2009 Kia Sorento Lx on 2040-cars

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U.S., South Korea strike a new trade deal

WASHINGTON — The United States and South Korea have reached agreement on a new trade pact, the White House said on Tuesday. "We have come to an agreement in principle, and we expect to roll out specific details on that very soon," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a briefing. Her comments were the Trump administration's first confirmation that the two sides had reached an agreement in trade talks covering revisions to the U.S. South Korean Trade Agreement (KORUS) and a South Korean exemption from new U.S. metals tariffs. Seoul on Monday announced a deal to limit exports to the U.S. of South Korean steel, while extending high U.S. tariffs on any possible South Korean pickup trucks and increasing U.S. automakers' access to the Korean market. But details of the agreement have not yet been released by the U.S. Trade Representative's office, which led the negotiations for the United States after President Donald Trump last year called the 6-year-old bilateral pact a "horrible deal" that had doubled the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea since 2012. The deal is expected to permanently exempt South Korea from Trump's tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, but South Korea will have to reduce its steel exports to the United States by 30 percent from its average over the past three years to about 2.68 million tons. South Korea was the third largest steel exporter to the United States last year after Canada and Brazil. The agreement also was expected to double South Korea's import quota for cars meeting U.S. safety standards — not necessarily Korean standards — to 50,000 per manufacturer per year from 25,000 previously. The big challenge now would be getting unimpressed Korean consumers to buy them. The 25 percent U.S. tariff for pickup trucks, which was due to begin a phase-out starting in 2019, would be extended for another 20 years, according to South Korean officials. This would virtually ensure that any pickup truck contemplated by Korean automakers Hyundai or Kia for the U.S. market would be built in the United States.Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe and David LawderRelated Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: Reuters Government/Legal Hyundai Kia

2021 Kia K5 is a Stinger-inspired midsize sedan

Love the idea of the rear-wheel-drive Kia Stinger but just can't swing the price tag? The 2021 Kia K5 promises to be the next-best thing, while also delivering the practicality and comfort expected of a modern midsize sedan.  "K5" has been the name of the Korean-market Optima since its major redesign in 2010, and with the 2021 model, that name is coming to America. With this re-branding comes a major overhaul to Kia's four-door family car, including available all-wheel drive and a new performance GT model that will likely be met with approval by fans of the Stinger sport sedan.  On the outside, the K5 looks like, well, an Optima. Kia seems content with its current "tiger face" design. The new K5 design has obvious influences from the Stinger, but that car's design wasn't really all that much of a departure from the previous-generation Optima's, so the family resemblance remains strong. As with any major redesign, there's plenty more action underneath the K5's sheet metal. The new sedan will be offered with two turbocharged engines and, for the first time in a front-wheel-drive Kia sedan, an all-wheel-drive option will be offered for those who want a little more all-weather functionality.  The base engine will be a 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. On the base-model LX, it will be paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission (no CVT here, at least not yet) and front-wheel drive. On the LXS and GT Line, all-wheel drive will be available.  For those who want performance, the GT model is your ticket. Powered by the company's new 2.5-liter turbo-4, the GT will boast 290 hp and a class-leading 311 lb-ft of torque paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Kia says this combo will be good for a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds.  Inside, the K5 gets numerous upgrades over the outgoing Optima. Shown here in GT-Line and GT guise, the interior will be available with perforated leather seating options with contrast stitching for a little added pizzazz. The flat-bottom steering wheel pictured is also exclusive to the GT-Line and GT trims. Other available features include wireless device charging, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The base infotainment system will be an 8-inch touchscreen unit with a 10.25-inch upgrade available; both will be powered by the latest revision of Kia's excellent UVO software suite.

2020 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade will see price increases

New year, new MSRP. CarsDirect got hold of a "recent pricing guide" and discovered Hyundai and Kia chanted that mantra over the Palisade and the Telluride, respectively. The Palisade has been on sale since June of last year, and already received a $50 price increase before the turn of the year. As of this month, Hyundai has goosed the MSRP by another $225 to $31,775, and the destination charge by $25 to $1,120. The $250 bump takes the starting price for a front-wheel drive Palisade SE to $31,775. The premium is applied throughout the range, making the top-tier Limited AWD model $47,745. The Telluride was first priced at $32,735 after destination. It, too, received a visit from the surcharge fairy last year to the tune of $50, boosting the cost to $32,785. This month, Kia tweaked the MSRP by $250 to $31,890, and the destination charge by $25 to $1,170. That comes to a $275 increase, meaning a front-wheel drive Telluride LX is now starting at $33,060. Whereas the Telluride had been $140 more expensive than the Palisade, the three-row Kia now stands $165 beyond the three-row Hyundai.  None of this should affect sales, both models already having won numerous awards, the Palisade receiving a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Telluride capping its excellent reviews with victory in the North American 2020 Utility of the Year competition. Kia is moving more than 6,000 Tellurides per month in the U.S., and a carmaker rep said the vehicle "is still on deep backorder." The Palisade looks on track to join it, and both sell for more than MSRP in many parts of the country, according to TrueCar. Based on recent reports, things might get even more varied on the Kia side, in fact. One rumor said there could be flagship luxury and off-road trims on the way. This week, Motor1 heard from "an anonymous Kia employee" with details on a potential X-Line appearance package. The possible cosmetic suite would install a satin black grille, body-colored door handles, bright bumper and lower door garnish, front and rear skid plates, and a unique 20-inch wheel for $1,695. And it's said that Kia is investigating consumer interest in a long-wheelbase Telluride.