New Kia Picanto: Next-generation Picanto is scheduled to go on sale in Europe late next year. It will be available as a three door or five-door model. The model will grow in size and will be much safer than existing Picanto (note: the current model only got three stars at EuroNCAP crash tests).
Powertrain updates will include a brand-new three-cylinder turbocharged engine with up to 110 horsepower. An all-electric Kia Picanto is also set to debut within three years, according to latest rumors. Expect the new Picanto to look as stylish as other latest Kia vehicles!
Next-generation Kia Rio: Kia Rio is expected to debut in spring 2011. There are not much of information available at this point except of that Kia will call the model K2 in Korea.
All-new Kia cee’d: The most-popular Kia vehicle in Europe will undergo a major redesign within two years. It will feature new three- and four-cylinder engines, as well as a diesel-hybrid powertrain. Dual-clutch gearbox will also be available according to sources close to Kia.
Kia Forte 5-doo hatchback: Following the Forte four-door sedan and sporty two-door Koup is the five-door Kia Forte. Exhibited for the first time at the New York auto show in April, the Forte hatch brings the long-awaited 6-speed automatic transmission to the Forte range. Hopefully, the 6-speed automatic gearbox will soon appear in other two Kia Fortes.
2011 Kia Optima: Unveiled at New York auto show, the all-new Optima is scheduled to hit the US-market in the second half of the year. The all-new mid-size sedan from Kia Motors is set to take on hot-selling 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedan and other established nameplates, including the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Probably, the hottest-looking Kia sedan ever, the Optima features highly advanced powertrain technology such as brand-new 6-speed automatic gearbox and new 2.4L four-cyl. engines with gasoline-direct-injection technology for improved performance and fuel-efficiency. Turbo engine as well as hybrid powertrain will be available for the first time in a Kia vehicle sold on the US soil.
Possible variants of new Kia Optima include Optima Sporty Wagon and Optima Coupe.
2011 Kia Sportage: Another hot-looking Kia vehicle headed for its US sales debut. Coming to the showroom floor this fall, the new Sportage is another embodiment of Kia’s whole new family-look pioneered by the brand’s design guru Peter Schreyer and Kia’s entire design team.
2011 Kia Soul: The multiple award-wining crossover will not receive any major styling updates for the 2011 model year. However, it is very likely the 2011 Kia Soul will receive vastly improved powertrain technology, including new 2.0L four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic tranny.
Let us not forget about Kia Soul’ster pick-up as we might see it debuting by the end of 2011 or early in 2012.
Kia K9: The Hyundai Genesis sedan based Kia luxury car. Its only a rumor for now, but some people say there’s a market for a luxury Kia vehicle. What do you think?
Kia coupe: It will most probably happen after-all. According to British magazine Autocar, Peter Schreyer’s been pushing Kia to add such vehicle to its vehicle line-up: sources say the coupe would be based on the Kee concept revealed in 2007 and built on the platform used by the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. A perfect combination!! Add a cabrio variant and we have a new dream sports car.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
what’s happening with the future of the Rondo/Carens and Sedona/Carnival? They are still in full production with these models at the Korean plant.
The 2011 Sportage is schedule to arrive at Canadian dealers within the next few weeks.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Somebody forget the Cadenza? Does that not qualify as luxury?
June 9th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
I have no info regarding the non-mentioned vehicles (Sedona & Rondo). Their future is uncertain.
June 10th, 2010 at 3:39 am
I know that the Sedona is going to continue at least into next year, as I and someone else on here have seen a 2011. I know that the 2011 Sedona has GDI 2.4L and 3.5L V6. Kia has discontinued the Rondo in the US market. No 2010 Rondos will hit the US dealerships. The lady at Kia told me that there is no need for the Rondo with the new Sportage and Sorento.
June 10th, 2010 at 4:05 am
” The lady at Kia told me that there is no need for the Rondo with the new Sportage and Sorento.”
That’s odd because the Sorento is HUGE compared the Rondo and the Sportage is an SUV not CUV.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:44 am
The Sorento and Sportage are also more expensive than the Rondo. Sounds like Kia is handing that part of the market to Mazda 5, future Ford C-Max and Chev Orlando, too bad, so maybe down the road I will no be able to purchase a KIA product.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:46 am
Actually, the Sorento is nearly the exact same dimensions as the Rondo. It sits higher and has a higher beltline. All of the interior dimensions are almost exactly that of a Rondo. The Sorento AWD I4 gets better gas mileage than the FWD Rondo I4. The Sorento AWD V6 has 81 more horsepower, and gets 3 MPG better than the FWD Rondo V6. Kia couldn’t have made a better replacement for the Rondo. Now if only Kia would make a replacement for the 03-09 Sorento….. BTW, the new Sportage is completely CUV.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Kia can’t have two of the same size CUVs. As for the price, that is why the Sportage will be priced the same as the Rondo. The C-Max and Orlando will both be more expensive than the Sorento, and Mazda is not going to keep the 5 for much longer. Besides, Kia wants the Rondo line at Guangju for the Soul’ster production.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:55 am
I hope that Rio is going to be Sweet.
June 10th, 2010 at 7:33 am
So glad that the 6 speed auto is finding it’s way to the Cerato/Forte and Soul, the dated 4 speed auto is what’s really criticised here in Australia in the reviews I read.
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Again, if anybody wants to see what a two-door Optima might look like, click my name.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:09 am
I doubt kia would hand over any vehicle to any other automaker… they’re on top of things… lets hope for the best
June 10th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I’d also like to note (& i think ***HIMI*** should post about this so ppl are aware) but i’ve developed a good relationship with kia’s official twitter via mine. they always have tweeted back to me (& all others from what i can see) and have answered any questions i’ve asked even about future vehicles. twitter once again has proved successful in this manner of connecting consumers with producers… I think if you voice your opinions to them they WILL listen. I’ve also made them aware of this site (any more than they already were) and she seemed interested in the feedback it provided.
KIA on twitter: @Kia_Motors
ME on twitterL @joshylofty
June 10th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I would like to see UVO being added to the vehicles as soon as possible. The Soul should get an engine and new interior options for North American market (Nav, new color options).
June 10th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
why are they discontinuing the rondo/carens? rondo is not the same as the sorento nor the sportage. rondo is lower for the convenience of those people having a hard time climbing those SUV’s and rondo sits 7 people comfortably. i hope kia will change minds about this, the rondo just needed some new designs from peter schreyer. and pls kia dont try to discontinue the sedona/carnival too, this has a big market and sedona’s sales are very good.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I hear that the borrego is supposed to come back as a 2011 model. I don’t know though I just read about it on some article. I think the rondo should should continue in the linup. With the new design and all I don’t see why not. It really doesn’t conflict with neither the Sportage or Sorento since it’s more a van than a crossover.I don’t give a rats a** about the sedona just another stupid slow accelerating pointless minivan.
June 10th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Speaking of Borrego, I just saw more teasers of the 2012 Ford Explorer and let me tell I LIKE what I see. That is one heck of a design. The roofline looks JUST like the 2005 Kia Mesa. Now why couldn’t the Borrego take more after concept? If the Borrego does come back it needs to come back in style getting rid of that bof and going CUV like the next Explorer, Jeep GrandCherokee and the rumoured Pathfinder. That 2012 Ford Explorer could be a hit since Toyota’s ugly 4Runner is bof.
June 10th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Greg – we need the forum back to argue these points, I agree with aesop, you can’t compare the Sorento to the Rondo, I’ve sat in one and it feels far more bulky to me and just too big for my taste (nice vehicle though). In Canada there is a $6,600 difference in MSRP between the two vehicles with automatic transmission as that is standard in the Rondo. In the US there is $4,900 difference.
The new Sportage will be priced higher that the Rondo by $4,300 CDN MSRP again with automatic. The US has yet to announce pricing.
Again its a different market, but would like the Rondo to get a major overhaul as its overdue. Its still selling very well in Canada with 755 units sold in May and in 5th place with KIA Canada.
Kia Buzz sometime ago said that the Borrego will continue to be part of there lineup for North America as they have no intention of dropping it.
June 10th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
I just got to thinking, and maybe Kia plans to replace the Rondo with an Optima wagon. I mean, that’s basically all that the Rondo is currently. The Rondo has the same powertrains as the current Optima (MG), and is about the same size. I think that a “Rondo” with the new Optima’s face would be excellent. If I had to venture a guess, I would say that’s what’s happening. For Kia USA, we saw the death of 4 models in the MY09. There is no 2010 Rondo, Borrego, Spectra, or Amanti.
Amanti – Replaced by Cadenza
Spectra – Replaced by Forte
Rondo – Replaced by Optima_SW??
Borrego – Replaced by??
June 10th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
We want the Kia pick up truck ……when????????
June 10th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
The Rondo NEVER had the “push” by Kia as did other models. Why? I don’t know but other brands are making similar Rondo like CUV’s/station wagons {Mazda5, Hyundai Elantra Touring, Honda crosstour.} Kia is missing out on a car buying segment of the population. You can talk all you want about the Sorento and the Sportage being similar but they are not. The price difference alone sets them apart. Both cars look like SUV’s. The Rondo doesn’t. Maybe the Forte 5 door will be able to compete in the segment when it comes out.
I hope the Optima comes out with a sw.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Hey good point Greg. Why bring the Rondo when Kia could have the Optima compete with the Honda Crosstour? That would be great making the Rondo pointless for America. After all all that Rondo is is a stationwagon that just sits high. That’s it. I would like to see a Kia pick up too but you do know Manuel it would not do good in sales after all look at the Borrego. That tells you Kia is not ready for a pick up to compete with the F150 or that Tundra. Strangely though maybe they could chance it and give the Mojave a try since car sales are a complete turn around from 2 years ago. But I still think it would be too risky. Unless they make it on the Borrego’s FCEV platform. That would be intersting but quite expensive.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
You guys do know that if a pick up was to go into production it wouldn’t look nothing like the Mojave. It would be Schyrerlized looking even better. Heck Kia could make the best looking pick up too. Maybe the Soulster is a better alternative. I think the Soulster would sale like pancakes (or is it hotcakes?).
June 10th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
“Why bring the Rondo when Kia could have the Optima compete with the Honda Crosstour? That would be great making the Rondo pointless for America. After all all that Rondo is is a stationwagon that just sits high”
That is IF Kia does it.
I agree! It would be great!
June 10th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
I have it from good lead that Kia America will not be bringing the Borrego 2011 to its market. So, add another casualty to the list.
I have also heard that they will not bring Rondo to market as well, but after reading the possibility of an Optima Wagon, now makes a bit more sense (but only a bit more). The major difference is that the Rondo has a third row seating option and I don’t think the new Optima Wagon or even the Forte Five Door will.
June 11th, 2010 at 12:05 am
No the Rondo/Carens isn’t a tall SUV at all.
SUVs do not sit SEVEN people. It is a SMALL MPV that was designed with the European market in mind. It goes against cars like the VAUXHALL ZAFIRA and CITROEN C4 PICASSO (which is a very strong market). The Carens should be re-made for the European market – otherwise Kia will have NO MPV (as they will be discontinuing production of the Sedona for Europe)
June 11th, 2010 at 1:50 am
I look at it this way, if the Rondo is really needed in Kia’s line up, why are the sales down? Killing the rondo in the states is a good thing because Kia needs more groundbreaking sales besides just the Soul, Forte and Sorento. Selling 500 rondo’s a month doesn’t do anything special. And besides they don’t even advertise the Rondo anymore. As for lack of 3rd row in the Optima wagon, that shouldn’t be a bad thing since the Rondo sales are down anyway right? The Sorento can handle the job. If you want just FWD, get the Sorento with FWD with the standard 3rd row and pretend it’s a slow accelerating MPV and there you go. After all, the Sorento is about the same size as the Rondo.
June 11th, 2010 at 1:53 am
The reason why Kia brought the carens to the states was to improve sales since the Sportage lost its touch after the Rav-4 and CR-v got redesigned. They don’t need it anymore. Get a fwd Sorento and pretend it’s the rondo.
June 11th, 2010 at 1:56 am
“And besides they don’t even advertise the Rondo anymore. As for lack of 3rd row in the Optima wagon, that shouldn’t be a bad thing since the Rondo sales are down anyway right?”
LOL! You just answered your own question.
June 11th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Kia NEVER advertised the Rondo. No one knew about the Rondo because of it. That’s why sales have ALWAYS been down.
June 11th, 2010 at 2:09 am
Kia is on a roll, but we will see how their line-up competes against the great Japanese three and American (multi-national) brands like Ford and that other company in Detroit.
June 11th, 2010 at 4:15 am
I thought the Cadenza was supposed to be the K7 and Amanti replacement and that Kia was going to have a Mid-size RWD sports sedan. What gives?
June 11th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Kia did advertise the Rondo. Remember, it had something to do with a choir and a rainbow, and they were singing that “Sunshine” song. That was back in 07 though.
June 11th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Rondo received little to none advertising by Kia. I guess it depends on where you live.
June 11th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Well Kia needs to get on to making the Optima Wagon. Forget the Rondo and the next generation version keep it in Europe. The Honda Crosstour is taking advantage and the Optima has a chance of taking some Crossotour sales. And I noticed that Kia has a higher advantage taking sales on Toyota, Honda and Nissan on their newly introduced models. They need to get on with the wagon. As for the K9 I think that is a must too, I know they would have to make it more luxrious since the K7 is suprisingly high on luxury. But ithe K9 would be a great BMW alternative cheaper and yet sporty. Maybe they can take away 5% of BMW sales with the K9 and the Halo coupe version. It doesn’t need to have a V8 just a powerful V6 enigne with rwd. And if the K9 is groundbreaking who knows it could outsell the Genesis like the K5 is doing to the Sonata in S. Korea.
June 11th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@Boricua
Do you have any info when the 2011 Forte Koup will be available in North America? With the UVO system.
June 11th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Kia US is to blame for lack of sales on the Rondo – if they don’t bring in the product – you can’t sell it! Kia Canada has had the 2010 Rondo in since last fall and it still sells very well, there has not been any advertising on TV ads for that vehicles since it first came out in ’07, same applies for the Rio, but the sales are still there. Also Canada has the 2010 Borrego too!
Mazda 5 has been updated and will be coming out in 2011, so they haven’t abondonded that niche in the market. Generally in Canada the Rondo outsells the Mazda 5 quite frequently.
June 12th, 2010 at 4:53 am
The next Rio is late. And when I mean late I mean tardy. Didn’t the 2nd generation Rio debut before the 2nd generation Optima? You know what trady spy shots mean, it means expect the next Rio to be groundbreaking? Expect it to have better handling and a better interior. Expect the Rio to actually be well put togather for the first time in it’s young 9 years? Expect the next Rio to have groundbreaking mpg. Expect to have class leading horsepower. I bet it took Tom Kearns and Peter Schyerer a long long long time to design the 2012 Kia Rio. I bet they been up for hours designing that thing. They are up to someting I tell up to something that we couldn’t quite imagine. Something big about the next Rio. Something that maybe honda never done. I think Kia should make a concept version of what the Rio well look like before it is unveiled at the 2011 NAIAS. I think that concept should be at the Paris Auto Show in September (or is that Auguest?). I think Kia turned the next Rio into 50% economy and 50% sports car with eye catching lines. Think about it, isn’t the Forte Koup, Optima, K7, Sportage and Sorento eye catching? So the Rio must be turn heads. What if the Rio is going to be the best looking sedan in its class? I bet they have a LOT of different exterior colors for it. I bet it can get up from 0 to 60 in well under 10 seconds? What if it get those paddle shifters on the SX version? What if it gets sky lights. Ohhh the suspense is killing me I WANT TO SEE SPY SHOTS!!!!
June 12th, 2010 at 9:37 am
If Picanto gets 110 HP I will start covering it. Anything less than 100 HP is not a real car in the year 2010. A Segment MPG should be had with 100-110 HP using real true 21st century tech.
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I hope somebody confirms this.
September 10th, 2010 at 4:46 am
The only sedans on here is the Rio and Roumored K9. So Squarehole (asshole), why sin’t that UB the Rio huh? What is it? I don’t see nothing about a hybrid sedan or nothing else. It’s not the cee’d becuase the next generation models should be 3 and 5 doors. It’s not the Picanto and it’s not the romoured K9. So what is it? I’ll tell you Squarehole its the Rio. It makes perfectsensce becuase it fits right in to this article.