2020 Kia Sportage Lx on 2040-cars

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South Korea firms up fuel economy regs following Hyundai/Kia debacle

According to a report from Reuters, South Korea's government has drafted strict new rules for automakers to follow when calculating fuel economy. The legislation comes after a major snafu by Hyundai and Kia that resulted in the automakers lowering the estimated fuel mileage of many popular models - some by several miles per gallon, including the Soul subcompact above - and compensating owners in the US and Canada for the reduction.
The new fuel economy rules were announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in South Korea and will see average mileage ratings drop by roughly three to five percent, according to the report. In addition, manufacturers found guilty of overstating mileage figures will be liable for fines of up to $900,000.
These sweeping new regulations will go into effect in the second half of 2013 and, while they won't have any effect on EPA estimates for Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the United States, they are expected to result in new ratings for the two automakers in their home market of South Korea, where they enjoy a whopping 70-percent market share.

Kia Forte and Forte5 bring fresh new duds to Detroit

The Telluride concept may be the biggest news from Kia in Detroit this year, but it's not the only new metal the Korean automaker has on display at Cobo. Alongside it, Kia also rolled out new versions of the Forte. As before, Kia offers the Forte in both sedan and Forte5 hatchback trim, and each got its own set of updates. Both feature distinct front-end styling, with a tiger-nose grille that stretches width-wise to join the more angular headlights and more closely resemble the snout on the all-new Optima. The sedan and hatchback also feature their own unique LED taillights. And inside they both feature a new 7-inch infotainment display powered by Kia's UVO system, soon to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Forte now comes in three trim levels – based LX, loaded EX and a sporty S (in between the two on the sedan) or SX (at the top of the line for the hatchback). Of course, the sedan ends with a trunk at the back and the hatchback with a liftgate, but they also receive slightly different powertrain options. Every version comes with a 2.0-liter inline four mated to a manual or automatic transmission with six speeds – save for the Forte5 SX. That remains the enthusiast's choice with a 1.6-liter turbo, mated to either a six-speed manual or a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All that's left now is for Kia to reveal the new two-door Forte Koup, but we'll have to hold on for that to come at a later date. In the meantime, you can scope out the live images of both new models from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, and watch the full Kia press conference with live reaction below. 2017 Forte overview Compact Sedan Receives Updated Design, New Powertrain and Advanced Tech, Including Android Auto and Apple Car PlayTM - 2017 Forte adds 2.0-liter engine, plus updated six-speed automatic transmission - Advanced driver assistance features including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front Collision Warning, and Dynamic Bending Lights3 are newly available - Sporty S trim pumps up Forte's sport factor with exclusive interior and features Irvine, Calif., Jan. 11, 2015 – The Motor City today got an up close look at the refreshed 2017 Forte when Kia Motors America pulled the silk off the updated compact sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

2015 Kia Soul EV Prototype

Spend a few days chatting with the good people of Seoul about their neighbors to the north, and you'll find a pattern emerges. When they first start talking, South Korea's citizenry speaks openly and ardently about seeking reunification with their North Korean brothers and sisters. Yet once you get beyond casual conversation, you'll find that those hopes and wishes aren't all that they first appear to be. Quite reasonably - and despite everyone's best intentions - there's genuine fear that opening the border with communist North Korea would severely tax South Korea's finances, infrastructure and daily lives. It's almost as if reunification feels like something the general public has to say they want, even if they're really not buying into the reality.
It's kind of like the way American consumers and the media have been crying out for electric and hybrid automobiles, yet when it comes time to vote with their pocketbooks, their hearts just aren't in it. There are potential financial and infrastructure concerns, along with lingering worries about how well EVs will integrate into their daily lives. Today, hybrids and plug-ins make up about three percent of new vehicle sales, and the vast majority of those models are gas-electric models - one in particular. Pure electrics aren't yet even a drop in a very large bucket. It's exactly this uncomfortable dichotomy that rings in our heads as we drive through the traffic in Namyang at the wheel of a 2015 Kia Soul EV prototype.
Of course, one can't blame Kia for developing an electric car - it has California's zero-emissions mandates to meet, regardless of whether the segment's sales suggest there's a sound financial strategy attached. Kia officials we spoke with at this early drive of the company's electrified 'box' car seemed to tacitly acknowledge the Soul EV's difficult business case, but pointed to the company's effort to reduce its CO2 output as part of its reason for being. And besides, their beancounters' industry-wide projection for global EV sales in 2018 is 600,000 units, so there's got to be room to grow, right?