2003 Kia Spectra Base Sedan 4-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

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The Kia Niro gets a plug-in model at Geneva

The Geneva Motor Show is usually a supercar event, but that didn't stop Kia from showing off the Niro hybrid. A new battery and some minor styling tweaks distinguish this Niro from the current model. The important part here is in the back of the little crossover. The standard Niro's 1.56-kilowatt-hour battery is replaced with a much higher capacity 8.9-kWh battery. When we test drove the standard Niro, Kia's representatives told us this battery should propel the Niro PHEV about 25 miles on a charge. For the European release, the range is listed as 55 km, which converts to 34 miles. However, this is likely a quirk of European fuel economy testing, which often yields higher numbers than American testing. Regardless, the Niro will have an electric range in the same ballpark as the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. The new battery, besides offering more range, is also physically larger. It's placed under the cargo floor and rear seat, and the larger size means the cargo area shrinks by a little over 3.5 cubic feet. However, Kia says that the rest of the interior is unaffected. And an unusual note, Kia will offer a towing package that will allow the Niro PHEV to pull a trailer with brakes weighing up to roughly 2,900 pounds, although it's unclear if this is a European-only option. The Niro PHEV has a few minor styling tweaks as well. The chrome trim on the front and rear bumpers now has slim light-blue lines along the edges. The black rub strip along the doors on the normal model is now a metallic finish on the plug-in. The headlights are changed, too. Square-shaped projectors take the place of the round units on the standard model. The Niro plug-in will go on sale in Europe in the third quarter of 2017. We were told by Kia representatives on the standard car's press drive that it would arrive here by the end of the year. Related Video:

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.

A closer look at the Kia GT4 Stinger Concept

When we named the Kia GT4 Stinger Concept as our top debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, our comments section had, let's call it, a tantrum. People were not pleased. Debuting alongside hugely significant production cars like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang, Ford F-150, Lexus RC F, BMW M3/M4 and Chrysler 200 (not to mention great concepts like the Toyota FT-1, Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge and Volvo Concept XC Coupe), what business did a tiny, turbocharged, rear-drive Kia concept car have winning the prize as the best of Detroit?
Well, as it turns out, it has every right to be there. Our own Michael Harley sat down with the head of US design for Kia, Tom Kearn, to discuss the GT4 Stinger and find out just what the brand was thinking when it decided to create such an enthusiast-oriented concept. The interview gives a great insight into the car and its design, while Harley goes into some detail at the end of the video about why the GT4 was the Autoblog Editors' Choice of the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.
Scroll down to watch the full interview.