2006 Kia Sedona Van on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Kia teases handsome 2021 Sorento interior with design sketches

True, we've seen the fourth-gen, 2021 Kia Sorento uncovered on a commercial shoot, answering the biggest question we had about one of Kia's bestsellers. On top of that, an Instagram post revealed a couple of low-res interior shots. Kia's carried on with the tease campaign, serving up interior sketches that tell us more about the cabin than the photos. As with with exterior, the revamped passenger space leaves benign curves of the third-gen Sorento behind. Strong horizontal layering is broken up by vertically oriented vents. A 12.3-inch digital cluster lives behind the steering wheel, the screen blending almost seamlessly into a 10.25-inch infotainment display. Another screen for climate control sits dead center on the console, with a few buttons and toggles to improve ease-of-use. A large knurled knob stands atop the center tunnel, it being the rotary shifter that supplants the current gear lever. Behind that, another knurled dial could control the choice of driving modes. That smaller unit is accompanied by a number of buttons for features like auto stop/start, a parking sensor, and the electronic parking brake. The stitched leather upper on the instrument panel should be joined by upgraded fabrics, materials, and finishes throughout. There's also talk of a hidden rear wiper, but we need to wait for the reveal to understand what that's about. The Korean Car Blog happened upon an Excel spreadsheet with engines listed for the crossover internally codenamed MQ4. Globally, the coming Sorento's full complement of powertrain options will cover possibly four four-cylinder gasoline engines, Kia's new R diesels, an eight-speed automatic transmission, a six-speed auto, and — if we can believe our eyes — a four-speed manual. TKCB says the gas engines for the U.S. market should include a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, and a 2.5-liter turbo four. Since we know the new Sorento will come in a hybrid flavor, expect the 1.6-liter turbo four this way as well. That seems like a lot of choice, though, what with the current Sorento offering only a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.3-liter V6. And on the spreadsheet, the eight-speed dual-clutch is only paired with the diesel engine; the gassers get the six-speed auto or the manual. The 2021 Sorento debuts in a little more than two weeks at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3. American audiences could greet it as soon as the New York Auto Show in April.

Kia recalls over 50k new Soul compacts over steering issue

Kia is recalling certain 2014 models of its adorable Soul due to a bad adhesive used in the steering system. According to the bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the "thread-locking adhesive" that attaches the plug between the pinion gear and steering gear assembly could come loose.
Should that happen, the condition could lead to a "loss of steering," which, of course increases the likelihood of a crash. The 51,641 affected cars were built between July 21, 2013 and January 17, 2014. There have been no reported accidents, let alone injuries or deaths due to this issue.
Kia is in the process of notifying owners of the affected vehicles as well as dealers in possession of the faulty Souls.

2021 Kia Stinger facelift caught in the wild in new spy photos [Updated]

(The gallery has been updated to include fresh photos of the 2021 Kia Stinger prototype testing on the Nurburgring.) The 2021 Kia Stinger was caught testing on the roads of Germany this week sporting heavy camouflage to disguise the changes coming in its mid-cycle update.  This prototype is wearing extensive exterior and interior disguise, hinting that both will receive significant updates as part of the 2021 facelift. We can't see much under all of this vinyl and cloth cladding, but the fact that updates are coming at all should be taken as a good sign for Kia's beleaguered rear-wheel drive sedan.  Despite rumors swirling that the large touring fastback is destined to get the axe, stories have leaked suggesting that the 2021 model will get some power upgrades to go with its styling and interior changes. Most have ruled out the possibility of new engines, but the existing turbocharged 2.0-liter and 3.3-liter mills are expected to be tuned for a little more punch.  This will be unwelcome news to those still holding out hope that the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 from the new Genesis G80 sedan, which delivers 380 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, would make its way under the hood of the Stinger GT. And if you figured the new, 300-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbo-four making its way under the hood of several forthcoming Hyundai and Genesis models would be a shoe-in too, well, the prospects for that seem similarly bleak.  If there's any hope for enthusiasts, it lies in the fact that Hyundai and Kia have shown a stubborn dedication to maintaining production and U.S. distribution of slow-selling halo models such as the Kia K900, which has been a slow seller since its introduction.  Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Stinger Goes West Road Trip | Driving the Kia Stinger GT from Colorado to Oregon