Kia Aims For Self-Driving Car By 2030

The steady democratization of autonomous car technology continues at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, with populist South Korean automaker Kia announcing Tuesday that it is stepping up its mission to create a self-driving car for the masses by 2030.

In the nearer term, Kia executive vice president Seung Ho Hwang said the company was rebranding its suite of driver-assist technologies as DriveWise and will integrate features such as fully automated parking and highway driving assist into much of its model range by 2020.

"We will be investing $2 billion in the next two years on these technologies, so that a better quality of life goes not just to select people but to all our customers," Hwang said.

Kia execs also announced that the company will begin testing its fully autonomous prototype, based on its Sol electric vehicle, on Nevada roads soon. A more high-tech self-driving concept car dubbed the Novo features partially automated driving features as well as in-vehicle payment and start-button security that relies on a fingerprint. That same fingerprint, once scanned, automatically tees up the driver's infotainment and app preferences.

While Kia's news won't mean anything to consumers in the near term, it is a clear signal that cutting edge and safety-focused automotive technology is no longer just the domain of high-end luxury manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Tesla.

A few Kia videos screened at the press conference also hinted at the ride-sharing applications of low-cost autonomous cars. In one, a shopper at an outdoor market is seen talking into her wrist; minutes later the car she has summoned from a nearby parking spot drives itself into view. In another more whimsical scene, a hang-glider drifts toward earth as his driverless vehicle follows along beneath him to a pre-arranged rendezvous spot.

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2015 Kia Forte Koup SX - Aperture & Letter Omissions Keep Breed Alive - Quick Review

Until recently "affordable enthusiastic driving" was the domain of high-style, but lower utility, two-door coupes. Then, "Drive...He Said" discovered some enthusiastic four-doors out there, picking the sleek  2014 Kia Forte EX  automatic as tops among 4 top small family sedans.

But in defense of a seemingly dying breed of sporty affordable 2-doors, Kia [quietly] markets a more powerful variant of Forte with a manual transmission. MINUS two doors...and the letter "E", appending Koup.

2015 Kia Forte Koup SX:

WHAT: Compact C category , front-wheel drive, 2+3 occupant 2-door coupe;

Locomotion:  transverse 201 hp/ 193 lb-ft turbocharged, direct injection 1.6L DOHC I-4 gas engine;

Transmission(s): 6-speed manual (optional 6-speed torque converter automatic) transaxle

Chassis Layout: front strut/ rear torsion beam semi independent; Four wheel disc brakes, front vented; 18"-inch alloy wheels on SX, electric power steering assist

Standard Accoutrement: Cruise control; 1 x USB/ 2 x 12V ports; Keyless entry, push-button start; 7"-inch touch LCD infotainment screen; 60/40 folding split rear seat back; Power locks, windows; Power heated & folding side mirrors; Aluminum pedals; Selectable steering effort; Tilt & telescoping leather wrapped steering wheel; Bluetooth connectivity w/ voice commands & streaming audio; Music jukebox HDD

Major Options: 7" touch LCD infotaiment w/ HDD navigation; Leather seats, Power moonroof; Leather seats: Front heated, driver's cooled & 10-way powered; Heated steering wheel; HID headlights; 4.2" TFT color MFD, Auto-dimming rear-view mirror w/ Homelink; 2-Zone auto climate w/ rear seat vents; Carpeted floor mats, cargo mat.

WHEN: On sale: September 1, 2015

WHERE: Kia dealers

HOW MUCH: Price w/6-speed manual transmission = $20,590; As tested (w/ Premium + Tech Pkgs.): $25,485

HOW SAFE: 8 airbags, high tensile steel, no driver's assist tech offered; IIHS Ratings: side & frontal impact: "Good", "Good"; small front overlap: "Poor"

WHERE MADE: Hwasung, South Korea

GOES LIKE: Throttle-on-a-String demands 3000 rpm upshifts for serious steam, exacerbating the garbage disposal sounds from the engine; Smooth 2nd-3rd manual gearbox throws aren't possible...come to think of it nor are 1st-2nd;  rapid steering, but numbness isn't helped by selectable effort; Body leans aplenty; 18" Wheels pound ponderously; not even Traction control can stop Nexen CP671 M+S tires from slipping in the slick; Not the worst undesteerer in class; Hungryman appetite brakes need church bells and hard pedal application.

FEELS LIKE: Chrome door releases & center stack switch bezels brighten up dark office; Low front cowl grants generous forward field of view; Perforated pebble grained leather feels rich; Instrument binnacle hood stitching & faux carbon fiber trim, half-hearted;  Switch buttons are where buttons belong and knobs where knobs belong;  Engine buzz makes abundant hard plastics resonate; Small icons on 7" Center stack touch infotainent screen, which is sun wash-out prone; Navigation response is jerky and lacks bird's eye map mode; Front seat-belt B-pillar extender arm clever but clunky; Doors weigh a "ton".

HOW USEFUL: Supportive front buckets remember recline but not pitch when accessing rear seat; Seat to pedal distance, relative to steering wheel, not ideal; Nice to have concealed center stack USB and dual 12V connections; Doors low on storage and swing too wide; Good luck entering/ exiting rear seat without dinging neighboring car doors; 6' footers shouldn't have any issues in the back seat; Trunk easily holds weekend getaway's cargo for four.

HOW EFFICIENT:  28 combined miles-per-gallon on 87 octane unleaded gas

HOW APP-licable: subscription available UVO telematics + E-Services ($600); 6-speaker audio system has plenty of volume, some depth, but too much tone coloration.

LOOKS: Sleeker than Scion TC ; Tamer than Civic Si; Sensuous fashion model who has reach middle age; Reincarnation of Guigiaro designed late 1980's Isuzu Impulse.

VALUE: Feature wise, you could do far worse than Forte Koup. Lazy throttle saps noisy drivetrain. Warranty: Can't beat 10 yr/ 100k mi. drivetrain, 5 yr./ 60k mi. B-T-B warranty - except after a resale, which halves powertrain warranty.

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2015 Kia Sportage Is Athletic & Attractive

Sporty and elegant, spacious and adaptable – the compact Kia SUV features an attractive appearance inside and out. Building on the Sportage's already successful foundation, the Kia Sportage continues to offer an impressive feature set, robust performance and modern styling. For 2015, the Sportage carries over from a year of updates, including notable exterior revisions and a variety of comfort and convenience enhancements.

Available in base, LX, EX and SX models, as well as front or all-wheel drive, base power for the Kia SUV is provided by a fuel-sipping 2.4L four-cylinder engine. SX models are equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine. Both engines are joined to a six-speed automatic transmission with H-Matic.

The Sportage SUV uses the state-of-the-art Dynamax four-wheel drive system that routes up to 99 percent of the available power to the front wheels. As road conditions or torque demand changes, the system automatically diverts up to 50 percent of the available power to the rear wheels. The system monitors throttle position, front wheel angle and slippage. A dashboard-mounted 4WD lock button allows the driver to manually “lock” the driveline into 4WD for a 50/50 torque split.

Rear dynamic suspension dampers, increased floor insulation and standard high-performance dampers on EX models reduce cabin noise, vibration and harshness while improving driving dynamics.

Inside the passenger cabin, the Sportage features Kia's UVO powered by a Microsoft voice-activated infotainment system based on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform. UVO improves connectivity, convenience and safety by enabling drivers and passengers to answer and place phone calls, access music from a variety of media sources and create custom music experiences all with voice-activation. UVO is standard on Sportage EX and SX models.

Sportage boasts a wide variety of cargo with its innovative easy-to-use “Drop & Fold” rear seat. Utilizing a 60/40-split cushion and backrest that allows the bottom cushion to move forward and down into the rear footwell area, it also allows the seat backrest to be folded completely flat and onto the same level as the trunk floor. This easy-to-perform operation even can be executed without removing the rear head restraints.

Sportage also offers a wide range of storage compartments, including a large center console, large lockable glove box, overhead sunglasses holder, map and cup holders in all four doors and rear seat central armrest with cup-holders.

Dimensions & specifications

Wheelbase: 103.9; overall length: 174.8; width: 73.0; height: 64.4

All vehicle measurements are in inches.

Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder – 182 hp at 6,000 rpm and 1778 lbs-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm; 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder – 260 hp at 6,000 rpm and 269 lbs-ft of torque at 1,850 – 3,000 rpm.

Transmission: six-speed automatic

EPA Fuel Economy: 2.4L four cylinder – 21 city/28hwy. (FWD), 19 city/26 hwy. (AWD); 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder – 20 city/26 hwy. (FWD), 19 city/25 hwy. (AWD).

Cargo capacity: 54.6 cu. ft.

Towing capacity: 2,000 lbs

Safety features

Dual front airbags, front seat mounted side-impact airbags, full length head curtain side-impact airbags with rollover sensor, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control, downhill brake control, hill-start assist control, tire pressure monitoring system, side-impact door beams, remote keyless entry, and Bluetooth hands free phone system.

EX adds fog lights, UVO eServices with rearview camera and automatic headlamp control. SX adds LED daytime running lights, Xenon high intensity discharge headlamps, Smart Key push-button start, and rear park assist system.

Warranty

Basic: 5-year/60,000 mile

Powertrain: 10-year/100,000 mile

Corrosion: 5-year/100,000 mile

Roadside Assistance: 5-year/60,000 mile, 24-hour

Pricing

The base Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2015 Kia Sportage SUV starts from $21,900 for the LX FWD up to $29,600 for the SX AWD. Destination charges add $895.

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How Kia And Hyundai Infiltrated The Luxury Market

Remember the days when a Kia or a Hyundai were considered to be nothing more than knock-off Korean interpretations of Japanese cars? We’re not talking about anything in recent history of course, but instead one should think back to the archaic days of automatic seatbelts, cassette tape players, pop-up headlights, and Miami Vice-themed factory graphics. This was the age of Super Nintendo waging war on Sega Genesis, when Nickelodeon’s Guts could only be overshadowed by Double Dare, and as Pepsi Clear made its bubbly belly-flop into the annals of American soda-pop failures, something began to change in the way we looked at Asian cars.

People began to take Acura seriously, because while it may have been considered a disjointed Honda back in the day, the introduction of the NSX changed everyone’s opinion for the better. Lexus also was becoming a huge hit, as it showed Americans that all of the sophistication and quality one looks for in a German luxury car could be had for a fraction of the price thanks to Japanese engineering. So while Infiniti continued to convince buyers that its line-up was just as reliable as anything else in the Nissan range, Mazda and Subaru primarily stayed out of the luxury line, opting for all-wheel drive versatility and Miata-infused fun instead. Meanwhile Mitsubishi started sending us SUVs, while Isuzu and Suzuki tried desperately to get our attention, but got very little in return.

While Japanese automakers fought amongst themselves, and American manufacturers began to fret over the permanence of this Japanese invasion, no one seemed to notice that Korean commuter cars were starting to catch on. No one was giving Hyundai or Kia the time of day, and why should they? Neither of these brands were hot sellers, they certainly were not a part of the “Japanese invasion,” and there was not a single thing about them that was interesting, exciting, exuberant, or expensive.

But as time progressed it became apparent that this is exactly what these two companies wanted, because while they did have the means to launch luxury models at any time, they opted to play it safe, and build their presence here in the states from the ground up instead. It may have taken a couple of decades to do so, but today there is no denying the fact that Kia and Hyundai played their hands extremely well over the years, and what started off as a handful of compact economy cars has morphed into a full-blown takeover, with everyone from Mercedes-Benz to Honda feeling the heat, as Korean cars have gone from “crap” to “oh snap!”

What people need to understand is that while Kia and Hyundai may have started off with humble beginnings, drivers need to get over the predisposition that these are second-class Japanese knock-offs with questionable reliability and very few creature comforts. Sure, at one point it would be fair to assume such a thing, but if you read our review of the Hyundai Genesis, or look over the pictures we took of the $67,000 Kia K900, it becomes apparent that this is no longer the case.

In a article we did back in May, we highlighted seven reasons why Korean cars rock, and in this piece a few key pivotal moments in the history of the two car makers were touched upon, as they distanced themselves from the stigmas of old which have very little correlation to the cars you see today. Playing it conservatively over the years has allowed them to amass both wealth and resources, as both automakers now make the majority of their cars here in America.

While things were indeed going quite well for both firms after the turn of the millennia, it was not until 2004 that things really started to change, when Hyundai shocked the world by tying Honda for initial brand quality in a study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. Hyundai then placed third in J.D. Power’s 2006 Initial Quality Survey, trailing only Porsche and Lexus, while Kia continued to win awards for its safety, design, and ingenuity in every segment imaginable.

This leads us back to what this entire diatribe is about: If you are nipping at Porsche and Lexus’ heels in J.D. Power’s quality surveys, then there has to be a sprinkling of sophistication in there somewhere. Take Hyundai’s Equus for example. Here is a 429-horsepower V8 luxury sedan, that has an interior that will make anyone say “BM-Who?” thanks to its cooled front and rear seats, rear-seat entertainment system with dual 9.2-inch monitors, and cabin that is bigger than a BMW 750i, a Mercedes-Benz S550, or the Lexus LS 460.

But perhaps the greatest thing about this car is that it carries with it the traditional Korean ace in the hole: an unbeatable price. For $68,750 you can buy a fully-loaded Equus for thousands less than the base version being offered by these other manufacturers, and if you sit in one you will notice that the quality of the materials used rivals those found in its competition. Sure, some people think driving a Korean car is beneath them, and that European is the only way to go for luxury, but these are the same close-minded individuals who are more worried about what other people think than what they want and need in a car. Honestly, if the Oxford fits and it costs a hell of a lot less than the rest, then lace that beauty up and rock it, man.

In closing, it’s notable that both Kia and Hyundai’s move on the luxury market comes without the formation of a separate brand in which to stable these posh chariots. Where other manufacturers have felt the need to create spin-offs like Lincoln, Buick, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, and Audi, Korean automakers have opted to keep their more prestigious offerings singular in nature, while unashamedly harboring the same base-born nameplate on the rear of the car. Which is a very Korean thing to do, since the risk involved with launching a single luxury model is far less than that of an entire line-up. By keeping a recognizable badge on the back of their cars, these automakers are able to stop onlookers dead in their tracks, so that they may murmur to themselves, “Man, that Kia looks absolutely fantastic!”

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