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Kia rolls out updated Forte, Forte5 for 2017

Kia has updated the Forte sedan and Forte5 hatchback for the 2017 model year. Set to debut this week at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, the revisions revolve principally around updated exterior design and interior equipment. But there are a few mechanical updates as well. We saw most of the stylistic updates when Kia revealed the new K3 back in Korea a month ago. The new Forte (as we know it on this side of the world) is distinguished by a new front bumper design and what Kia calls the "tiger-nose" grille that blends into the new headlights, much like the new Optima. There are new taillights as well, and a revised interior centered around a seven-inch touchscreen display that will soon offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Under the hood, Kia has replaced the 1.8-liter four with a new 2.0, mated to either a six-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic transmission. There are new driver assistance systems as well, and the Korean automaker has added a new mid-level S trim in between the base LX and top EX models, with a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, a rear spoiler, and chrome exhaust tip. The revised Forte sedan will be the first new model produced at Kia's new plat in Monterey, Mexico. Pricing will be announced closer to launch in the next couple of months, as will a revised two-door Forte Koup, but Kia has also announced a revised Forte5 for 2017. The hatchback features similar cosmetic updates to the sedan. The 2.0-liter four carries over unchanged, as does the punchier 1.6-liter turbo, which can now be had with a new seven-speed DCT. That engine comes in the sporty SX model, which serves as the top of the three-trim line. Scope out the full details in the pair of press releases 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.

Kia showcasing Optima T-Hybrid concept in Paris [w/video]

At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, Kia showcased a new diesel hybrid powertrain. And at the rapidly approaching Paris Motor Show, it will present that new technology in the Optima sedan concept you see here.
Called the Kia Optima T-Hybrid, the concept mates a 1.7-liter diesel with both a turbocharger and electric supercharger to a small electric motor and a 48-volt lead-carbon battery. The mild hybrid setup allows it to travel in electric-only model at low speeds and at cruise, regenerating brake power to recharge the battery. Kia said it chose the lead-carbon battery pack over lithium-ion because it's easier to recycle and does not require active cooling.
Because the powertrain is still under development, Kia isn't saying what kind of fuel economy or emissions figures it gets in the Optima T-Hybrid concept, but it is targeting a "significant reduction" in emissions and fuel consumption, while delivering 15 to 20 percent more power. Check out the system in action in the video below.

Weekly Recap: Mazda's rotary revival ignites Tokyo Motor Show

Forty-eight years ago Mazda pioneered rotary engines in the Cosmo Sport. Mazda then honed the technology, won with it on the racetrack, and made it one of its signature features. If you're an enthusiast, rotary was a reason you like Mazda. It's a great part of the company's past. But until this week, that's exactly what we thought it was. History. That all changed with the reveal of the RX-Vision concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, which reignited the passions of the Mazda faithful. Suddenly, rotary was no longer a relic. The rotary concept shown in Japan was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car wrapped in the company's latest Kodo design language. It's powered by a Skyactiv-R unit (R for rotary), though specs were not disclosed. Mass production is "currently on hold," Mazda said, maintaining it never stopped development of rotary technology, even after the demise of the RX-8. Beyond that, we know nothing, other than the optimistic statement Mazda offered that: the "RX-Vision represents a vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make into reality." Put simply: we agree. OTHER NEWS & NOTES: Subaru previews next-gen Impreza While the Mazda concept was the headliner from Tokyo, Subaru's Impreza design study also stood out. The five-door concept is a signpost for the look of next-generation Impreza. It blends sportiness with functionality, and it's wrapped in a striking shade of 'high-luminance silver.' The fenders are flared to signal Subaru's all-wheel-drive capability, and the front has futuristic headlights that look like something from an Audi E-Tron concept. While most of this will be toned down in production, the concept suggests an elevated style for the Impreza, which is due as a 2017 model. Porsche adds potent GTS model to 2017 Macan line Porsche is giving the Macan crossover the GTS treatment, which will start at $68,195 when it goes on sale in March. GTS translates to more power, a sportier suspension, and interior and exterior design cues that sharpen the looks and reflexes of one of the most athletic SUVs on the market. Porsche recalibrated the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Macan S to make 360 hp and 369 lb-ft, (up from 340 hp and 339 lb-ft in the S). It teams with a seven-speed PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive. An air suspension is standard. The body features a slew of black accents, and the standard 20-inch RS Spyder wheels are done up in a shade of satin black. The cabin gets leather, Alcantara, and GTS logos.