2013 Kia Optima Lx on 2040-cars

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Electric Hummer is official, and Tesla's got momentum | Autoblog Podcast #612

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor Alex Kierstein and Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. They start things off with a discussion of the week's news: GMC is launching an electric Hummer truck with a Super Bowl ad, and Tesla was profitable in Q4, sending its stock soaring. Then they talk about what they've been driving, including a super badass Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Kia Telluride and their long-term Volvo S60 PHEV. There's no "Spend My Money" segment this week, so send in your questions for future podcast episodes. Autoblog Podcast #612 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Hummer returns as electric GMC truck Further reading: Grappling with the dark side of EVs Tesla profitable for second straight quarter Cars we're driving: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD Kia Telluride (whose safety tech won Autoblog's 2020 Technology of the Year Award) Long-term Volvo S60 T8 update Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Kia planning outdoorsy concept for Chicago

If you prefer vehicles with a more rugged look, then the 2015 Chicago Auto Show has quite a bounty in store. Mitsubishi will give the GC-PHEV its North American debut; Chevrolet will show the Silverado Midnight Edition, and Honda will unveil the next-gen Pilot and Acura RDX. Kia will be right along with them with its freshly announced rough-and-tumble concept for the event. Unfortunately, the Korean automaker is keeping tight-lipped about the vehicle, even the name. The brand promises the concept is based on one of its most popular models, and styling tweaks from Kia's California design studio mean a more off-road-ready appearance. When asked if the concept is a sturdier take on one of Kia's CUVs, a brand spokesperson told Autoblog, "I don't know if I would call it a crossover." The wait to learn the vehicle's true identity isn't too long, though. A teaser image and the name arrive on January 29, according to the spokesperson. We wouldn't be too surprised if Kia might not have a more rugged take on the Soul in mind. The model already gets an optional SUV Styling Pack (pictured above and below) in Europe that could serve as inspiration for this new concept. Kia Chicago Auto Show Announcement After 20 years of growth and maturation, Kia continues to carry its momentum into 2015 following a year of record sales and the arrival of the all-new 2016 Sorento CUV. Kia will embrace its challenger spirit in Chicago with the debut of an all-new concept – conceived at Kia's California design studio – that re-imagines one of the brand's most popular vehicles. Built for city dwellers seeking an adventurous escape and intended to enable a variety outdoor activities, this concept proves that practical urban wheels can also be rugged and capable. Related Video:

2016 Kia Sorento now an IIHS Top Safety Pick

The new Kia Sorento has taken it up a notch, securing a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety thanks to a major improvement in the small overlap crash test. When the Sorento was in 2014, the crash dummy didn't have an easy time of it, almost missing the front airbag and suffering nearly a foot of intrusion in the footwell. That earned it a "poor" mark. The 2016 model did much better, with the dummy properly restrained, proper airbag deployment, and just four inches of intrusion in the footwell, all of which was good enough for a "good" rating. Add that to the good ratings it's received for all the other tests, the Sorento's overall status is elevated to Top Safety Pick. You can check out video of the small overlap test above. News Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Kia Safety Crossover Videos crash test kia sorento