2012 Kia Sportage Lx Sport Utility 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Genesis, Kia, Lexus EVs earn spots on the IIHS Top Safety Picks+ list

A trio of 2023 electric vehicles — the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Lexus RZ, and Genesis Electrified GV70 — have just earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The prestigious award from the IIHS requires that the cars and SUVs achieve top scores in a number of crash tests and that they have an “Advanced” or “Superior” front crash avoidance system that activates to help inattentive drivers prevent vehicle or pedestrian crashes. Previous selections for the award among EVs have included the Rivian R1T/R1S, Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Tesla Models 3/Y. To earn the “+” designation, the agency stipulates that headlights rated “Acceptable or Good” must be standard across all trims, and that a front crash prevention system that earns Advanced or Superior ratings in both the daytime and nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations be available. The GV70 earned “Advanced” ratings in both the daytime and nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention evaluations. The Ioniq 6 and the Lexus RZ earned “Superior” ratings in these two tests. “To be environmentally friendly, our vehicles and our cities also need to be pedestrian-friendly,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “All three of these vehicles have standard front crash prevention systems designed to protect pedestrians both during the day and at night, when most fatal pedestrian crashes happen.” Overall in its latest list, the IIHS named 51 cars in the “Top Safety Pick+” grouping, and 25 in the secondary Top Safety Pick tier. ThatÂ’s down from 101 total award-winning models last year, likely because the organization has implemented its tough new side-impact test and is also testing for night-time pedestrian detection for collision warning and prevention systems. The IIHS is one of two major automotive safety rating organizations, along with the federal government's National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. IIHS is a private organization funded by insurance companies. By the Numbers Genesis Kia Lexus Green Automakers Insurance Safety Electric

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.