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Kia Soul getting turbo power, possible AWD

It's been a long time coming, but it appears we might finally see a turbocharged Kia Soul next year. Kia officials reportedly confirmed the hotter Soul to Motor Trend recently, and also stated that the company is (still) investigating the use of all-wheel drive for the next generation of its boxy hatchback.
The turbo Soul will arrive with the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder found in the Forte, rated at 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. According to Motor Trend, Kia wanted to launch the hotter Soul this year, but didn't have the retuned steering or suspension calibration, as well as the larger brakes, ready in time. Transmission pairings weren't discussed, but Kia does mate both its six-speed manual and automatic units to the 1.6T.
As for all-wheel drive, this isn't the first time we've heard reports on this front, and it seems like a pretty natural fit, to us. Adding AWD would allow the Soul to better compete with vehicles like the Nissan Juke and the upcoming Chevy Trax and Jeep Renegade. But as of right now, a four-wheels-driven Soul hasn't been given an official go-ahead.

Kia pushes back production GT to 2017

A production version of the 2011 Kia GT concept has been delayed a year until 2017, according to a report from Auto Express. Insiders tell the website that the still-unnamed vehicle's styling already has the blessing of design boss Peter Schreyer, and the four-door's shape is similar to the concept, minus the suicide doors. The production version might share a rear-wheel drive platform with the Hyundai Genesis and could include four- and six-cylinder options, plus a V8 at the top of the range. Previous reports suggested that the model would be aimed primarily at the US market with upscale targets like the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera. Another rear-drive concept from Kia might also actually see the road, because the company is again considering building the GT4 Stinger. "We have very high intentions to put these models into production – we're working on it," Spencer Cho, the South Korean brand's head of overseas marketing, said to Auto Express. No firm plans are in place yet, but if it gets the thumbs up, the sports coupe could come a year or two after the GT. Earlier information indicated that that the two-door was out of favor at the company because sedans offered a rosier sales prognosis. Related Video:

Kia K900 confirmed for LA Auto Show debut

Although there has been plenty of news about the Kia K9/Quoris over the past year and a half, we've yet to hear anything from Kia regarding the US fate of its flagship, rear-wheel-drive sedan. That changes today, however, as Kia has confirmed the recent rumor that the car would be renamed K900 for the US market, and that the luxurious sedan would debut next month at the LA Auto Show and go on sale next year.
Along with the announcement, Kia also released its first image of the US-spec K900, and, not surprisingly, this profile shot is identical to what we've seen in images for the Korean-market K9 and globally named Quoris (click above to enlarge). Unlike the closely related Hyundai Equus, the Kia K900 will offer customers the option of V6 or V8 engines, but it will be fitted with just as many luxurious amenities as its Hyundai counterpart.
We'll probably have to wait until closer to the K900's on-sale date for any official word on pricing, but last we heard, it will be priced between $50,000 and $70,000 - a significant step up from the current top-drawer model, the Kia Cadenza. Scroll down for the brief press release, and check back in a few weeks for live coverage of this car's debut.