2020 Kia Seltos Featured in Cnet's “Roadshow” as Offering Style and Tech in Compact Package

Just as it is within the category of movie trailers and many avenues of the book industry, teasers and well-kept secrets tend to make customers like ours here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis very excited about releases in the near future. Hyundai has already debuted the Venue, which is their most compact crossover at the moment, and everyone here at Kia had long been awaiting the first full look at the upcoming Seltos. Last Thursday is when the 2020 Seltos was officially unveiled, and the staff at Cnet's Roadshow Blog claims that despite its smaller size and stance, it does not come up short in the least when it comes to style, tech offerings, or anything else! 

 

This new style was first previewed in concept form earlier this year, with characteristic LED headlights that have plenty of unique flair, and blend well with the signature “Tiger Nose” design on the grille. Three different engine choices will be offered up: the base-level 1.6 – liter turbocharged Inline 4 with 175 horsepower, a 2.0 – liter naturally aspirated Inline 4 with 150 horsepower, and a 1.6- Liter diesel Inline 4 with 134 horsepower. Depending on the engine variant, it comes paired to either a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, a six-speed automatic, or a CVT.

The Seltos will most likely come predominately with front-wheel drive, and an inkling chance of all-wheel drive that is not currently available on the Hyundai Venue. One element definitely worth getting excited about is the 10.25 – inch infotainment screen, which easily displays multiple features at once. The 8-speaker available Bose sound system, as well as ambient lighting, are a few good reasons why millennials will swoon over the very compact ride as the best place to “bring the party”! They are both great examples of the playful and fully-integrated vibe that every new Kia model is known for possessing.

 

This vehicle originally debuted at a special unveiling in Delhi, India and is slated to reach markets during the latter half of this year. You can check out a few sketches of the interior here, showing you the space you'll get familiar with over time as you begin to enjoy the vehicle's spunky character and Drive Mode Select system. You can quickly choose from Normal, Eco, and Sport modes, and explore each very distinct combination of the Seltos' resources to adapt to your current mode. When the days' trip is over, the UVO app allows users to remotely access information such as diagnostic data, and about the most recent trips taken. Celtos is the son of Hercules in Greek Mythology, with speed and sporty stature being two of the predominant traits that will be sure to have your peak satisfaction level in a car satisfied with this American release during drive after daily drive!

Autoblog.com Claims Kia Forte5 Hatchback Sedan May Be Headed Back for U.S. Market

As we look at the future of the Kia lineup, all of us on staff here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis realize how exciting it is to see visions materialize that were once just a faraway idea or blip on the radar. Last week the folks on stuff at Autoblog.com reported on some very juicy findings from Carbuzz: they had discovered an executive order submitted by Kia to the California Air Resources Board that appears to effectively leave a placeholder for a new Forte5.

The previous model was, in essence, the hatchback version of the Forte sedan and was sold in the U.S. until the end of last year. The version sporting the tailgate didn't make the jump to the new-generation Forte sedan that went on sale during the latter part of 2018. After seeing this in the “top secret” report, the question remains as to whether we can really expect a new Forte5 to come our way, or if Kia's U.S. Division is simply in preparation for its possible existence. The CARB filing actually does list four 2020 model-year trim levels: a Forte sedan minus smart cruise control that can be had with Kia's 7-speed dual-clutch transmission or a 6-speed manual, a Forte sedan with SCC that comes with the DCT, a Forte5 with the DCT, and a Forte5 with the SCC and DCT.

All four of these cars will receive a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, and at this time the only engine of that type within Kia's ranks is a turbocharged GDI unit sporting 201 horsepower, and 195 lb-ft of torque, currently situated in the Soul GT. The Detroit Auto Show was the scene of the Forte sedan's last launching, where the Forte product manager claimed during an interview with Motor Trend that “We're not done with Forte... we have more exciting products that are coming that I can't yet speak of”.

It is already widely-known that there is a production version of the Forte GT now on the way with the 1.6-liter, so that effectively takes care of two of the vehicles situated on the list. At the time the interview took place, Motor Trend definitely wondered if the Kia exec was hinting at a return of the Forte5 hatchback, or in conjunction with the Proceed concept unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Simply one of the most amazing looking wagons to ever exit the gate, it appears even sharper at some angles than the track-tuned and salacious Stinger GT. We know that the Forte GT sedan is supposed to come with nicer and sportier bits like LED headlights and 18-inch wheels in Michelin Super Sport Tires, and if there is indeed a revamped Forte5 hatch soon to be on the way, all of our blog readers right here will be the first to get the scoop!

Kia Telluride Put to the Test by Popular Mechanics On One of North Carolina's Toughest Trails

North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest is the location of what many claim is the gnarliest trail in the state, named Daniel. This is the kind of place where you are sometimes traversing the area at 2 miles per hour, and defying obstacles that would stop any unworthy trawler dead in its tracks. The USDA Forest Service bestowed upon it a rating of “extremely difficult”, for many different reasons. The most intimidating section requires the driver to basically drive right up a wall of boulders, then negotiate a quick switchback with a long drop situated on the outside corner.

The only time Ezra Dyer of Popular Mechanics was able to run the entire trail was in an American Expedition Vehicles Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, boasting locking differentials and 35-inch tires. The summit can be reached from the milder version of trailhead, but you still have to contend with plenty of steep, rock-strewn climbs. Even on the slightly easier part, you see scraps of bodywork from the less fortunate by the side of the trail. The decision was then made to have this place be where the Kia Telluride was put to the test, and see if it had the necessary gusto to conquer this very untamed section of the wild.

He made the trip with the Telluride EX AWD, sporting Yokohama Geolander tires, and a makeshift skid plate over the oil pan. One of Ezra's first observations was that even if the Telluride does not look particularly off-road oriented to begin with, it has good angles, such an important component in conquering an area such as Uwharrie. Brandishing a 17.0 -degree departure angle is not too far off from the Dodge Ram 4X4's 18.9 degrees, and the departure angle resides at 20.0. This largest-sized member of the Kia lineup also has a very high amount of traction: the center clutch distributes torque front to rear, and it can be locked into a fixed 5 – 50 split, which allows the AWD system to behave like an old-school 4-wheel-drive setup.

Even without front or rear locking differentials, the traction control is able to imitate a locker's steadfast performance with the ability to grab the brake on a slipping tire, sending torque to the side with traction. When he first arrived at the trailhead, he did not have very high expectations, as running this identical route over the last year with a Toyota Tacoma TRD proved to be quite the challenge. The first test for the Telluride was the signature berms which basically proved themselves to be like speed-bumps from hell. The testing crew had once come here with a full-size 4x4 pickup, and had to immediately turn back because there was not enough breakover to clear these.

By making use of an angled approach, the Kia fared well out of the gate. Then, a rock-strewn climb up a very steep grade was in order, rapidly oozing stellar performance during a situation where if you fail, you're going to end up a LONG way down the mountain. The footage here does a good job of showing the complexity of the trail, and the determined stature of the Telluride to conquer it. Even though Ezra had to leave on a donut tire's wing and a prayer while the exhaust lost a hanger, the Telluride lived to tell the tale, and drove like new after the fact! We hope you come down to visit us at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis and check this amazing piece of off-road mastery out this summer: boasting the ability to dominate a trail like this will always set an aggressive and able stature for the hill-climbing SUV that is the best choice out there for summer 2019!

Kia Seltos Caught All of the Way Uncovered by Autoblog Crew

Joel Stocksdale of the Autoblog team has been covering the news hottest off the press regarding cars for years, and was excited to write about our brand this past week. All of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis have been closely watching the teasing elements in the media regarding a new, global small crossover with some sketches the past couple of weeks. Now the actual crossover called the Kia Seltos is completely unveiled via the web and is sized between the Kia Soul and the Kia Sportage. 

It also is evident that these photos clearly show that the drawings Kia had previously released were of the production car. Everything looks for the most part identical, and there appears to be a black or contrasting-color roof separated by metallic trim, faux metallic skid plates on the bumpers, and a gradually rising window line at the back. Compared to other cars Kia has released as of late, there are more lines and creases, although the pictures probably are showing a high-level model. There is not a close look at the interior offered here, but if it's anything like what is presented on the outside, it will still appear pretty typical for a Kia.

It is expected to brandish a fairly low, horizontal dash with a large screen protruding from the middle, and as has been seen in the K900 and Kia Telluride, there has now been a newer widescreen available. At a glance of the Seltos's size, it would seem plausible for it to share the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.6-liter engines found in the Forte and Kia Soul. It cranks out 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and the 2.0 – liter engine would probably get a CVT, while the 1.6-liter variant would likely be paired to a dual-clutch transmission.

It would seem reasonable for all-wheel drive to be an option, and we'll have to wait and see which trim and powertrain combinations it would be offered on. The official reveal is slated for late summer, so there may just be a couple more months to wait for the specific details. As we gleaned the blogs and news sources online to see what the car-loving aficionados out there in the general public think, many think that it looks truly phenomenal, and “more upmarket than anything it will compete with.” One reader in Nashville claimed, “if the interior is as upmarket and high quality as previously reported, Kia will definitely have a smash hit on their hands.”

We also were able to get our hands on an ultra-cool rendering of the interior here on the Hotcars.com blog. At a glance of these photos, we love how the midsection of the dash pays a bit of homage to something out of “2001 A Space Odessey”, yet still remains taught and functional. We will keep you posted here on the blog about any news we hear before the reveal, and will continue to look forward to the Selto's release in its currently very sought-after segment!