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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.

Hyundai, Kia looking to cut costs

Hyundai and Kia are off to roaring starts in the United States this year, underscored by Kia's best sales month ever in May. But globally the situation for the South Korean siblings hasn't been nearly so positive. Recently, they reported their fourth consecutive quarter of decreasing operating profits worldwide, and now they're "making efforts to cut costs," according to a statement in a joint email obtained by Bloomberg. However, the companies aren't detailing where they would make the cuts or how much they want to save. The amount could be significant, though. An unnamed Hyundai senior executive reportedly told a South Korean newspaper that the business might be aiming for up to 30 percent in reductions. According to Bloomberg, Hyundai and Kia are facing falling total sales worldwide. Making the situation worse is that the strong Korean won versus the weaker Japanese yen gives competitors an advantage. The automakers also angered investors enough last year to prompt a stock buyback after paying $10 billion for the land for a future headquarters. The prognosis doesn't look utterly dire, though, and new products are on the way. For example, the Hyundai Santa Fe is being refreshed in South Korea, and the next-gen Elantra debuts at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. There's also the Creta on the way for foreign markets. Additionally, several models are still awaiting the green light, including a Hyundai Genesis-based luxury crossover, a compact CUV, and the Santa Cruz unibody pickup. Meanwhile, the Kia GT is reportedly close to production, too. Related Video:

2014 Kia Forte

Kia Tries Yet Again To Prove That Compact Sedans Are Its Forte
For those keeping track, the introduction of the 2014 Kia Forte sedan marks the second time in five years that Kia has completely redesigned its compact sedan offering. Put another way, car shoppers have now had three entirely different options in this category from Kia - the unloved Spectra along with two generations of the Forte - in the same period of time that Toyota has been building the current Corolla.
If nothing else, it's clear that Kia is committed to making as big of a dent in the compact class as possible. That said, none of Kia's entries have come close to challenging the dominance of the aforementioned Corolla, Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta, domestic offerings like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze, or even the Hyundai Elantra, its slightly older and more subdued Korean sibling, in the race for market share.