AUGUST 20, 2018 21 future product pipeline Big crossover, green cars on Kia’s horizon Vince Bond Jr. Updated Forte and Optima take design cues from Stinger vbond@crain.com K ia’s designers and engineers had a chance to let their creative and per- formance juices fl ow with the vi- and a lower valance. It’s expected in dealer- ships this fall. brant 2018 Stinger sedan that was devised in Frankfurt and honed on the leg- endary Nurburgring track. Its infl uence is spreading across Kia’s car lineup as the brand cultivates a more youthful image. Optima: T e freshened 2019 Optima midsize sedan came with new design cues and technology, including Stinger-inspired LED day- time running lights.
T e tech improvements also off er expanded ad- vanced driver- assis- tance systems. It would be due for a redesign in 2020 for the 2021 mod- el year. T e brand’s crossovers, meanwhile, are outperforming their 2017 sales thus far on the strength of the freshened Sorento, the re- cently redesigned Sportage and the electri- fi ed Niro, which hit the market in 2017. Expect to see the Niro’s green lineup ex- panded with a fully electric edition soon, while Kia adds the Telluride to the lineup to further capitalize on the shift to crossovers. Cadenza: T e sec- ond generation of the full-size sedan hit stores two years ago.
A panoramic sunroof and inte- rior LED lighting are now standard on the V-6 luxury package. A freshening is expected in 2020. Rio: T e 2018 Rio sedan and fi ve-door hatchback were redesigned for the 2018 model year with a look that Kia calls “decid- edly European.” T e subcompact vehicles went on sale in the fourth quarter of 2017. Freshenings are expected for the 2021 model year. Kia reworked the fascias on the Sedona, above. The Niro EV concept, below, is closer to reality. The Forte, bottom, takes a fresh approach to the tiger-nose grille. Soul:
T e boxy car arrived for the 2019 model year with minor packaging enhance- ments, including a standard 5-inch touch screen, rear camera display and voice recog- nition on the base model. T e Soul EV, now in its fourth model year, comes with a more powerful battery that improves the car’s EPA-estimated range to 111 miles from 93 miles. A pending redesign, expected for the 2020 model year, could see a hybrid added to the lineup. Stinger: T e Stinger went on sale at the end of 2017. T e sporty sedan became the fi rst Kia vehicle to be named a fi nalist for the North American Car of the Year award, in 2018.
T e vehicle has been an infl uential halo that has inspired design elements in other vehicles, including the Forte and Optima. A freshening is possible for the 2021 model year. generates 365 hp. Sportage: T e Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year. T e next-generation compact crossover, due for the 2022 model year, could include a hybrid version. Sorento: T e freshened midsize crossover received new front and rear fascias for the 2019 model year. T e cabin was given an up- scale touch, and new technology was woven in, including available driver-attention warn- ing and lane-keep assist.
Kia now pairs its available 3.3-liter V-6 with a newly available eight-speed automatic transmission for a smoother driving experience. A diesel could arrive in 2019. A redesign could emerge for the 2021 model year, with possible hybrid and fuel cell variants coming later. K900: Kia’s second-generation K900 goes on sale in the U.S. in the fourth quarter as a 2019 model. T e redesigned fl agship is a little longer and wider than its predecessor and is powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6, the same one found in the Stinger. T e engine Forte:
Design cues from Kia’s Stinger sports sedan have made their way to the third-gener- ation Forte compact sedan, which received an engineering overhaul that improves fuel econ- omy and powertrain refi nement. T ere are new creases on the hood, a fresh approach to Kia’s sig- nature tiger-nose grille from for the 2018 model year. A full electric concept was introduced in January at the CES technology expo in Las Vegas. T e Niro EV, which Kia expects to be driven mainly on ur- ban and suburban roads, will come with sev- eral safety features to protect pedestrians. It’s expected to join the roster this year as a 2019 model.
T e hybrid would be due for a fresh- ening in 2020, ahead of a possible redesign in 2022. T e plug-in hybrid would be due for a freshening in 2020, and the EV in 2021 Telluride: T e Kia Telluride three-row crossover debuted as a well-received concept at the 2016 Detroit auto show. Production plans have been the sub- ject of speculation ever since. T e crossover has been spotted this year by spy photographers during road testing. A production version of the Telluride would be the largest SUV or crossover in the Kia lineup since the body-on-frame Borrego. It’s expected to join the pack for the 2020 model year. Sedona: T e freshened 2019 model made its debut at the New York auto show in March.
T e brand reworked the front and rear fas- cias, giving the minivan a similar design lan- guage to that used on some of the newer models in Kia’s lineup. It could arrive in stores before the end of the year. T e Sedona would be due for a redesign in 2021. a Niro: T e electrifi ed crossover has plug- in and traditional hybrid models to choose Genesis’ fi rst crossover still a year away Fill-out of lineup to coincide with new retail setup was freshened for the 2018 model year with additional safety features, along with a Sport model with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6. A rede- sign is possible in 2019. Sales are down 32 percent through Ju- ly, so it could use a spark. Vince Bond Jr.
cludes a 252-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine available for the eight- speed automatic and six-speed manual vari- ants. It also has a 365-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6. T e manual is off ered only on the 2.0-li- ter option. Genesis is counting on the G70 to expand its buyer base to younger consumers and women. G90: T e fl agship is up for a freshening in 2019. Sales of the giant sedan continue to slip in today’s crossover-driven market. vbond@crain.com I see GENESIS , n 2022, Genesis plans to have a stand- alone network of dealers and a suffi cient- ly diverse lineup of vehicles for them to sell as it seeks to take its place alongside the industry’s leading luxury marques.
Electric sedan: T e brand said last year that it planned Page 22 By then, the upscale challenger could have three crossovers to balance a product menu that has been carried by sedans that are high- ly rated but have struggled to build sales mo- mentum in a truck-dominated market. T e brand also is looking to extend a hand to the eco-conscious with electrifi ed off erings from two dedicated EV platforms. G80: T e G80 G70: T e sporty sedan — the fi rst Genesis nameplate that isn’t a carryover from the Hyundai brand — is expected to join the en- try-level luxury sedan segment by the end of summer, complete with a manual option for driving purists.
T e G70 powertrain menu in- The G70 is expected by the end of summer.