2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2011 Kia Sorento Recalled for Defective Brakes

The Hyundai Group has issued a separate recall for each of the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2011 Kia Sorento over the same issue concerning the rear brake calipers that may not have been properly machined.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the defective calipers could lead to brake fluid leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel. If the problem is not taken care of, it will lead to reduced braking power.

The recall affects some 7,697 Kia Sorentos manufactured from September 14, 2010, through October 4, 2010, and 1,783 Hyundai Santa crossovers Fe built from September 28, 2010, through November 25, 2010.

Naturally, dealers from both automakers inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The two companies have not yet provided an owner notification schedule.

2010 Kia Sorento SUV Officially Revealed in Korea - First Photos

These are the first official pictures of the second-generation Kia Sorento SUV that was revealed today in Korea ahead of its public debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12. While Kia has yet to disclose information on the European or North American-spec model, the company did release initial details on the Korean-market Sorento that will be initially offered with Hyundai's new 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine that produces 200HP and returns 39.8mpg US (7.1 lt/100km) on the combined cycle (automatic transmission).

Depending on the market, the new Sorento will also be available with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline unit, a 2.7-liter LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine as well as a V6 gasoline unit.

The 2010 Sorento is longer than its predecessor measuring at 4,685mm (+95mm) but has retained the same width at 1,885mm while the SUV's height has been reduced by 15mm to 1,710mm. In its official Korean market press release, Kia did reveal whether or not the new Sorento will be offered with the option of 7-seats.

2010 Kia Sorento Crossover Teaser Photo

This is the first official teaser picture of Kia's second generation Sorento crossover that's set to go on sale by the end of the year in some markets and early 2010 in others. The 'smoked' photo outlines the new Sorento's boxy looks which are partially inspired from the KND-4 concept that was penned under the guidance of Kia´s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

The 2010 Sorento will most likely offer buyers the option of adding a third row of seats, increasing passenger capacity to seven.

Depending on the market, the Korean crossover will be available with three gasoline engines - a 2.4-liter four-pot, a 3.0-liter V6 with 240HP and a larger 3.8-liter V6 delivering 260HP.

In Europe and other selected international markets, the Sorento will also be offered with Hyundai's newly developed 2.0 and 2.2-liter turbo diesel engines with outputs of 184HP / 392Nm and 200HP respectively and a new 3.0-litre V6 CRDi turbo diesel producing 240HP.

It has yet to be confirmed if the 2010 Sorento will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show or if Kia will prefer to take the covers off the crossover at the Seoul Auto Show in April.

China-Made Kia Forte Debuts at Shanghai Show

Korea's Kia Motors is extending its Chinese portfolio with the introduction of the locally-built Forte sedan (known in many markets as the new Cerato) as well as the Korea-produced new Sorento Crossover that made its world premiere earlier this month at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. The vital for Kia's future success in China, Forte sedan, will be produced at its joint venture Donfeng Yueda Kia (DYK) plant in the Jiangsu province and it will be sold alongside the current generation model, called the Cerato.

The Korean automaker said that it also plans to introduce to the market the Forte Koup, which was unveiled last week at the New York Motor Show and is scheduled to go on sale globally in late 2009.

For the Chinese market, the four-door Forte sedan will be offered with a choice of a 2.0-litre gasoline and a locally produced 1.6-litre gasoline engine, with manual or automatic transmissions, in a selection of 10 exterior and two interior colors.

As for the new Sorento SUV / Crossover, Chinese buyers will be able to choose from two engines, a Theta II 2.4-liter gasoline with 4WD and 6-speed automatic transmission and a R 2.2-liter diesel also with 4WD and 6-speed automatic transmission.

Even though it is expected that the new Chinese car market will slow down to single digits in 2009, Kia said that its sale target for the year is over 195,000 units, or 30 percent more than 2008 when it achieved sales of 151,000 vehicles.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

2010 Kia Sorento SUV: Official Sketches, Debut set for April

In addition to the teaser photo released earlier in February, Kia has issued two new renderings along with initial details of its forthcoming 2010 Sorento SUV. The Korean automaker said that the second-generation Sorento, codenamed XM, is set for launch in April, meaning that it will most likely make its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show. The teaser sketches reveal that the new model will follow the 2007 Kue concept car's edgy and chiseled lines while it will also feature Kia's new corporate grille.

Kia Motors Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer said, "The dynamic design of XM adopts simple linear lines to lend a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, XM represents a new breed of SUV."

The 2010 Sorento will most likely offer buyers the option of adding a third row of seats, increasing passenger capacity to seven.

The new Sorento will become the first Hyundai-Kia vehicle to come equipped with the firm's all-new environmentally-friendly passenger diesel R-engine. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder unit produces an output of 200-horsepower. According to Kia, when hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Sorento 2.2R will have a combined fuel consumption of 7.1lt / 100km or 33.2mpg US.

Kia also plans to satisfy diverse consumer tastes by offering the model with a 2.4 gasoline and a 2.7 LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine. The Korean carmaker claims that this makes Kia XM the first vehicle in the world to run on all three fuel types.

Sales of the new Sorento are expected to commence in Korea this spring, with the rest of the world following in late 2009 and early 2010.

Source: Kia , Via: Kia-World

New Photos of 2010 Kia Sorento SUV

In a few weeks time, Kia will officially perform the world premiere of its second-generation Sorento SUV at the Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12. In addition to the official pictures released by Kia, the folks over at Kia-World have got their hands on a new set of images that were allegedly taken during a photo-shoot in Korea.

Rumored to make its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in April, the new Sorento is longer than its predecessor measuring in at 4,685mm (+95mm). However, we're still not aware if it will be available with the option of seven-seats.

The 2010 Sorento's engine line-up is said to include 4-cylinder and V6 gasoline units, a 200HP 2.2-liter diesel and a 2.7-liter unit that can run on LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas).

Via: Kia-Forums

Kia: Live Photos of KND-5, Sorento and Forte Hybrid from Seoul Show

Boasting an impressive lineup for the magnitude of the Seoul Motor Show, Kia performed the world debut of three new vehicles at the South Korean capital including the firm's first ever hybrid model, the Forte LPI Hybrid that will go on sale in Korea this August. Also on stand were the second generation Sorento that will make its European premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this fall and the KND-5 concept sedan that has gathered a lot of positive reviews for its tasteful exterior design.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

2010 Kia Sorento: High-Res Gallery and Details on New 7-Seater CUV

Kia took the wraps off its second generation Sorento today at the opening of the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in Korea (April 3 - 12). Partially inspired from the KND-4 concept, the new Sorento is bigger than the model it replaces with seating for up to seven occupants but also less capable off road as the Korean automaker ditched the body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell - hence the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) moniker.

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

Longer and lower, the new Sorento measures 4.7 meters or 185-in. in length and can accommodate seven passengers in three rows of seats. Kia claims that interior headroom is increased by 64 mm (to 906 mm) and legroom by 102 mm (to 795 mm) while luggage space has been increased by 15 percent (258lt behind the 3rd row and 1,047 behind the 2nd row), thanks to moving the tailgate back by almost 70 mm.

Depending on the model and the market, the new Sorento will be equipped with keyless entry, engine start button, reversing safety camera, built-in sat-nav and panoramic glass sunroof and a six, eight or 10-speaker audio system, with MP3 and iPod connectivity.

Kia's all-new Sorento will be offered with up to four different engines. In Korea, buyers will able to choose between three engines, including a 2.7-litre V6 unit running on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) that delivers 165HP and 244 Nm of torque, a four-cylinder 2.4-litre Theta II petrol engine with 175HP and 225 Nm, as well as a new four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel producing 197HP and 435 Nm.

Aside from the 2.4-liter petrol unit, in North America, the new Sorento will also be offered with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 277HP and 335 Nm. Depending on the engine, the Sorento can be equipped with five-speed and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Sorento buyers will be able to select between two-wheel and four-wheel drive layouts. The 4WD versions can tow trailers weighing up to 2,500 kg or 5,511 lbs.

"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 Sorento will significantly increase Kia's share of the CUV market, achieving annual global sales of 140,000 units from 2010," he added.

Worldwide sales of the new Sorento are expected to begin towards the end of the year.