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Kia's e-Niro crossover goes almost 300 miles on a charge
Kia has launched the e-Niro, an all-electric version of its hybrid Niro, with some pretty strong claims about the range. The Korean automaker says it can travel 485 km (301 miles) on a charge, which would make it one of the longest-range EVs in the world. That's due in part to an optional 64 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery that's fairly large for the size of the car, along with a regenerative braking system. Kia's Driving Assistant System (Eco DAS) also extends range by telling the driver exactly when to coast or brake.
Hyundai and Audi team up on hydrogen fuel cell technology
Hyundai and Audi have reached a deal that will allow the two to share their hydrogen car technology, Reuters reports. Both companies will have access to the other's intellectual property and they'll share components, with the goal being to push hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles into the mainstream. So far, they've lagged behind battery EVs, which are currently cheaper and benefit from more charging stations.
Kia recalls 500,000 vehicles in the US due to airbag glitch
Kia has issued a recall for 507,000 vehicles in the US, and those who get a notice may want to make sure they comply with its request. The automaker said those vehicles' airbag control units may be susceptible to an electronic glitch that prevents their airbags from deploying in a crash. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in the midst of investigating why the airbags in the Kia and (its affiliate automaker) Hyundai vehicles involved in six serious serious crashes, which killed four people and injured six, didn't deploy during the collisions.
Kia Niro EV comes to Korea with 236-mile range
Kia is done teasing the all-electric version of its Niro crossover. The automaker has formally unveiled the production Niro EV, and it largely lines up with what you'd expect... although that's mostly a good thing. The finished design is now known to include a 204HP motor (similar to that in the electric Kona) and options for either a modest 39.2kWh battery good for 149 miles of range or a 64kWh pack capable of 236 miles. None of those figures are spectacular, but they promise a vehicle that's genuinely usable for everyday people-hauling while offering a significant amount of pep -- it can hit 62MPH in 7.8 seconds, and the floor-mounted battery gives it a low center of gravity you might not expect in a crossover.
Senators investigate safety procedures for autonomous cars
Just a day after the NTSB released its preliminary findings on the Uber crash in Arizona, senators Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal began an investigation into safety protocols for driverless car testing. In a letter sent to major auto manufacturers involved in autonomous driving systems, the senators asked several specific questions to find out what kind of procedures the companies have to ensure the safety of others during testing.
Kia unveils production Niro EV crossover with 280-mile range
When Kia unveiled the Niro EV at CES, it prompted one main question: how much would the electric crossover change between its flashy concept and the on-the-road car? We now have a better idea. Kia has unveiled the first details of the production Niro EV, and it's toned down in most respects... aside from the one that counts the most. The finished car will look much more like the everyday hybrid model, ditching the grille-mounted message display, flashy wheels and exotic lights. However, Kia now estimates that the version with a 64kWh battery will net roughly 280 miles a charge on the WLTP test cycle. That's likely to be lower on the more pessimistic US cycle, but it suggests the original 238-mile range estimate may have been conservative.
Facebook is adding AR to Messenger for #brands
Facebook is bringing augmented reality to Messenger. Rather than being a feature you can use when talking to friends though, the first application of the tech is for #brands. Facebook puts it like this: "When a person interacts with your business in Messenger, you can prompt them to open the camera, which will be pre-populated with filters and AR effects that are specific to your brand. This feature leverages the nature of messaging to help people get valuable, instant feedback about purchases, customizations, and more, without ever needing to set foot in a store."
Kia’s Niro Hybrid is a great SUV, if you’re not in a hurry
Crossovers, SUVs, CUVs or whatever you want to call them will continue to dominate showrooms. You can't blame automakers, the drivers of this country love a high-sitting utility vehicle -- even if it's really just a raised hatchback. It's also the reason more hybrid and EV powertrains are making their way into these vehicles. With that in mind, Kia introduced the Niro Plug-In Hybrid -- an electrified version of its small crossover. It has an impressive EV-only range (26 miles), and a lot of tech that people expect from a new car including semi-autonomous features. With a starting price of $27,900, the SUV is an impressive vehicle... as long as you're not in a hurry.
Kia unveils its electric and autonomous future
Kia's showed off a new Niro EV along with its plans for an electrified and autonomous future (aka mobility). The electric concept shows that the company is thinking beyond gas and hybrid crossovers, but also showcases a new HMI (Human Machine Interface). It'll show up in showrooms in the later half of 2018.
Hyundai and Kia will offer AI assistants in 2019 cars
Hyundai and Kia both have reputations as early adopters of in-car tech, and that's truer than ever now that voice assistants are becoming a practical reality on the road. The Korean automakers have revealed that they plan to include AI assistants in their new cars starting from 2019, with every vehicle being 'connected' by 2025. As Hyundai explained, they've been working with SoundHound to create an Intelligent Personal Agent (based on Houndify) that both makes proactive suggestions (such as reminding you of a meeting) and offers remote control of both your car and your home.
Hyundai plans 38 EVs as it tries to catch up with rivals
Hyundai and its affiliate Kia have revealed ambitious plans to bring as many as 38 green cars to market in the next eight years, with seven models slated for launch in the next five. Most of them will be electric vehicles, senior vice president Lee Ki-sang told reporters last week, adding to the company's current green line-up of the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Soul, several plug-in hybrids and the hydrogen-based fuel-cell ix35.
Kia brings Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to older cars
For many, the biggest problem with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is getting it in the first place. Unless you buy a very recent car, you're likely stuck buying an aftermarket head unit to drag your vehicle into the smartphone era. Kia thinks it can do better, though. It's promising free updates to both Android Auto and CarPlay for a slew of vehicles that have either the UVO3 infotainment system or a compatible navigation system.
The best electric vehicle
By Rik Paul This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After doing three months of research, interviewing leading experts, and driving all 11 electric vehicles that are available in the US, we're convinced that the Kia Soul EV is the best car for most people who want to drive gas-free. Costing about $34,000 (or $26,500 after a federal tax credit), the Soul EV is a comfortable, versatile everyday car that's easy to live with and drives better than most other EVs. Its 93-mile driving range is one of the longest you'll find, which reduces range anxiety. It's stocked with nifty high-tech features that make driving an EV easier. And it has a superlong warranty. Overall, the Soul EV is a great car that will cut both your driving costs and your carbon footprint.
Super Bowl 50: the ads, not the football
You've probably seen plenty of this year's Super Bowl ads already, especially as YouTube offered many companies the option to get their videos out in advance, hopefully ensuring more views during the barrage of The Big Game itself. So, we've already covered Pokemon, PayPal and Amazon, but if you're looking to fly to Gotham with Turkish Airlines, musing on a Walken closet, or need a Marvel universe trailer (or two), here's our highlights. Yes, there's Drake too.
Kia plans to deliver semi-autonomous driving features by 2020
Autonomous driving is all the rage these days, but luxury automakers have generated most of the buzz so far. At CES 2016, though, Kia is showing off an update on what it has in store future of driving, and it's doing so with its Soul EV. The company has already outfitted one of the compact SUVs with its next-gen ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) tech, a vehicle that has already been approved for on-road testing by the state of Nevada just last month. Kia is calling this effort Drive Wise, and it's serious about bringing the fully-autonomous systems to market.
Kia's electric Soul will cost you a semi-reasonable $33,700
Kia's reputation for low-cost cars is extending into the electric realm... well, sort of. The company has announced that the Soul EV will start at $33,700 when it reaches the US this fall. That's more expensive than the Nissan Leaf ($28,980) and well outside of budget car territory, so it's not exactly a trivial purchase at first glance. However, that doesn't include the $7,500 federal tax break -- the $26,200 you'll ultimately pay is pretty reasonable for a people-hauler with decent space, a smartphone-savvy infotainment system and (most importantly) very low running costs. The catch is availability. You'll have to wait until the fall to drive a Soul EV off the lot, and it will only be available in a handful of California cities at first; it's going to be a while before you can wander into any old dealership and pick one up.
Kia debuts city-only Soul EV at Chicago Auto Show
At the ongoing Chicago Auto Show, South Korean automaker Kia has not only debuted the 2015 Soul EV, but also confirmed the vehicle's release stateside. The compact car has a markedly shorter range (80 to 100 miles) than Tesla's Model S (200-plus miles), but that's because it's fitted with a much smaller, 27kWh battery. Obviously, it wasn't designed for Fast and Furious-caliber driving, but Kia says it can go as fast as 90 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 12 seconds, thanks to its 109-horsepower electric motor. It's unclear when the 2015 Soul will be available throughout the country, but Kia plans to release it in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, California and Oregon by the third quarter of the year. Kia's still crunching some numbers, though, so those interested in buying the car may want to cross their fingers for a reasonable price.
Hyundai and Kia tap SoundHound to help you identify music in your car
Always pulling out your smartphone to identify a song you've heard on your car radio? You'll no longer need to if you buy a new Hyundai or Kia model in the coming year. The Korean automakers have teamed up with sound-recognition specialist SoundHound to bring its music-discovery tools to select 2014 models in North America, Korea and China. The partnership will see Hyundai and Kia integrate music tagging directly into their infotainment systems, letting you pull up information on a song or artist with a press of the SoundHound icon. If you so choose, the app can keep a record of your searches, giving you the option to pull them up on a mobile device at a more suitable time. One model that will definitely get SoundHound's music-discovery feature is Hyundai's 2015 Genesis sedan, which is already set to let owners remotely lock their cars, perform maintenance updates and send Google Maps directions to the car with Google Glass. Not content with that, the car maker is also one of the six founding members of the Open Automotive Alliance. As part of the alliance, Hyundai worked with Google to develop an Android-based version of its custom infotainment system, helping the search giant expand further into the world of connected cars.
Kia and Hyundai could offer Android-based in-car systems in all vehicles next year
While Tesla is still in the early stages of considering an Android emulator, Korea's ETNews reports that Hyundai and Kia are already bringing the platform (or, at least, a derivative of it) to all their cars by 2014. Kia's Android-based in-car AVN system, UVO 2.0, comes with an app store of its own and connects to iOS and Android smartphones for multimedia. We took the navigation software for a spin as early as 2012, but it didn't debut until Kia started selling the 2014 Sorento earlier this year. After months of keeping a low profile, UVO 2.0 will begin its time in the spotlight on the new Kia Soul and Hyundai Genesis slated to come out in late 2013.
Kia plans to enter US EV market with battery-powered Soul in 2014
The electric vehicle space is one that Kia isn't new to exploring. Here in the US, however, the South Korean auto manufacturer has yet to get its foot in the door. But if all goes according to plan, Kia will soon debut its first EV for the US market in the form of an all-electric model of its Soul line that's scheduled to launch in 2014. As of now, there are no details about what kind of speeds and mile range we can expect out of this urban passenger ride, but Kia's quick to point out we'll be finding out all about that here in the weeks to come. In the meantime, you can take a gander at some leaked images of the purported Soul EV at the Autoblog link below.
