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Montreal, QC – Kia Canada Inc. has revealed pricing and content detail of the all-new 2014 Kia Soul urban hatchback. The vehicle is currently available in Canadian dealership showrooms.

The Soul enters the 2014 model year with an all-new take on design, driving dynamics and desirable features that totally transform one of Kia’s most iconic vehicles into an urban vehicle that is as comfortable in the city as it is on the open highway. The signature Soul design is instantly recognizable, yet thoroughly fresh, with more than a passing nod to the hot Track’ster concept that was unveiled last year. Riding on a new chassis that is stiffer, longer and wider, the all-new Soul has evolved without losing its edge, while reducing Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) levels. A flatter torque curve and significant suspension upgrades make the 2014 Soul a nimble and agile companion in congested urban environments. Honouring Soul owners’ fierce individualism, three unique trim levels (LX, EX and SX) are available to consumers in Canada.

“The second generation Soul urban hatchback elevates the iconic vehicle to new heights without compromising the original spirit and fun to drive vehicle that it was originally intended to be,” said Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing, Kia Canada Inc. “Striking exterior design cues from the Track’ster concept coupled with a premium interior cabin, along with a vastly improved ride and handling experience, all contribute to an impressive and well thought out new iteration.”

The all-new Soul displays its own individuality through a blend of funky personality, fun-to-drive characteristics and premium upgrades intended to set it apart from the pack. A playful colour palette, including Soul-exclusive colors such as Solar Yellow, Acid Green and Inferno Red, along with sporty new wheel designs, pump up the dynamic equation that has made Soul such a dominate competitor in the compact car segment.  

Keeping what made the current Soul special while addressing areas for improvement was no easy task.  As the design team at Kia’s California studio began putting virtual pen to virtual paper, engineers in the U.S. and Korea focused on making Soul fun to drive. Starting with a solid foundation was key, and the new body enjoys a 28.7 per cent increase in torsional rigidity over the 2013 Soul. With the hard points set, the all-new Soul was boiled down to three focus areas: maintaining the iconic design while adding modern cues, providing premium features and content and improving driving dynamics to make the 2014 Soul more desirable than ever.

Iconic Design:

Well-known for the close link between its concept vehicles and production models, Kia Motors had an outstanding inspiration point for the 2014 Soul. When the wild Track’ster concept made its debut in 2012, Soul enthusiasts and pundits alike urged Kia to turn the aggressively fun fantasy into reality. With 18 months from design freeze to production, the stage was set for the all-new Soul, and many of the concept’s dramatic design cues can be found in the production vehicle.

The upright stance, squared shoulders and distinctive fender flares are instantly recognizable as Soul.  Combining a longer 2,570-millimetre wheelbase (up 20 millimetres), overall width that’s broadened to 1,800 millimetres (increased by 15 millimetres) and a reduced overall height of 1,600 millimeters (decreased by 10 millimetres), adds a more aggressive edge to the all-new Soul’s appearance. Likewise, the wrap-around greenhouse, high-mounted tail lights and upright stance are all hallmark design elements. Premium touches such as available LED front positioning lights and rear LED “Light Bar” lights help connect Soul to siblings within the Kia lineup that share similar design cues, such as the new 2014 Sorento SUV, all-new 2014 Cadenza premium sedan and 2014 Forte sedan.

Exterior Track’ster similarities are easy to spot. The large trapezoidal lower air intake is nearly a direct carryover from the concept, and the location of the standard fog lights – down low and pushed to the leading edges – mirror those found on the Track’ster. Kia’s signature grille is present, but it’s been reworked to more closely resemble the concept. Adding a touch of flare, the unique “floating” body-colour panel inset into the lift gate originated with the Track’ster as well. Subtle enhancements include a wider (by 61 millimetres over the previous Soul) opening for the lift gate, allowing for easier loading.

Overall, the design team paid particular attention to instilling a more premium look and feel to the 2014 Soul’s interior. Liberal applications of available soft-touch materials are found on the instrument panel, centre console and door panels. Details such as available leather trimmed seating with improved cushioning, lateral and thigh support, and the use of high-gloss piano-black trim pieces on the centre console, doors and dash elevate the Soul’s interior to new levels of sophistication.

Front and centre is the instrument cluster with deeply recessed gauges. Along the door panels, sculpted circles incorporate the power windows and door locks. The centre console features a round gear shift knob and push-button start (its location exclusive to Soul in the Kia lineup), which also are direct carryovers from Track’ster. The front door-mounted speakers mirror the circular, high-mounted “floating” tweeters. The steering-wheel mounted controls are housed in Soul-exclusive circular groupings along the lower spokes with the buttons for the audio system and trip computer falling readily to the thumbs, enabling the driver’s hands to remain on the wheel at all times.

A Transformed Soul Interior:

An attractive package can be a let-down if the contents don’t deliver. Fortunately, the all-new 2014 Soul is set to delight right out of the gate. Most prominent in the new instrument panel is the available eight-inch touch screen multimedia interface with voice-activated navigation – the largest ever offered on Soul. Furthermore, the available larger Supervision Cluster/TFT LCD colour screen found in the instrument cluster now displays user settings and turn-by-turn directions from the navigation system, helping to keep the driver’s eyes looking forward.

In addition to all this technology, driver and passengers will enjoy a larger and significantly quieter cabin with 1,040 millimetres of front leg room, increased rear leg room (up 4 millimetres to 994), 1,006 millimetres of front headroom and front seat shoulder room (up 7 millimetres to 1,410 millimetres). The all-new Soul also offers a 13-millimetre lower hip point and a step-in height that’s reduced 5 millimetres, allowing for even easier ingress and egress. Liberal use of expansion foam (replacing the previously used block foam) thoroughly fills body cavities, reducing outside wind and road noise. A reinforced isolation pad in the cargo area and poly-urethane-layered carpet helps reduce overall interior noise levels by approximately three decibels.

Improved Driving Dynamics:

Built on an all-new chassis that is nearly 29 per cent stiffer than before, the Soul’s stout skeleton provides the base for a vehicle that places a premium on driving dynamics. Engineers put their efforts in strengthening the body at key connection points along the cowl, upper and lower B-pillars, cross members, and at the C-pillars. An impressive 66 per cent of the chassis utilizes either Ultra High Strength Steel (35 per cent) or High Strength Steel (31 per cent). The A-pillar is 20-millimetres narrower, allowing for improved outward visibility, but through the use of Ultra High Strength Steel, it’s lighter and stronger than that of the outgoing model. The application of structural adhesive around the door openings and along the roof also helps improve torsional rigidity.

Significant attention has been focused on improving the all-new Soul’s ride and handling through heavily revised front and rear suspension setups. The front subframe utilizes four bushings (none are used on the previous Soul) to reduce ride harshness and impact booms over rough pavement. The stabilizer bar has moved rearward on the McPherson strut front suspension, while the steering box has moved forward, lending better balance and subsequently improved handling.

Relocating the steering box has also resulted in a better on-centre feel. The new one-piece steering gear housing is stronger than the two-piece unit used on the outgoing Soul, improving steering response and reducing impacts felt through the wheel. Standard across the Soul line is a new FlexSteer™ system, which allows the driver to select from three distinct steering settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The shock absorbers on the torsion bar rear suspension have been turned vertically – they were positioned at an angle on the previous Soul – and lengthened. This arrangement allows for more suspension travel, improving ride comfort.

Motivation for the Base Soul is delivered by a gasoline direct injection (GDI) 130-horsepower at 6,300 rpm, 1.6-litre all-aluminum DOHC four-cylinder engine. The GAMMA engine produces 118 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. The EX and higher models enjoy the more powerful 2.0-litre NU power plant.  For the all-new 2014 Soul, the engine is updated with GDI technology. Power is rated at 164 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. of torque at a 4,000 rpm. Both engines have been tuned to provide more low-end torque (nine per cent more torque at 1,500 rpm on the 2.0-litre; five per cent more on 1.6-litre) for an improved around-town driving experience. The 1.6-litre engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission or, optionally, to a six-speed automatic. The 2.0-litre engine models are available exclusively with the six-speed automatic.

DETROIT, MI - It’s been a great year for the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the C7. They have been honoured as a contender for AJAC’s car of the year after winning their Best Performance Car group over $50K and managed to steal the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) headlines by winning the North American Car of the Year. 

Well the Corvette news didn’t end there, as they unveiled the brand-new Corvette Z06 during their presentation. The Z06 is the high-performance version of the C7, if the regular base was not intense enough for you.

In terms of the engine, the cat is finally out of the bag. Ahead of the NAIAS press day, it was rumoured that the Z06 would be the first production vehicle to use the 4.5-litre twin-turbocharged V-8 that was slotted to be in the Cadillac Elmiraj concept showcased at last year’s event. 

Well, all those rumours and prognosticators weren’t correct after all. The Z06 supercar will be fitted with an all-new LT4 6.2-litre supercharged and direct injected V-8 engine that delivers 625 horsepower and 635 lb.-ft. of torque through an eight-speed automatic or seven-speed manual transmission. Good luck with controlling that beast! 

To compare from the previous Z06 – it had 505 hp and 470 lb-ft. of torque, clearly making the new version the most advanced and impressive Corvette ever assembled. 

“The new Z06 delivers levels of performance, technology and design that rival the most exotic supercars in the world,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America. “And the Z06 leverages the engineering expertise of GM, offering the choice of two world-class transmissions, supercar performance without supercar fuel consumption and technologies that make it easier to fully enjoy the incredible experience of driving it.”

The Z06 is not all about power and speed – the exterior oozes aggressiveness and excitement. The exterior is designed with aerodynamics, cooling and efficiency in mind. The front fascia has a mesh pattern that assists in the delivery of airflow to the intercooler heat exchanger. Furthermore, the grille and front fender have vents to allow for more air into the cooling ducts for the transmission, as well as adding downforce at the same time.

The Z06 planned on being one of the stars of NAIAS and it didn’t fail with plenty of press surrounding it throughout the two press days.

Production is expected to begin at the end of 2014 and hopefully soon we will hear about its performance numbers and price.

DETROIT, MI – Acura today unveiled the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype showcasing the design and performance direction for the all-new 2015 TLX performance-luxury sedan launching mid-year at Acura dealerships nationwide. The TLX was developed around the theme“Red Carpet Athlete” to deliver a compelling blend of luxury refinement and sports-sedan athleticism, with exhilarating performance enhanced by next-generation Acura powertrain and dynamic handling technologies. The TLX will join the ILX compact luxury sedan and the RLX luxury performance sedan as the third vehicle in Acura’s sedan lineup.

“The Acura TLX Prototype is a precursor of some amazing things we have in store for our Acura sedan customers,” said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. “As you would expect from an Acura, this completely new model will offer innovative technologies that break down the barriers between the driver and the machine to deliver a more intuitive, connected and personal driving experience.”

The TLX Prototype, bathed in Acura Athletic Red Pearl, presents a lithe exterior form, taut body surfaces and sports-sedan proportions. Its sporting character is further highlighted by its low and wide stance, shortened front and rear overhangs, dynamically sculpted fender arches, and purposeful character lines. Acura’s signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights imbue the TLX Prototype with an advanced and bright-eyed appearance while producing superior down-the-road illumination. The prototype’s custom-designed five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels and 265/35ZR20 low-profile tires accentuate its athletic stance, while the sculpted hood with its sharply creased bilateral ridgelines hints at the performance capabilities of the advanced new Acura powertrain. Another prototype-exclusive feature is the tailor-made side mirrors. Keying off of the Jewel Eye LED headlights, each mirror has a row of LED lights fused into its base. Click on the turn indictor, and the LEDs come to life, spreading a moving glow around the bottom of the mirror for a high-tech, 3D appearance.

Dimensionally, the TLX Prototype presages the production 2015 TLX sedan and is 3.8 inches shorter in overall length (190.2 inches) than the current TL, yet rides on the same 109.3 inch wheelbase as the TL. The prototype’s right-sized dimensions place the new TLX neatly in between the smaller ILX and larger RLX sedans. Despite its more compact exterior footprint, the TLX design targets the most spacious interior in the midsize luxury sedan class – roughly on par with the current TL – with an open and airy greenhouse, commanding sight lines, ample cargo capacity and comfortable seating for five adults.

Like any truly world-class athlete, the TLX will pair power and efficiency with deft agility. With its low and wide stance, rigid yet lightweight body, and nimble and responsive chassis, the TLX is designed to deliver confident, precise and refined ride and handling performance in almost any driving situation. From low-stress urban commutes to relaxed long-distance cruising, or adrenaline-inducing runs down twisting country roads, the TLX is designed to be an intuitive and confidence-inspiring driving partner, a vehicle that epitomizes Acura’s dynamic concept of “performance at the will of the driver.”  

The 2015 TLX Prototype also communicates the diverse range of advanced technologies and performance options that will be available to Acura TLX customers – including two-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations; two high-performance, highly fuel-efficient new engines; two new advanced transmissions; and the next generation Acura Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD™) and Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS) dynamic performance and handling technologies.

In keeping with the “Red Carpet Athlete” design and development concept, the 2015 TLX’s advanced new powertrains will deliver highly responsive, refined and efficient power delivery. An all-new 2.4-liter 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine employs direct-injection and Acura’s  i-VTEC® valvetrain, and is significantly lighter than previous Acura engines of similar configuration and displacement. The new engine is mated to an all-new 8-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with torque converter. This new 8-speed DCT takes full advantage of the 2.4-liter engine’s broad power band, delivering incredibly quick and smooth gear changes, expertly matching engine revs on down shifts, and putting the power down in a responsive and intuitive way.

For even greater power and performance, there is a 3.5-liter SOHC V-6 that also employs direct injection and i-VTEC variable valve control and cam timing along with fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) cylinder deactivation technology. The 3.5-liter V-6 is mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission with closely spaced gear ratios and a wide overall ratio range to further extend engine performance and fuel efficiency.  Both the 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter TLX models will target EPA fuel economy ratings at the top of the midsize luxury sedan class.

Two-wheel-drive models with either the 2.4- or 3.5-liter powerplant will utilize the next generation of Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS™) technology with independent left and right rear wheel toe control. As four-wheel steering becomes an increasingly popular technology on high-performance automobiles, Acura continues to evolve and improve the capabilities of its cutting-edge P-AWS system, first launched on the RLX sedan in 2013, to deliver even more responsive handling, precise steering control and high-speed stability. 

The TLX SH-AWD™, available exclusively with the 3.5-liter V6 engine and 9-speed transmission, employs a new generation of Acura’s signature Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ technology that is 25 percent lighter and incorporates new torque-vectoring control logic.

Understanding that customization is a key component of luxury, the TLX will feature an Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) to allow for further personalization and a sportier driving experience. The four driving modes – ECON (Economy), Normal, Sport, and a new Sport+ mode – take full advantage of the TLX’s high-performance capabilities. Depending on which mode the driver selects, the Integrated Dynamics System will adjust Electric Power Steering (EPS), throttle response, SH-AWD and P-AWS control logic, transmission shift mapping, Active Noise Control settings and HVAC control in accordance with the preferences of the driver.

Also in keeping with its luxury sedan status, the TLX was designed to deliver vault-like quietness in all driving conditions, with major improvements in noise reduction through enhancements to body stiffness, body sealing and sound insulation, and the application of electronic Active Noise Control.

The TLX utilizes Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and is expected to achieve the highest available safety ratings – a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  The TLX will be available with Acura’s most advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow and Blind Spot Indicator (BSI).

The TLX was designed and developed in the United States by Acura engineers working in the company’s Los Angeles design studio and Raymond, Ohio new-vehicle development center.  The new TLX will be produced using domestic and globally sourced parts at the company’s award-winning Marysville, Ohio auto plant, which presently manufactures the 2014 Acura TL performance-luxury sedan.

Infiniti is ready to make a splash at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and it all starts with the Q50 Eau Rouge Concept. The Q50 Eau Rouge Concept was born out of Infiniti’s partnership with Formula One’s Red Bull Racing team. It’s the first development project between the two companies that has involved Red Bull Racing’s No. 1 team driver and new Infiniti Director of Performance, Sebastian Vettel throughout the entire inception. 

The Q50 Eau Rouge Concept is not surprisingly a premium sports sedan that’s race inspired. It will feature aerodynamic styling and design elements that come straight from a Red Bull Racing influence. 

The Q50 Eau Rouge is lower and wider with a muscular and sportier tone. What we can see are sporty carbon fibre side mirrors, a new splitter, rear diffuser and side sill skirts in their newly released full-body image. It will be displayed with 21-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels and a dual-exit exhaust sports system below its rear spoiler.

“From our shared passion for performance with Infiniti Red Bull Racing grew a collective desire to produce a vision of what a high-performance Infiniti Q50 could look like,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti’s Executive Design Director.

“The design has a number of distinctive Formula One inspired touches.  In particular, the sculpted front wing assembly and the rear aerodynamic packaging take their cues from the RB9 race car,” added Albaisa.

Considering that the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge is a racing-inspired sedan, we would naturally expect a bump in horsepower (328) and torque (269 lb.-ft.), but no figures have been revealed.

The Q50 Eau Rouge Concept seems to be a perfect example of what can be accomplished by the working relationship of Infiniti and Red Bull Racing.

More information will be revealed on the second press day at NAIAS on January 14th. Infiniti’s presentation begins at 9:20 am ET, so stay tuned until then.