Kia exposes its Soul

After days we published rumors about Kia and its line-up, we spy a Kia Soul test mule on the back of a transporter in South Korea.

The new Soul will sit below the Sportage in the line-up and will go on sale in 2009. The Soul will come to Europe but it will definitely be sold in North America and its home market.

Considering its size, the new crossover will rival against the Scion xB/xD in the North American market and when it comes to Europe, it could rival against the Skoda Roomster.

2008 Honda Accord Undisguised

This time round the 2008 Honda Accord hasn't been snapped in Canada for a commercial shoot but in a car park in the U.S.

In a few short months, we'll have all the information we could possibly want about the 2008 Honda Accord coupe and sedan. It's set to go on sale this fall.

We know for sure that the hybrid model is gone. Slow sales of the performance-oriented hybrid made it a one-generation wonder, so the top-of-the-line Accord for 2008 will carry a conventional gasoline-fueled V6. We're expecting power levels somewhere north of 260 horses, so this Accord will be one of the faster family sedans in the segment. Honda isn't forgetting its fuel-efficiency mission statement, however, so the Accord V6 is likely to feature a cylinder-deactivation system. It shuts down half the cylinders under light loads to improve fuel economy. Combined with a six-speed manual transmission, the Accord V6 could maintain its fuel-economy rating of 30 mpg highway even under the revised EPA guidelines for 2008. If the automatic transmission goes from five to six gears as we expect, even the V6 automatic models might get close to 30 mpg on the highway. Then again, if fuel mileage is your primary concern, a four-cylinder Accord is the way to go. The base Accord will get a slight bump to anywhere between 170 and 180 horsepower, but the focus will remain on fuel-efficiency. At the same time, whatever gains that are made will be offset by the new EPA procedures, so expect to see the 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway rating of the current model drop a notch or two. If you're after a serious high-mileage Accord, you might want to put off your purchase for a few years. Honda is working on a diesel-powered model for the U.S. market that will beat the four-cylinder gasoline engine's numbers by a wide margin. And with lots of torque, the diesel will drive better, too. Honda is still working on making it clean enough to meet tough U.S. emissions regulations, but we're expecting it to happen within the next several years.

The 2008 Honda Accord will probably incorporate all the things you expect — slightly more interior room, a quieter and more refined cabin, plus new technology like a navigation system with integrated traffic maps. And as you can see from the pictures, its styling remains conservative in every respect with a little extra chrome its only extravagance.

How Odyssey

Much media attention lately has been drawn to the next generation Honda Accord, which was spotted recently. But that’s not all that’s new from Honda for 2008. These photos, taken just recently in the US, capture a styling update for Honda’s popular minivan, the Odyssey.

The front grille of the new Odyssey is restyled, with two horizontal bars running across the center of the grille instead of just one, and the overall shape of the grille has been updated, making it look nearly identical to the new grille design just revealed on the 2008 Accord. The under-bumper air scoop is also shaped differently, and the contours of the front end are updated with angled creases on each side of the grille that extend down into the bumper area.

The rear hatch and tail lights have also been restyled. The clear backup lights and turn signal lights have been moved from the top of the tail lights to the bottom. The center area of the tailgate has also been reshaped, tying into the shape of the tail lights with a horizontal bar running the entire width of the tailgate, just above the license plate cutout.
The freshened Odyssey will likely be released this fall as a 2008 model.

Fiat 500 Abarth for Tokyo

While most of us were expecting Fiat to unveil the turbocharged version of its 500 at next year’s Geneva Show yesterday during the worldwide media presentation in Torino, Italy, Fiat Automobile’s CEO (not Fiat Group) Luca De Meo, announced that the 500 Abarth will make its public appearance at the forthcoming Tokyo Show this October!

We talked to several journalists that attended the media presentation in Torino, but unfortunately no one managed to dig out any information concerning the Abarth’s powertrain. We suspect though that the range-topping 500 will wear the Grande Punto’s 1.4-litre turbocharged unit that’s available in 120Hp and 150Hp guises.

Update:

Unfortunately, the 500 Abarth didn't make its world debut as quoted above due to high demand in Europe.

Upcoming KIA rumors

Looks like KIA Motors is expanding its line-up across Europe with a new range of cars, MPV's and SUV's.

Picanto:

The small city car had a recent facelift which will be marketed in the European market for the model year 2008. The facelifted car will go on sale in the UK around autumn time.

The next generation is due for 2010 along side with the Hyundai Getz (i20). It'll be bigger than the current model and a sporty GTI could even be in the line-up.

Rio:

The current Rio has been on the European market since 2005 and was only available in a hatchback variant but it should have been due for a facelift this year. An all new model will be introduced in 2009.

Cee'd:

The 5 door hatchback has been on sale since January 2007 but more models will arrive in Europe. Later on this year the Cee'd SW (sporty wagon) will go on sale. In early 2008 the coupe dubbed Pro_cee'd will go on sale. In summer 2008 the cabriolet should be making its way into our showrooms.

Magentis:

The "premium" sedan went on sale last year but a facelift is planned for next year.

The next generation will go on sale in 2010 along with the next Hyundai Sonata (i40). Both of these models should be bigger, longer and wider than there predecessors.

Opirus/Amanti:

This recently received a new face but the next model could use the Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8. The next model could come out as early as 2010.

Coupe:

This will be a new sports coupe aiming at the ever popular Audi TT. A price tag of £20,000 sounds reasonable says Peter Schreyer, the designer who designed the first generation Audi TT. The new sports car could be on the European market by 2009.

Soul:

Presented at the Detroit Motorshow by in 2006 the crossover was given the green light for production. Its primarily designed for the U.S market to distract buyers from small SUV's. Production is set for 2009 and it could come to Europe.

"C-MPV":

Judging by its name, I'm presuming that it will be based on the Kia Cee'd platform and it will sit above the Kia Carens/Rondo. A concept could be shown at the upcoming Frankfurt Motorshow with production starting in late 2008.

Sedona/Carnival:

Despite the current Sedona's high emitting petrol & diesel engines a facelift or a whole new model could arrive in 2010. There could be 2 variants like the current model; SWB and LWB.

Sportage:

The Sportage will also receive a facelift in 2008 alongside with the Hyundai Tucson before a new model hitting showrooms in 2010. The next model could be taking styling cues of the Kia Kue SUV. The next Sportage could be made in Slovakia along with the Kia Cee'd.

Sorento:

The Sorento got a facelift last year aswell but the next model due in 2010 will look more like a mid-sized SUV and not large. Information on the next generation isn't yet known.

Borrego/Mohave:

This all new SUV will sit above the Sorento and will be offered in 7 seater variants. Th new SUV is based on the Hyundai VeraCruz. A 4.6 V8 is very likely to reach production alongside with other engines ranging from petrols to diesels for the European market.

Its on sale...

The Fiat 500 went on sale yesterday in Italy & France. Here is some driving footage of the MINI rival. The footage was taken after its photoshoot in Turin, Italy.

Sporty Impreza Snagged

Tight European emissions laws mean buyers won't be offered the WRX model in some European countries when the hatch arrives here later this year. But we can now reveal the first pictures of a storming new STi hatchback. While dealers will get the first five-door Imprezas late this summer, the performance STi won't debut until October's Tokyo Motor Show. As a result, customers will have to make do with the entry-level car until the flagship arrives in 2008. The STi is powered by a tuned version of the 2.5-litre boxer engine, turbocharged to produce more than 300bhp and around 400Nm of torque.

It will be mated to Subaru's existing six-speed manual box, while a new automated manual, sourced from specialist firm Aisin, is expected to join the line-up when the latest Impreza is facelifted in 2009.

That will ensure the hot STi can compete with its arch-rival, the Mitsubishi Evo X, which will get a paddleshift gearbox when it debuts next spring. The top Impreza gets a range of unique styling additions, including a specially developed bonnet, grille and a wide front bumper with big air intakes. Flared wheelarches smart 18-inch alloys, which will hide the existing STi's Brembo brake system. Buyers can expect to see minor tweaks to the all-wheel-drive system, and engineers have also taken the opportunity to tune the handling, thanks to a more compact double wishbone rear suspension set-up. Inside, the new Impreza range benefits from higher-quality trim, and the STi will also get a pair of supportive bucket seats up front to boost its sporty appeal.

Ford revamps the Focus

Ford Focus engineers have descended upon the mountains of Austria to do some testing on the new Fcous facelift.

This prototype isn't showing many changes to the rear although the front end is showing something very different, the front fascia is taken off the new Mondeo and has been tweaked with.

The Focus facelift goes on sale later on this year before getting replaced in 2009.

1 day to go....

Fiat dealers are already stocking up on the new 500 as they go on sale tomorrow across Italy. Tons upon tons of transporter loads have been sighted coming in and out of the Fiat plant.

UK sales will start 6 months from today.

Facelifted Sonata feels the heat

Spy photographers captured a restyled Hyundai Sonata during hot-weather testing in Death Valley earlier this week. Engineers got up nice and early to catch the test vehicle. While this prototype maintains the current Sonata's styling between the A- and C-pillars, the front and rear fascias have been modified.

Redesigned headlights flank a new grille with horizontal chrome bars, and the front bumper has a larger, trapezoidal-shaped lower intake that widens at the bottom for a more stout expression. The new grille brings the styling more in line with the upcoming Genesis luxury car.Heavily camouflaged, changes to the Sonata's rear are less obvious, but it appears that restyled tail lamps with prominent white strips are part of the plan. Judging from the quick drive-by shot of the interior, the Sonata will receive a revised center console and redesigned stereo akin to the Hyundai Veracruz.