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Kia reveals updated 2016 Rio hatchback and sedan [w/videos]

Kia makes vehicles of all different shapes and sizes (or many shapes and sizes, in any event), and the smallest of them all... well, that'd be the Picanto, but that's not sold here. The smallest Kia we get Stateside is the Rio, and it's just been updated for the 2016 model year and revealed here in Chicago. An update on the existing version rather than an all-new model, the new 2016 Kia Rio actually debuted in hatchback form at the Paris Motor Show a few months back. But this is the first time we're seeing the US model, where it's being showcased alongside its betrunked stablemate, the Rio sedan. Both bodystyles benefit from updated styling at both ends with new grilles and new lights front and rear. There are also some new paint options, and the interior has been updated with more high-density foam, higher-quality materials and revised trim. In addition to the choice of bodystyle, the Rio can also be ordered in three trim levels with varying levels of equipment, but they're all powered by the same 1.6-liter inline-four with 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. They're mated to a six-speed transmission in either manual or automatic forms, though the stick has been discontinued on the five-door hatch. 2016 RIO 5-DOOR DEBUTS AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW The new year brings refreshing enhancements to Kia's entry-level sedan and hatch at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show - New front and rear valances add visual width and sporty attitude; two new exterior colors added - Interior enhancements include upgraded UVO eServices1 technology and a more premium look and feel CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 – Chicago's gleaming skyline and indie rock music were the backdrops today as Kia Motors America (KMA) pulled the wraps off the 2016 Rio Sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. Making its global debut alongside the previously introduced Rio 5-Door (Paris, 2014), these two modern and dynamic subcompacts are the entry points into KMA's ever-expanding lineup of award-winning cars and CUVs. Refreshed inside and out for the 2016 model year, the pair offer sporty European design cues and generous interior accommodations while providing fuel efficiency. Both Sedan and 5-Door are expected to go on sale in the first quarter. "The Rio signifies everything the Kia brand has evolved into since coming to the U.S. market more than 20 years ago," said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning. "And like the brand, the Rio has grown up as it enters the 2016 model year.

Hyundai predicts 250-mile electric vehicle by 2020

Hyundai will start selling a battery-electric version of its Ioniq in the US later this year, but the company is ready for much more. Hyundai is forecasting having an EV with a 250-mile single-charge range by the end of the decade. Hyundai executive Ahn Byung-ki told Automotive News that, while electric-vehicle technology development has been steady during the past six years, it will accelerate during the next two. Think of it as the "hockey stick" effect, but for South Korean automakers instead of Silicon Valley tech giants or Canadian hockey players. The Ioniq, which will also get plug-in and hybrid variants, will have a single-charge range of 110 miles when the EV version arrives in November. After that, Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis sister companies may develop a 200-mile range EV for 2018, and then that 250-mile-range car for 2020. Byung-ki isn't concerned that the Ioniq will quickly be outdated because the longer-range vehicles will also be priced higher. The Hyundai executive also said the company had no plans to take on Tesla Motors in the luxury EV market. The Ioniq EV was unveiled at the New York Auto Show this past March. A hybrid version of that sedan debuted in South Korea in January, while the EV went on sale in South Korea last month. Overall, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are planning to introduce 10 hybrids, eight EVs, eight plug-in hybrids, and two hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by the end of the decade. The Hyundai group's only electric vehicle currently sold in the US is the Kia Soul EV, which has a single-charge range of 93 miles as well as some dancing hamsters in its commercials. Neither the Tesla Model 3 nor the Chevrolet Bolt can make that second claim. Related Video:

Kia, Hyundai working on wireless charging with Mojo Mobility

Last month, Kia started expanding US sales of its Soul EV electric vehicle outside California and into Texas, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington. Now, the South Korea-based automaker is making it a little easier for residents of those states to charge up those cars. Much of the early focus, naturally, is on the always-green-minded Pacific Northwest. Kia Motors America is working with a company called Greenlots to build Level 2 and fast-charging stations at Kia dealerships. Specifically, about 30 fast-charging stations will be deployed at 21 dealerships throughout those four states. Those stations can get a Kia Soul EV 80-percent charged in about a half hour. The EVs can go about 93 miles on a full charge. Including Level 2 stations, about 40 stations will be added in the Pacific Northwest alone. The idea is to make sure folks in both the Seattle and Portland areas feel secure about their ability to charge their cars throughout the region. Additionally, Kia and its sister automaker Hyundai are working with another company called Mojo Mobility to develop a wireless plug-in vehicle charging system, Hybrid Cars reports. The companies received funding from the US Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program, and have so far found that those wireless stations can charge at about 92-percent efficiency. No timeline has been disclosed as far as when those stations will start being available to the public, but folks in the Pacific Northwest are sure to welcome them, perhaps in time for the Soul EV 2.0. Related Video: Show full PR text KIA MOTORS AMERICA RAMPS UP SOUL EV INFRASTRUCTURE IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON Soul EV coming to a total of 20 dealers in the Pacific Northwest; 12 in Washington1 and eight in Oregon2 Kia increases fast-charger network in the region with 10 new chargers IRVINE, Calif., July 8, 2015 – Kia Motors America (KMA) is continuing its progressive launch of the Soul EV and adding to the electric vehicle ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest with 20 Soul EV-certified dealers and a robust charging network. Of the 20 dealers in the region, 12 will be located in Washington and eight in Oregon. In addition to each being equipped with two Level-2 chargers (40 total in the PNW region), 10 of the dealers will also be up-fitted with DC fast chargers, increasing Kia's overall network of fast-charging stations. As an added value, select Kia dealers will allow Soul EV owners to charge their electrified urban runabout at no cost3.