic forms, though the stick has been discontinued on the five-door hatch. 2016 RIO 5-DOOR DEBUTS AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW The new year brings refreshing enhancements to Kia's entry-level sedan and hatch at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show - New front and rear valances add visual width and sporty attitude; two new exterior colors added - Interior enhancements include upgraded UVO eServices1 technology and a more premium look and feel CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 – Chicago's gleaming skyline and indie rock music were the backdrops today as Kia Motors America (KMA) pulled the wraps off the 2016 Rio Sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. Making its global debut alongside the previously introduced Rio 5-Door (Paris, 2014), these two modern and dynamic subcompacts are the entry points into KMA's ever-expanding lineup of award-winning cars and CUVs. Refreshed inside and out for the 2016 model year, the pair offer sporty European design cues and generous interior accommodations while providing fuel efficiency. Both Sedan and 5-Door are expected to go on sale in the first quarter. "The Rio signifies everything the Kia brand has evolved into since coming to the U.S. market more than 20 years ago," said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning. "And like the brand, the Rio has grown up as it enters the 2016 model year.