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Kia Niro Concept is the miniature Soul of the future

The Kia Niro Concept has officially made its Frankfurt Motor Show debut, and aside from the product specialist who would not get out of our photographer's way, this was our first in-person look at the Niro Concept, which first broke cover near the end of last month. The compact, rough-and-tumble crossover would slot in below the Soul were it to enter production, with Kia calling it a B-segment competitor.
The Niro sports neon accents, although both the trim and the actual color of the car itself are far lighter than they appeared in the original press photography. The cabin, meanwhile, looks like it was completely crafted from a single piece of rubber. We suppose that'd make it easy to clean out, sort of like a Jeep Wrangler.
Kia claims the Niro was designed "in Europe with European tastes" in mind, and that its production options will be based on the response of the general public. Take a look above for a full gallery of live photos, and then down below for the press release and images from Kia.

Kia pulls covers off 2015 Sedona with New York as its backdrop

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the 2015 Kia Sedona. The automaker is sticking firm with its convictions in the minivan segment, but it's hedging its bets, saying the Sedona's "CUV-like styling and proportions offer all of the functional convenience of the segment while defying its design limitations."
The 2015 Sedona can be configured to seat either seven or eight occupants, and its size specifications put it right at or near the top of its class in most categories, including leg room. Kia says this is the final piece of the styling puzzle that started when design director Peter Schreyer took the helm of the Korean company's studio. We certainly see some masculine cues, especially with its high belt line and relatively small windows. We think the end result is pretty attractive though it falls clearly in minivan territory, you're welcome to draw your own conclusions after scrolling through the image gallery above.
Kia promises the new Sedona will provide "an element of desire" with "improved driving dynamics" to go along with all that room inside. To that end, the new Sedona's chassis is reportedly 36-percent stiffer than the best of its competition, due to a body shell crafted from 76-percent high-strength steel. Kia expects a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, though the van has yet to be crash tested.

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.