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Kia previews new minivan ahead of New York debut

Kia has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, but the Sedona has hardly been representative of that maturation. Known in some overseas markets as the Carnival, Kia's current minivan was introduced 2006, withdrawn from US showrooms at the end of 2012, then reintroduced again a year ago. Despite the product renaissance, however, the Sedona is essentially the same dated vehicle it has been for eight years now, but Kia is intent on replacing it.
We've been seeing spy shots of a new Kia minivan for several months now, and broke word a couple of months ago that the finished product would be unveiled in New York this month. Now Kia has not only confirmed the new Sedona's imminent arrival, it has released this teaser image to keep us on our toes.
The teaser shows a vehicle more or less in line with what we'd expect of a modern Kia, tabbed grille and all. This view suggests fewer design cues from the KV7 concept have been carried over than was previously thought, but we'll need to see the entire vehicle to know for sure. Kia isn't saying much about its "all-new midsize multi-purpose vehicle" in the press release below at this point, revealing only that it "will challenge the segment and will offer the functionality to transport as many as eight passengers and their belongings while also serving as a purposeful offering for adventure seekers."

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

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.

Kia's Detroit concept is called Telluride

Remember that Kia concept we told you about earlier this week? It's called Telluride – you know, like the ski resort town in Colorado. Kia just released this second teaser image of its big SUV concept, giving us a sneak peek of the interior. Design-wise, it looks cool, but there's more here than meets the eye. Kia is, as expected, short on details. But the automaker confirms many of the interior bits – including elements of the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel – use 3D-printed components. We'll have to wait until next week's Detroit Auto Show to see exactly what Kia's talking about, though. In its short press release, Kia once again mentions its concept's "unique in-cabin health-and-wellness technology," but doesn't offer any more details. Maybe it's something similar to the Fit Driver stuff that Audi unveiled at CES this week. Look for the Telluride to debut during Kia's press conference at 2:15 PM Eastern on Monday, January 11, and click here to see the original teaser showing the SUV's shape. DETROIT CONCEPT TEASER #2 The boldly designed Telluride, set to unveil at the 2016 North American International Auto Show next week, pushes the boundaries of technology and luxury with unique in-cabin health-and-wellness technology. The concept highlights Kia's first use of 3D-printed components, which add a distinct, modern design element to the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel.