2024 Kia Seltos S on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Kia finally unveils the all-new Stonic compact crossover

About a week after the global debut of the all-new Hyundai Kona compact crossover, sister company Kia rolls out its own B-segment fighter, the stylish Stonic. The two new models are going up against crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke, and Fiat 500X. This is a segment that's big on both style and practicality, and at first glance the Stonic fits both bills. We'll have to wait until this fall to get our hands on it. The Stonic is a handsome car, but its design isn't as bold as something like the Kona or the C-HR. The fascia looks like an updated version of the Kia Soul rather than a shrunken Sportage. The big rectangular eyes flank the corporate tiger nose grille, with a large lower air dam that hides the hardware for the active safety equipment. The profile once again eschews any ties to the Sportage, with hard character lines and a new C-pillar design. There is plastic cladding around the wheel wells and along the rocker panel. Like the Kona, the Stonic is available with a two-tone roof, but rather than being locked into a single color, the Stonic will offer five. That means there's a total of 20 paint combinations. Unlike the rest of the car, the rear of the Stonic pulls from other Kia SUVs. The taillights feature U-shaped LEDs, though there isn't a bod-width reflector like on the Sportage. There's a decent-sized rear spoiler and a faux skid plate on the bottom of the bumper. The hatch doesn't have a flat bottom, so we're curious if this will narrow the opening to the cargo area. The interior carries over the corporate design, with large, easy-to-reach buttons and knobs and large, clear gauges. There are body-colored accents on the dash, the console, and even the stitching on the seats. It's a simple way to brighten a dark cabin. The Stonic will get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and will be available with heated front seats and keyless entry and ignition. All we have right now are details for the European model, so it's unclear what engines will make it to the US. Look for both the 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the 175-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder to make an appearance. Both engines can be found in the Kona, paired to a six-speed automatic and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, respectively.

NHTSA investigating 8 million airbags not made by Takata

In a shocking turn of events, we have a line of airbags under investigation that weren't made by Takata. Rather, Automotive News reports that 8,000,000 airbags made by ARC Automotive Inc. are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to Automotive News, NHTSA is looking into ARC's airbags after two injuries and a recent death were attributed to the company's products. The two injuries occurred first and prompted the initial inquiry of 490,000 airbags, which then expanded after an airbag from a different line caused the death of a Canadian driver. The airbags in question are found in GM, FCA, Hyundai and Kia products, and all automakers are cooperating with the investigation, Automotive News reports. It is also important to note that these airbags have not been recalled, as NHTSA is trying to determine the issue and whether a recall is necessary. NHTSA also told the news outlet that the ARC inflators use a different design than those from Takata, instead using some pressurized gas and an ammonium nitrate charge. While the design may be different, the Takata inflators also used ammonium nitrate propellant, which other manufacturers have avoided. We will be watching this situation closely to see what develops. Here's hoping – for our collective safety and sanity – that we won't have to go through another airbag crisis like with the Takata recall. Related Video: News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Hyundai Kia Safety FCA airbag fiat chrysler automobiles

America was the unexpected theme at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show thanks to Trump

President-elect Donald Trump was not in attendance at this year's Detroit Auto Show, but it sure seemed like he was the target audience for many of the press conferences and announcements surrounding the event. Several manufacturers chose to play up existing and future commitments to the US in general and American jobs specifically in their presentations to the press, and we're pretty sure that has everything to do with Trump's recent targeting of automakers on Twitter. To us, it seemed automakers were going on the offensive to try and preempt any future tweet-shaming for investing in auto manufacturing anywhere but the US. The pro-America sentiment started the week prior to the auto show, with Ford announcing that it would build several future electrified vehicles at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan and also cancel a $1.6 billion factory planned for Mexico. Ford announced the two items on the same day, but the reality is that they likely have no relation to each other; the Mexican plant is being skipped because the company doesn't need the extra capacity to build the Ford Focus right now. Trump was still happy to share the news on Twitter. Then, on Sunday, FCA announced it would invest $1 billion in manufacturing plants in Ohio and Michigan to produce the new Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Wrangler-based pickup. It's not as though those potential new jobs were on their way out of the US, necessarily, but FCA took the opportunity to mention that plant upgrades at the Warren Truck Plant would allow the company to build Ram heavy duty trucks, which are currently assembled in Mexico, there. CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that Trump and his proposed tariffs had nothing to do with the decision. We certainly believe that, but we also have to believe that the timing of the release, positive outcome for America, and zero gain for Mexico were all orchestrated. Again, Trump sent out a victory tweet as if this had been his doing. Ford then used its press conference at the show on Monday to reiterate the plans for Flat Rock and also confirm that the Ford Bronco and Ranger nameplates will be returning to the US market, and that both will be built at a plant in Michigan. Announcements of manufacturing locations are usually aimed at the UAW, which certainly has a stake in these things, but again this one was broadcast to the auto show crowd in general.