Kia unveils two cars and a concept
DETROIT— Kia’s press conference at the North American International Auto Show started off pretty routinely, but it sure didn’t end that way. Allow me to explain. First up was the revised 2017 Forte (sedan) and Forte5 (hatchback) compacts, both of which arrive at dealerships within the next few months.
Both cars will receive new bumpers, headlights and a Tiger Nose grille that bears a strong family resemblance to the 2016 Optima. LED tail lights and daytime running lights are available based on trim selection.
Inside, both will offer Kia’s updated UVO3 infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen that supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
A broad range of collision mitigation tech, including Front Collison Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Blind Spot Detection, among many others, will also be available.
Under the hood, the Forte gets a new 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine, which replaces the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder as the base engine. A more powerful 2.0-litre direct-inject 4-cylinder is standard on the top-level EX.
The 2.0-litre direct-inject is standard on the Forte5 LX and EX trims, while the top-line SX gets the 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder.
The Forte comes with two transmissions, a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic, while the Forte5 gets a third option — a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic available on the SX model.
Power numbers, fuel economy and pricing will be released close to the on-sale date. The Forte Koup twodoor is also being revised for 2017, details to come later.
With the Fortes out of the way, time for something completely different: the Telluride concept.
A full-size SUV that would presumably slot above the Sorento, the Telluride is a boxier, more upright 3-row, 7-seater that’s loaded with future tech.
For example, all four seats (not including the folding third row) have diamond-cut openings embedded with Smart Sensors that monitor passenger vital signs, which are displayed on interior door panels.
The vitals are then synchronized with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system that uses a massive LED panel beneath the sunroof that can emit therapeutic light to help treat passenger jet lag and improve their energy levels.
In terms of power, the Telluride uses a fingerprint-activated start button to fire up its hybrid powertrain, a 3.5-litre V6 mated to an electric motor that drives all four wheels. Combined output is pegged at 400 horsepower (270 from the V6). Kia has pegged highway mileage at 7.8L/100 km.
Kia says it currently has no plans to build the Telluride, but they also said their production cars are historically closely related to concept vehicles.
Draw your own conclusions. Freelance writer Lee Bailie is a frequent contributor to Wheels. To reach him, please email wheels@thestar.ca and put his name in the subject line.