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Hyundai closes the books on fuel economy litigation

Hyundai-Kia ended up with a lot of kimchi on its face in 2012 when it admitted it had mistakenly exaggerated fuel economy estimates on several 2012 and 2013 model-year offerings like the Hyundai Accent, Veloster and Elantra and Kia Soul. Before the admission a lawsuit had been filed by an entity called Consumer Watchdog, afterward there were "approximately 53" lawsuits filed in federal court that were eventually consolidated into one case in a California Central District court.
The companies apologized profusely and gave customers prepaid gas cards that they could refill with funds for as long as they own their vehicle, as well as perks like free car washes and routine maintenance services. The company has just announced that it has reached a preliminary settlement of the case by adding another method of reimbursement, a lump sum payment that would free drivers from having to go back to the dealership to have their mileage verified for debit card refills.
Assuming the preliminary agreement is approved by the judge, customers could choose the lump sum or the cards. The settlement's value could be as much as $210 million, but the exact number depends on which program plaintiffs choose. On average, affected customers will receive $353. Approval could come in "early 2014," after which Hyundai will notify customers. You'll find more particulars on the potential settlement in the press release below.

Kia reveals new K3 Forte sedan in Korea [w/video]

Kia's new version of the Forte sedan has already been unveiled back in South Korea, where it's known as the K3. But while details have yet to be announced, we can expect most (if not all) of these updates to make their way to US showrooms soon. The facelifted version of the model known here as the Forte, in Korea as the K3, and elsewhere as the Cerato has a more sophisticated exterior appearance, with a larger grille, new head- and tail-lamps, and reshaped bumpers to give it a wider, more planted appearance. The interior features a sporty new flat-bottom steering wheel as well as new vents, multimedia controls, and trim. The Korean automaker has also taken the opportunity to outfit the new K3 with speed-sensitive electric power steering, lane assist, automatic park assist, and hands-free trunk opening. In its home market, the revised K3 offers 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. But considering that the current Forte packs more punch than that already, we wouldn't take too much stock in the KDM engine specs. The 2015 Kia Forte LX available in the US packs a 1.8-liter inline-four good for 145 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque, while the more potent Forte EX steps up to a 2.0-liter four delivering 173 hp and 154 lb-ft. The Forte nameplate was launched in the US in 2009. The current, second-generation model launched in 2013. It's currently offered as a sedan, five-door hatchback, and as the two-door Forte Koup. The closely related Kia Cee'd offered in Europe is sold as a three-door hatch, five-door hatch, or five-door wagon.

Kia GT to debut in Paris, production in 2017

After years of waiting, the Kia GT four-door coupe (concept pictured above) could finally debut in production guise at the Paris Motor Show in October, and the brand would start making it in 2017, according to Autocar. The South Korean automaker could also create a hotter variant of the pint-sized Rio in 2018 to give the lineup a dash more performance. Kia debuted the rear-wheel drive GT concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the svelte four-door offered some speed thanks to a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 with 389 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Kia seemed primed to build the model several times over the years as a US-focused vehicle, but the latest report hinted that production wouldn't happen until 2017. Autocar claims that the final design incorporates cues from the sporty GT4 Stinger concept. Kia also intends to introduce performance-oriented models with the GT moniker lower in its range. According to Autocar, the Rio GT would ride on the vehicle's lighter next-gen platform and offer about 180 horsepower from a 1.6-liter engine to compete against the Ford Fiesta ST, which already has 197 hp. However, the South Korean automaker might want to consider a more potent powerplant to keep up in the hot hatch arms race, because spy shots already suggest the Blue Oval's development of a Fiesta RS with around 250 hp. Related Video: Featured Gallery Kia GT Concept: Frankfurt 2011 View 13 Photos News Source: AutocarImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Rumormill Paris Motor Show Kia Hatchback Concept Cars Performance Sedan 2016 paris motor show kia rio kia gt kia gt concept