Kia SUV 2010

Longer and lower, the new Kia Sorento brings sleek styling and a futuristic touch to the world of the urban CUV. With its longer front overhang, wedge profile, crisply defined greenhouse and accentuated wheelarch volumes, Kia's new CUV looks thoroughly modern and sporty.

The 4.7-metre long new Kia Sorento moves vehicle design in this segment up to a new level of sophistication.

As part of Kia's drive to expand market coverage with its latest CUV, the new Kia Sorento will be manufactured with a total of four engines - with different engines being available in various regions around the world in order to best suit local requirements and with CO2 emissions from just 173 g/km.

The original Kia Sorento was a 'landmark' vehicle which took the Korean brand into a whole new section of the automotive market all around the world. Introduced in 2002, it marked a huge step for Kia, challenging many established 4x4 and SUV brands and starting the process of changing public perception of Kia as a 'maker of small cars.'

Now, under the direction of Kia's Chief Design Officer (CDO), Peter Schreyer, the Kia design team aimed to deliver futuristic styling with a bold sense of power and dynamism, to once again differentiate Kia's larger CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) from potential rivals by incorporating Kia's new design DNA.

"The dynamic design of new Kia Sorento adopts simple, linear lines to create a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, the new Kia Sorento represents a new breed of vehicle," commented Peter Schreyer, CDO of Kia Motors Corporation.

Bold frontal styling incorporates Kia's new 'signature grille' that blends seamlessly into the new Kia Sorento's four-light, black bezel wrap-around headlamps. The profile's rising upper belt-line and the dynamic bevel treatment beneath the greenhouse plus the unique trapezoid C-Pillar adds tension and endows new Sorento with a unique appearance. Extending the rear window to the outer edges of the simply styled tailgate hints at the spacious cabin and the large tail lamps enhance the sporty appearance.

During the development of the new Sorento, Kia engineers ditched the body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell with room for up to seven occupants. Building on those new foundations, they concentrated on eight key areas - class-leading performance, increased fuel economy, reduced emissions, improved on-road handling, more fun-to-drive responsiveness, greater cabin space and comfort, enhanced overall safety and the introduction of new technologies.

The original Kia Sorento earned widespread media and public acclaim for its innovative styling, durability, off-road abilities and value-for-money. Since 2002 it has attracted thousands of customers who had not previously considered buying a Kia and achieved global sales of almost 900,000 units.

"With the new Sorento, we have created an all-new, seven-seater CUV that will soon be recognized as an 'exciting all-rounder' with a much broader customer appeal," commented Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO of the International Business Division. "Despite the current economic uncertainties, we are confident that the new Kia Sorento will significantly increase Kia's share of the CUV market, achieving annual global sales of 140,000 units from 2010."

The new, longer bodyshell created for the new Kia Sorento, with its repositioned A-pillars and dashboard (moved forwards) and extended tailgate (moved rearwards), ensures that the cabin is much more spacious than the current model. The real and perceived quality of the cabin is greatly enhanced and available high-tech features will include: keyless entry, engine start button, reversing safety camera, built-in sat-nav and panoramic glass sunroof.

The new Kia Sorento's interior styling echoes the sense of power and dynamism created by the exterior appearance. Kia is confident that existing Sorento owners and new customers will be equally impressed by the cabin's generous proportions, sweeping dashboard design, high-quality fit, discreet trim accents and the availability of numerous high-tech features.

The thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel is becoming a Kia trademark feature and through it the driver can view another element of Kia's developing design DNA - the 'three-cylinder' instrument cluster. Similar to the cluster fitted to the latest version of Magentis and the recently-launched Kia Soul, the new Kia Sorento's cluster has clear and precise graphics.

Depending on the model, new Kia Sorento will be equipped with a six, eight or 10-speaker audio system, with MP3 and iPod connectivity, plus built-in or external amplifier and a new sat-nav system with a 6.5-inch screen. Remote controls for the audio system are mounted on the steering wheel.

The longer bodyshell created for new Kia Sorento ensures that the stretched cabin is much more spacious than the current model, with seating for up to seven people. Interior headroom is increased by 64 mm (to 906 mm) and legroom by 102 mm (to 795 mm). Luggage space in the new Sorento is amongst the best-in-class as cargo capacity is increased by 15per cent, thanks to moving the tailgate back by almost 70 mm.

During the design and engineering process to create the new Sorento, Kia's research and development team prioritized achieving a major improvement in the vehicle's refinement and minimizing its noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). An excellent foundation for creating a vehicle with good NVH qualities is a stiff bodyshell structure and the new Kia Sorento features a much higher percentage (70.4per cent) of high-tensile strength steel compared to the previous model (40.0per cent).

Kia's all-new Sorento will be manufactured with up to four different engines to meet the needs of motorists in every region of the globe.

For the Korean market, Kia is offering the new Kia Sorento with three engines, including a version of its 2.7-litre V6 engine running on low-cost LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) called the 'Mu LPI'. This unit delivers 165 ps and 244 Nm - the reduced outputs are a consequence of using LPG which contains 25% less 'stored energy'. New Kia Sorento will also be available in the Korean market with the four-cylinder 2.4-litre Theta II petrol engine that delivers 175 ps and 225 Nm, as well as the new four-cylinder R2.2 diesel engine.

The all-new 'R' family of turbo-diesel engines proves that Kia's engineering capabilities are indeed world-class. The 2.2-litre engine comfortably out-performs most four-cylinder and many V6 units from rival brands, while complying with Euro 5 emissions standards thanks to their third-generation common-rail fuel system. The R2.2 generates a maximum of 197 ps and 435 Nm.

New Kia Sorento buyers will be offered a wide choice of transmissions and drivetrains - depending on model. Five-speed and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be offered. Both six-speed transmissions are new or upgraded.

Kia's all-new six-speed automatic transmission is a regular 'torque converter' automatic, but it incorporates a unique 'flat' torque converter, which allows the unit to be 54 mm shorter, has 62 fewer parts (than a five-speed unit), weighs 12 kgs less and boosts fuel economy by up to 12per cent over a traditional automatic transmission.

New Kia Sorento buyers can select from two advanced drivetrains to 'best-match' the on-road and off-road abilities of their new Kia vehicle to their lifestyle. The 2WD drivetrain offers lower weight and enhanced fuel economy, while the 4WD drivetrain will be ideal for buyers who regularly face difficult driving conditions, tow trailers (weighing up to 2,500 kilos, depending on model) or go off-road.

Traction is also boosted by the available HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) which prevents the vehicle slipping backwards, and DBC (Down-hill Brake Control) that limits vehicle speed to just 5 mph on steep declines.

For the new Kia Sorento, the suspension engineers' brief was to shift the handling bias a little to improve the on-road driving experience, in terms of ride quality and steering 'feel' - whilst retaining the vast majority of the previous model's off-road abilities. The suspension has been lowered by 10 mm and thanks to the new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell construction the centre of gravity has been lowered by 54 mm.

The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension is 'carried over' from the previous model, but with significant improvements. The steering is now more direct, requiring fewer turns of the wheel lock-to-lock.

For maximum stopping power, all new Kia Sorento models are equipped with an all-disc braking system. Either as standard or an option, ABS anti-lock and EBD brake force distribution systems are available.

New Kia Sorento presents buyers with a range of state-of-the-art safety systems and equipment as standard or as options - depending on market. Active safety technologies that buyers can specify include ESC, HAC, DBC, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and RPAS (Rear Parking Assist System), plus several systems to boost braking performance during extreme conditions.

Reversing is made even safer by a new Kia Reversing Safety Camera mounted on the tailgate. This camera is fitted with a 130 degree wide-angle lens and transmits images to a 3.5-inch LCD display panel set within the cabin's rear view mirror whenever reverse gear is selected.

New Kia Sorento's robust all-new bodyshell structure delivers increased impact resistance. Using a much higher percentage (70.4per cent) of high-tensile strength steel the new vehicle achieves excellent rigidity and strength. Particular attention was paid to the B-pillar areas, with a roll-over hoop incorporated into the B-pillars and much stronger (60 kg grade) steel is used in the side sills.

The new Kia Sorento bodyshell is designed to achieve the top-score 5-Star rating in Europe's EuroNCAP and the USA's current official NHTSA crash tests, plus a 'Good' rating (again the top-score) in IIHS tests for both frontal and side impacts.

Source:Netcarshow

New Subaru Outback 2010

For fifteen years, the Outback as all but defined Subaru in the United States. The high-riding wagons have been the perfect vessels for the brand's signature all-wheel-drive system. Through three generations, the Outback formula has effectively remained the same. For the fourth-generation 2010 Outback, Subaru has made the most significant changes so far to its best-known model.

The Sport-Utility Wagon: More of the former, less of the latter.

Subaru had been offering four-wheel-drive station wagons here since the mid 1970s, but it wasn't until 1995 that the company created the Outback as a special model. Essentially an all-wheel-drive Legacy station wagon with extra ground clearance and a rugged, outdoorsy image, the Outback has hewn to the same formula through two successive redesigns, even as it has added more engine options (including a turbocharged four and a six-cylinder) and more luxury features.

For 2010, however, the Outback branches out, using a unique bodyshell instead of borrowing one from the Legacy wagon (which is no longer sold in North America, but is still offered in Subaru's home market). Given free reign to craft an Outback-specific body, Subaru designers evolved the shape away from a pure station wagon and more towards a crossover/SUV--much as they did with the new Forester last year.

As a result, the car is fractionally shorter in length (by 0.8 inch) but substantially taller in height (growing 2.0 inches) and wider (2.3 inches). The larger body provides more passenger room and cargo space. Most significant is the increase in rear-seat legroom, which has been expanded by nearly 4 inches, and is now truly generous even for passengers over six-feet tall. The higher roofline provides lots of headroom as well, and seat comfort--formerly a sore point--has improved. In the cargo hold, a repackaged rear suspension is less intrusive, and maximum volume is up by nearly 6 cubic feet while the height of the load floor remains low.

Still a kin to the Legacy, at least under the skin

Although it no longer uses a Legacy wagon's body, the Outback is still mechanically related to the Legacy sedan, which is also new for 2010. Both cars share four- and six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engines, along with a range of available manual and automatic transmissions.

This new Outback, however, loses one of its previous three engine choices. The base 2.5-liter four remains, as does the--now larger--six-cylinder, but the turbocharged four has been dropped (although Subaru still offers it in the Legacy GT). Subaru product planners point to poor sales of the turbo in the outgoing model, although a turbocharged engine's inherent advantage at high elevations would seem to make it a good choice for in mountainous areas where the Outback is so popular.

Two boxers left standing

Like all Subaru engines, the two remaining offerings are horizontally opposed, or boxer, engines. The four-cylinder is essentially the same unit that as before. For 2010, however, its two available transmission choices are new. Where the Outback previously did not offer a manual transmission, it now has a six-speed stick shift as standard on the base and mid-level ("Premium") trim levels. Choosing it saves $1000 over the available automatic, but you give some of that back at the gas pump, as the manual's gas mileage, 19/27 mpg (city/highway), falls short of the automatic's 22/29 mpg.

The reason for the automatic's efficiency is that it's a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is great for fuel economy but is a little strange when accelerating as it can hold the engine at the optimal rpm rather than allowing revs to rise with the car's speed. There are also shift paddles that allow the driver to effect manual up- and downshifts through six preset ratios. Overall, the 170-hp four is up to the task of moving the relatively lightweight Outback--which is commendably svelte compared to the typically porky crossover--but one occasionally wishes for more grunt during two-lane passes or when climbing the steepest hills.

The Outback's optional six-cylinder engine is larger than before--3.6 liters, up from 3.0. Its 256 hp is a modest increase over the smaller six's 245 hp, but its 247 lb-ft of torque a represents a more substantial jump over the previous 215 lb-ft. Despite the increased displacement, the six--which is paired exclusively with a five-speed automatic--manages to increase both city and highway fuel economy by 1 mpg, to 18 city/25 highway. And unlike its predecessor, it runs on regular fuel. This engine makes easy work of propelling the Outback. Less expensive to run than the old six, and less expensive to buy (the extra cost is slightly lower than before), the six-cylinder could see a greater take rate than its recent average of 10 percent or so.

On (and off) the road

Both engines are surprisingly quiet--the burbling, boxer-engine patter that has long characterized Subaru four-cylinder engines is suppressed. The Outback is a quiet cruiser overall; Subaru has finally ended its fixation with frameless door glass, and wind noise is notably absent. The front suspension is essentially the same as before with damper struts, but the rear switches from a multi-link setup to A-arms. The ride on the highway is plush, if a bit floaty, with suspension tuning identical for both engines. The steering is slightly quicker in the new car but it's not very linear, with a bit too much gain as one moves off center, resulting in the need for small steering corrections.

Of course, a major component of the Outback image is its ability to venture off-pavement, and that capability is slightly enhanced, as all Outbacks now have 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the front and rear overhangs have been trimmed. For most Outback buyers, "off-road" likely translates to "dirt roads". We bombed down plenty of dirt two-tracks in the mountains of Montana, and the Outback never put a tire wrong. More impressive was the car's body structure, which proved tight and rattle-free despite the pounding.

Other items and innovations

In keeping with its outdoorsy image, the Outback is often shown with bikes, skis, or kayaks on its roof, so it's fitting that a roof rack is standard. An interesting new twist, however, is that the rack's crossbars--which often are sold as an extra-cost accessory or, if they're standard, can't be removed and therefore contribute to wind noise--pivot out from the side rails, where they're stored when not in use. A new Harman/Kardon sound system is available, with a USB port and an iPod input (for those who don't upgrade to the H/K system, and iPod input is available as a dealer accessory). Other new options include navigation, a rear-view camera, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The parking brake is now electronically activated by a button on the dash, and includes a useful hill-holder feature.

Powertrain

Engine: 2.5-liter SOHC H-4Horsepower: 170 hp @ 5600 rpmTorque: 170 lb-ft @ 4000 rpmPowertrain: 3.6-liter DOHC H-6Horsepower: 256 hp @ 6000 rpmTorque: 247 lb-ft @ 4400 rpmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, continuously variable automatic, 5-speed automaticDrive: 4-wheel

MeasurementsL x W x H: 188.2 x 71.7 x 65.7 inLegroom: 43.0/37.8 inHeadroom: 40.8/39.3 inCargo capacity: 34.3/71.3 cu ft (seats up/down)Curb weight: 3386-3658 lbsEPA rating (city/highway): 19/27 mpg (2.5L, 6-speed), 22/29 mpg (2.5L, CVT), 18/25 mpg (3.6L)

source:automobilemag

Aprilia New Reveal

It really doesn't trouble the RSV4R, though. The little Aprilia carves into the first left-hander, then flicks right as I wind back the throttle and send the bike accelerating off the second apex with a deep V4 growl. The bike is so stable and sharp that it feels like it could steer itself, and that's despite the fact that this is the cheaper, less extravagantly-fettered version of Aprilia's new superbike.

But it's no surprise that the R-model is this good, considering how much it has in common with the exotic RSV4 Factory with which Aprilia's V4 adventure began less than a year ago. The vital stuff is retained, notably the gorgeous bodywork and the 999cc, 16-valve V4 motor. The only engine-related differences are aluminium cases (instead of magnesium) and the lack of variable-length intake tracts that help prolong the Factory's peak power.

This bike also has conventional plastic bodywork instead of carbon-fiber and the frame isn't adjustable at the steering head, engine mounts and swingarm pivot. Instead of Öhlins components the R uses a Showa fork and Sachs shock, and the wheels are cast rather than forged. In total the R is 11 pounds heavier, at a claimed 407 lbs. dry.

This Portuguese launch wasn't actually the R-model's debut. The event was originally scheduled for Mugello, Italy, six weeks earlier, but was cancelled halfway through the first day after five bikes blew up due to a batch of faulty connecting rods. Aprilia was severely embarrassed, but thankfully the problem happened after six months of trouble-free production that had proved the V4's basic reliability.

Estoril was booked for the relaunch, and the Lisbon area's fickle weather just about obliged. The RSV4R felt wonderfully light and responsive as I headed out onto the track for the first session. Its steering precision and neutral feel made it wonderfully confidence-inspiring through the decreasing-radius first bend, and I was thankful for the steering damper every time the bike wheelied as I swung left and accelerated down the following hill. Much work went into fine-tuning the notably compact and well-balanced chassis, and it's quite evident when riding it. The 1000 handles like a trimmed-down 600, a benefit of careful chassis design which includes extending the fuel tank under the seat for improved weight distribution.

Perhaps the R's stationary intake trumpets meant I was shifting earlier, but if the R-bike was any slower than its Factory sibling, the difference was unnoticeable. It still charged toward its 14,000-rpm limit with haste, and repeatedly put 165 mph on the digital dash. And there's certainly no difference in braking abilities, since the R retains the Factory's Brembo Monobloc calipers and 320mm rotors.

Suspension action was sublime, too, even if the R's fork and shock aren't as refined as the Factory's. Spring rates are unchanged and both ends are fully adjustable, although the range is slightly narrower. Even when the track dried after lunch, the Aprilia handled superbly on showroom settings, and better still after I'd firmed it up with a little extra damping front and rear.

It's certainly an addictively fast and sweet-handling machine, with the same sleek looks, compact size, pure speed and razor-sharp handling that have made the Factory so popular with everyone who has ridden it. My only quibble is that Aprilia hasn't followed Ducati and BMW's lead in offering traction control, which would have been reassuring on the damp surface. But this is the base model, after all.

Aprilia's publicity materials claim the R's personality is significantly different, but I disagree. It handles so well and is so blisteringly fast that the performance on road or racetrack would be almost identical for all but the very fastest riders. The Factory's upgraded components are nice, but with a price $5000 less, I'd pick the base model every time.

Inevitably the R's aggressive character and compact size mean it won't be the most practical or versatile sportbike, any more than the Factory is. Some people have suggested that Aprilia should have attempted to broaden its appeal by softening its power delivery or attempting to make it a bit more comfortable. Thank goodness they resisted any temptation to do that. The Factory is a stunning race-replica that fully justifies its high price; and the RSV4R is a majestic mass-produced superbike that provides similar style, performance and thrills for a lot less money. You really can't go wrong with that.

source:motorcyclistonline

Malaysia New In Market-Freed

Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd is set to introduce a new addition to an already impressive local vehicle line-up. Set to make an appearance early in the second quarter of the year, the Honda Freed – a premium compact multipurpose vehicle, – will, according to Honda Malaysia, make it’s debut into an unrivalled market segment, initiated by Honda Malaysia to fulfill the market’s demand for more refined and urban compact MPVs.

The Freed will be imported from Indonesia and Honda highlights that the Freed will be made distinguishable from other local MPV’s by its unparalleled features that include an automatic sliding door and a flat-floor walk-through cabin among others.

“Since its official launch in Japan in 2008, the Freed has been well received in the Asia region including Indonesia and Thailand. It later garnered great anticipation in Malaysia in 2009. Therefore, we are excited to inform all that Honda Malaysia will be bringing in the Freed onto Malaysian shores in the second quarter of this year,” said Mr. Toru Takahashi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

The Freed was designed to meet both the functional and aesthetic requirements of a modern urban MPV. Categorised as a premium selection vehicle, the Freed is targeted at young urban families. It has been well received among families in Japan, hitting the No.1 spot in minivan sales after just six months of introduction into the Japanese market. After hitting 130,000 units sold in Japan (as of December 09), the Freed was awarded Japan Car of the Year 2008/2009 in the Best Value segment.

The Freed has also been well received in Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, and arrives on Malaysian shores in early Q2, seeking to add greater value to the market with its unparalleled specifications.

Source:Zerotohundred