2013 Kia Soul Exclaim Hatchback 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Consumer Reports says infotainment systems 'growing first-year reliability plague'

The Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability Survey (right) is out, and the top two spots look much the same as last year's list with Lexus and Toyota in first and second place, respectively. However, there are some major shakeups for 2014, with Acura plunging eight spots from third in 2013 to 11th this year, and Mazda replaces it on the lowest step of the podium. Honda and Audi round out the top five. This year's list includes six Japanese brands in the top 10, two Europeans, one America and one Korean.
Acura isn't the only one taking a tumble, though. Infiniti is the biggest loser this year by dropping 14 spots to 20th place. Other big losses come from Mercedes-Benz with an 11-place fall to 24th, and GMC, which declines 10 positions to 19th.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's not traditional mechanical bugs hauling down these automaker's reliability scores. Instead, pesky problems with infotainment systems are taking a series toll on the rankings. According to Consumer Reports, complaints about "in-car electronics" were the most grumbled about element in new cars. Problem areas included things like unresponsive touchscreens, issues pairing phones and multi-use controllers that refused to work right.

Kia GT4 Stinger concept headed for Detroit with 315 rear-drive horsepower

With reveals expected to include the 2015 Ford F-150, the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the high-strung Lexus RC F performance coupe (among many others), there are plenty of vehicles we're looking forward to seeing at the Detroit Auto Show. But now, with a rendered teaser image and short press release that includes some savory details, Kia may have just hit the top of our list with its GT4 Stinger Concept. Not even looking at the above image (which you can click to enlarge), Kia managed to grab our interest with just one sentence in said release detailing the car's powertrain: "A turbocharged 2.0-liter that pumps 315 horsepower to the rear wheels."
This low, wide concept has the face of a Kia-fied Audi R8, but the previous teaser stated that the concept will be a 2+2 hatchback. There is little other information to go on, but we'll see the concept car live in just 10 days. Until then, scroll down for the brief press release.

Kia to launch four-door coupe next year

Kia has been toying for some time with the idea of building a sporty four-door model. But according to the latest reports from Seoul, the Korean automaker intends to stop showboating and finally put one into production. And it could come as early as next year. Reuters reports that the project known internally as CK will join Kia's lineup as its second rear-drive model, alongside the larger K900. Power would reportedly come in from engines displacing 2.0, 2.2, and 3.0 liters. The target would apparently be the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, but with a sportier, more youthful edge. That's something which Kia has been keen to capitalize on since the success of the Soul. It took similarly unconventional approaches with the new Sportage and the recent Telluride concept, but has not managed as of yet to transfer that youthful, unorthodox vibe to the lower-slung side of its lineup. With parent company Hyundai having recently launched the Genesis premium sub-brand, the sporty, young image could be left for Kia to pursue. Only time will tell if Toyota's abandonment of its Scion brand will leave room for Kia to swoop in, or if it'll be a dead end. Reuters anticipates the new Kia to launch in May 2017, with a targeted annual production of 60,000 vehicles worldwide. Expect some elements to carry over from recent four-door coupe concepts like the Novo (pictured) from last year and the GT concept of 2011. Reports have been circulating since then that the latter would reach production. Related Video: