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Kia previews new minivan ahead of New York debut

Kia has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, but the Sedona has hardly been representative of that maturation. Known in some overseas markets as the Carnival, Kia's current minivan was introduced 2006, withdrawn from US showrooms at the end of 2012, then reintroduced again a year ago. Despite the product renaissance, however, the Sedona is essentially the same dated vehicle it has been for eight years now, but Kia is intent on replacing it.
We've been seeing spy shots of a new Kia minivan for several months now, and broke word a couple of months ago that the finished product would be unveiled in New York this month. Now Kia has not only confirmed the new Sedona's imminent arrival, it has released this teaser image to keep us on our toes.
The teaser shows a vehicle more or less in line with what we'd expect of a modern Kia, tabbed grille and all. This view suggests fewer design cues from the KV7 concept have been carried over than was previously thought, but we'll need to see the entire vehicle to know for sure. Kia isn't saying much about its "all-new midsize multi-purpose vehicle" in the press release below at this point, revealing only that it "will challenge the segment and will offer the functionality to transport as many as eight passengers and their belongings while also serving as a purposeful offering for adventure seekers."

2014 Kia Optima Hybrid shows its freshened face

Think back to the 2013 New York Auto Show, and you'll recall that the already attractive Kia Optima midsize sedan was re-schnozzed for the 2014 model year. The hybrid version was left alone, visually, though its powertrain was updated to provide more oomph and slightly better fuel economy. And now, the whole thing comes full circle - the fresh-faced 2014 Optima Hybrid is making its debut here at the Chicago Auto Show.
The new look is really the only news here, with a reworked front fascia that combines restyled Hybrid-specific LED lighting elements and new enhancements that Kia says improves aerodynamics. A similar touch-up has been given to the rear end, and new 16- and 17-inch wheel designs are also available.
Under the hood, the Optima Hybrid's powertrain is unchanged, the four-cylinder gasoline-electric system still putting out a combined 199 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is also unchanged for 2014, with the LX model estimated to achieve 36/40/38 miles per gallon (city/highway/combined), and the higher-grade EX estimated to net 35/39/37 mpg.

Kia to reveal 2015 Sedona minivan in New York

Hold on to your sippy cups, America. The Kia Sedona minivan may have gone to recess for the 2013 model year, but it mounted a quiet comeback for 2014 sporting the slightest of updates. Thankfully, those minor tweaks will only have to sustain it a short time. Kia knows it can't afford to nap for another year against strong rivals like the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Town & Country, and the Korean automaker remains committed to duking it out in the kinshlepper segment. So committed, in fact, that Autoblog has learned it will launch its third-generation minivan at April's New York Auto Show.
As seen in these spy shots captured last August, the 2015 Sedona will incorporate styling cues from Kia's well-recieved 2012 KV7 concept, and it's predicted to feature more refined drivetrains and interior appointments, including Kia's latest UVO infotainment system and available rear-seat entertainment. We further expect fuel economy figures to get a nudge upwards thanks to fuel-saving features like electric power steering and direct injection.
Given the minivan segment's 'safety first' mindset, look for the next Sedona (known elsewhere as the Carnival) to offer a full quiver of active safety features, including blind-spot detection and a lane-departure warning system - two popular features the 2014 model does without.