Kia KCD-II Mesa SUV Concept Vehicle Unveiled

Kia Motors America unveiled the KCD-II Mesa, the second Kia concept vehicle developed by the Kia California Design Center in Irvine, Calif. The Kia Mesa represents Kia's vision of a new SUV designed with the North American market in mind. The KCD-II is a modern, rugged body-on-frame SUV that features three rows of seats, dual full-length sunroofs and an expansive 116" wheel base. Tom Kearns, chief designer stated "The Mesa's highly usable interior design leans toward minimalism, while the exterior portrays the unique go-anywhere, do-anything attitude that Kia buyers have come to expect from the brand."

The Kia Mesa exterior styling is rugged, yet functional with the practical utility offered in a large SUV. Designers pushed the imposing, custom-built 22" alloy wheels to the corners of the vehicle in an effort to maximize interior space while simultaneously creating stable, responsive handling characteristics. Peter M. Butterfield, Kia president and CEO, stated "Designed to be rugged enough for play on the weekends yet sophisticated enough to take to the theater at night and the office on weekdays, the Mesa really brings everything you could ever want in a truck to the table. Whether you work hard or play hard, the Kia Mesa concept SUV can provide the best of both worlds."

The Mesa's balanced stance is a result of its stretched wheelbase and extra-wide track. The location of the wheels also provides dynamic stability on or offroad. The vehicle's appearance is further enhanced by sheet metal sculpted to appear lean and taut between muscular fenders, which, stretched over the wheels, offer added rugged protection. Mr. Kearns added "Like Hummer and Jeep, Kia has a history of building military vehicles, and we drew on that legacy to bring utility to life in the Mesa."

The wrap-around windshield shows off a passenger compartment that offers maximum visibility from inside the cabin. The Mesa's high beltline also offers a sense of security and protection. Thick rear pillars add to the vehicle's robust appearance, and outwardly they appear to support the entire roof structure. In fact, the A and B pillars help distribute support, providing a solid structure. The Mesa's functional exterior features center-pivoting Kia roof rack clamps capable of adjusting to hold objects up to 2" thick, such as skis, snowboards, surfboards, ladders, lumber and other construction materials. The adjustable clamps also provide a flush appearance when not in use.

2006 Kia Sedona Minivan Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show

KIA MOTORS AMERICA PRESS RELEASE
Kia Motors America unveiled the the 2006 Kia Sedona minivan at the Chicago Auto Show. Already a popular choice for buyers looking for value, quality and safety, the completely redesigned minivan will offer more horsepower than its predecessor and will be substantially larger in all key dimensions, providing more passenger room and versatility.

New features found on the 2006 Kia Sedona will include a standard fold-flat-into-the-floor third-row seat and available power-sliding doors and liftgate. The 2006 Sedona is expected to go on sale in late 2005. Utilizing an all-new platform, the new Sedona’s longer wheelbase and increased length and width contribute to the minivan’s nearly 15-percent improvement in passenger room over the 2005 Kia Sedona. Fresh styling cues and additional standard and available equipment were designed to bolster Sedona’s established position as a safety and value leader in the highly competitive minivan market.

Peter Butterfield, president of Kia Motors America, Inc., stated “the 2005 Sedona was Kia’s best-selling vehicle and historically speaking it is an incredibly important vehicle for the company, so we paid careful attention to every detail during its redesign to make sure this new minivan lived up to the tradition of its nameplate. The all-new Sedona offers considerable upgrades, not just in styling and appearance, but in practical applications such as horsepower, safety equipment and standard and available features that will make it fully competitive in the segment with such minivans as the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey.”

The original 2001 Kia Sedona went on-sale that summer and quickly gained recognition for its tremendous value and generous list of standard comfort, convenience and safety features. In addition to earning the Federal government’s highest safety ratings of five stars for the driver and front and rear seat passengers in both frontal and side impact crash tests, the Sedona has earned the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award – 2002, Sport Truck Connection Television’s “Best Van” – 2002, 2003 Winner, Strategic Vision Total Value Index – 2002, 2004. The next-generation Sedona will continue Kia’s commitment to offering high levels of standard safety equipment.

With increased horsepower and torque, the all-new Sedona offers competitive power and performance in the minivan segment. Sedona’s new 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine is expected to generate more than 240-horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. This new aluminum block engine is mated to a five-speed Sportmatic™ transmission. Despite its increase in size, the new Sedona is expected to be significantly lighter than the previous model when compared on an equally equipped basis. With more power, less weight and a new chassis with 4-wheel independent suspension, the next-generation Sedona is designed to be more rewarding to drive than its predecessor and its competitors.

The 2006 seven-passenger Sedona is designed with generous dimensions and unibody construction to boost both passenger and luggage space, and greatly improved ride and handling. Adding to the Sedona’s space and versatility, flip and fold second row seats provide easy access to third row seating and a new, simple-to-operate 60/40 split-folding -into-the floor third row seat is standard on all models to create a larger flat cargo area when the seat is folded, and providing a large rear cargo box when the seat is deployed.

Available in two trim levels -LX and EX - the all-new Sedona maintains Kia’s tradition of high-value by offering a generous list standard features and amenities. Besides ABS, six airbags and a five-speed Sportmatic™ transmission, the Sedona LX also comes with tri-zone air conditioning, sliding door power windows, cruise control, AM/FM/CD player, captain’s chairs for the second row and keyless entry with an alarm system.The Sedona EX adds a chrome grille, fog lights, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar, heated power mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette/MP3/CD stereo system, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power rear quarter glass, compass, Kia Sedona roof rack and wood trim. Upgradeable options include leather seats with front seat heaters, seat and outside mirror memory settings for driver, backup warning system, power sliding doors, power liftgate, power adjustable pedals, power sunroof and a premium entertainment system featuring a DVD player and 11 speakers.

The 2006 Kia Sedona minivan will be covered by Kia’s comprehensive 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and five years of roadside assistance.

2004 Infiniti QX56 Based on Nissan Pathfinder Armada

Auto industry insiders report the 2004 Infiniti QX56 is based on the Nissan Pathfinder Armada. The Infiniti QX56 includes the same Nissan Armada 5.6-liter DOHC V-8 engine with a 5 speed automatic transmission. However, engine compression is bumped from 9.8:1 to 10.0:1, boosting power output to 315 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The QX56 is also available in 2WD and 4WD versions.

The Infinity QX56 retains a good portion of the Nissan Armada bodywork, except for the wheel-arch moldings and the area from the A-pillar forward. The simple waterfall grille, large Xenon headlamps, and bulbous fascia help refine the design. Another singular characteristic is a split roof rack, rated to carry 200 pounds.

2005 Lexus GX 470 Receives Interior and Exterior Modifications

Lexus Motors recently reported the 2005 Lexus GX470 has been released with a more powerful V8 and a new sport package including an updated SUV styling. Design enhancements include front and rear light bezels, a dark graphite finish on 17inch alloy wheels and a factory Lexus roof rack on the exterior and dark graphite trim on the center console and instrument panel complementing the black bird's-eye maple wood accents on the interior. The Lexus GX 470 is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine that rates from 235 hp to 270 hp. Company spokesmen explained the power gain is generated from variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) system and an electronic throttle control system.

2005 Saab 9-2X Linear & Aero Based on Subaru Impreza Design

Saab has released the compact, five-passenger, 2005 Saab 9-2X hatchback currently selling as the lowest priced Saab with a base price of $23,685. It is the first Saab with all-wheel drive, requiring no input from the driver and works all the time, not just on slippery surfaces. It's also the lowest-priced Saab. Company spokesmen stated that the 9-2X is a "premium compact" and has the rounded front styling of a Saab as well as updated suspension, tires and steering.

With ownership stakes in both Saab and Subaru, General Motors Corp. coordinated the development of the 9-2X, which uses the two Impreza four-cylinder engines and Subaru's all-wheel-drive system and is built at a Subaru factory in Japan. According to Saab, the company hopes to appeal to younger consumers who are younger than Saab's average 41-year-olds and who also prefer a European brand that remains unique.

The 9-2X is available in two levels. The base model is called Linear and includes cruise control, power windows, door locks and outside mirrors, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, keyless remote entry and manual climate control with air conditioning. The Saab Linear is powered by the 165-horsepower, 2.5-liter, horizontally opposed, single-overhead-cam, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that is also found in the Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS wagon. The power plant generates up to 166 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Saab Aero is powered by a 227-horsepower, 2-liter, horizontally opposed, turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder engine, just like the one found in the Subaru Impreza WRX. The Saab Aero also includes more features such as automatic climate control, premium audio system with six speakers and fog lamps.

The interior of the 9-2X has streamlined styling and the exterior continues the streamlined theme with no Saab 9-2X roof rack included, unlike the Subaru Impreza & WRX models. All five seats in the 9-2X have head restraints and three-point seat belts. Rear-seat legroom is 33.7 inches, which is the same as the Subaru Impreza and compares with 29.2 inches in the back of the Acura RSX coupe. With rear seats folded there is 61.6 cubic feet of cargo box storage space.