Kia has, over these last 20 years, become legitimately mainstream in America. With successes like the Optima, Soul, and Forte, not to mention forays into the luxury market with no less than NBA star Lebron James peddling the K900, they clearly have relevancy across many different segments. With no intention of slowing down, they flew us to Lake Tahoe to sample the latest in their lineup, the 2016 Kia Sorento.
It has been a long row to hoe for the brand. Starting humbly, as a car of last resort, they, along with sister company Hyundai, helped to pioneer such thoughtful differences as a 10-year/100,000 mile drivetrain warranty. We aren’t sure about the early days, but we’d bet today that the warranty ends up costing the company a fraction of what it used to. Heck, it’s probably not even needed any more, but we appreciate the fact it’s still offered. In initial quality reports, the brand ranks in sixth place. At one point in their early history, they managed no better than dead last.

Which begs the point, if other manufacturers are so confident in their latest and greatest, why don’t they offer such a guarantee, too?

What’s new?
Launching with just two vehicles in 1994, Kia’s lineup now boasts a dozen different car and utility models.

For 2016 (to be offered in January 2015, but more on that later), Kia introduced the third generation Sorento with a new stylized design, a choice of three engines and two drive systems. And if you have to haul up to seven people, they have you covered as well.

Powered by a buyer’s choice of a 185 horsepower, 2.4-liter Inline four-cylinder engine with 178 lb-ft of torque, followed by a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 260 lb-ft of torque, and finally, a 290 horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine that produces 252 lb-ft of torque, there are obviously a variety of options to choose from. If you need a turbo, prepare to give up seating, as it only accommodates five passengers. If you need to tow up to 5,000-pounds, the 3.3-liter V6 is your go-to vehicle. If your wallet is doing the talking, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder is your choice.

All Sorento powertrains are mated to an electronically governed six-speed automatic transmission with three selectable drive modes — Sport, Normal or Eco. The Sorento lacks steering wheel paddle shifters, however, so you’re stuck using the gear lever for shift in sport mode.

Kia claims the new Sorento is “primed for adventure” with its Dynamax All Wheel Drive (AWD) System ($1,800) with continuous traction monitoring. Available with all engine choices, it is continuously variable up to a 50:50 ratio. The AWD Sorento also includes Torque Vector Cornering Control (TVCC). When it senses understeer, it will apply the inside rear brakes to bring the car back under control.

The Sorento rides on an independent MacPherson strut system with coil springs and a stabilizer bar in front and an independent multilink kit in the rear that features a stabilizer bar and dual flow dampers for a more accommodating ride quality. Steering is by a motor-driven power rack and pinion system.

About that 2016 model designation: Kia officials reason that being offered in the 2015 model year as a 2016 model will be more attractive to certain buyers. They think customers who are early adopters by nature will question why they should buy a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge, GMC Terrain, Jeep Cherokee, or Toyota Highlander when they can buy a 2016 Kia Sorento instead.

Thick Skinned
Not literally, but this third generation Sorento is more capable than the models before it. Bigger, too. Stronger shoulders, a long nose, and other details including LED fog lamps and rear taillights up the ante, and dress it up further.

For those pre-measuring their garage space, the wheelbase has increased by 3.1-inches to 109.4-inches. Width grows an incremental 0.2-inches to 74.4-inches, while height and overall length measure in at 66.3- and 187.4-inches, respectively.

Inside, the 2016 Sorento features more refined details and soft touch materials than ever before. New easy to clean fabric seating surfaces join the standard grade- or K900-based Nappa-grade leather in covering an available 14-way driver’s and 8-way passenger seat. Heated and ventilated in the front, they are also heated in the second row. Third row occupants get their own vents. Our testers were equipped with heated steering wheels and power sunroofs. Hi-tech accoutrements are all-over as well, and include a 630-watt, 12-speaker Infinity audio system with Clari-Fi technology that rebuilds the audio signal that is sometimes lost with digital compression. As a result, we found a system with barely any distortion that could potentially cause your ears to bleed out. Other tech extras included lane departure warning, smart cruise control, an around view monitor, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and forward collision warning.

Kia one-upped all the other manufacturers who offer sweep-foot technology to open the rear hatch with their new Smart power lift gate. Using no kicking, sweeping or waving, it only requires a walk within a coverage zone for it to lift on its own. Once opened, owners can configure the seats to provide 9.1-cubic feet behind the third row, 36.9- behind the middle row, and 72.5-cubic feat with both rear seats folded forward.

Road tripping
We tested all-wheel-drive versions of the turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the five-passenger model and found a Sorento with a good view of the road ahead and comfort inside. Power from the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was smooth throughout its range, with no hunting for a specific gear from the six-speed automatic transmission. Sadly, it seems as though, in the words of Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, the Sorento’s get up and go done got up and went.

In several tests on Lake Tahoe back roads, we were only able to muster a zero-to-60 mph best of 9.7-seconds best from the 3,878-pounder with power launches and traction control disabled.

With little torque at the lower end of the powerband, we can only surmise that the turbo was mapped with an eye towards fuel economy, (Kia estimates 27 highway) rather than off-the-line prowess. On the other hand, power in the mid to upper ranges was plentiful, making such moves as passing back-to-back eighteen-wheelers an effortless exercise.

Perhaps a mapping profile can be reprogrammed in before Turbo-Sorentos start to show up at dealerships.

On the other hand, power from the 3.3-liter V6 was plentiful and smooth with a large degree of refinement that managed to suppress extraneous road noise from entering the cabin. Our perfect road-tripper, it displayed enough oomph to capably tow up to 5,000-pounds in an AWD configuration.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Kia redesigns and refines the Sorento CUV to offer more capabilities than ever before. Offered in three engine and two drivetrain choices, not to mention space for five- and seven-passengers, there is something for the needs of most drivers. We’ll wait to spend time with a hopefully revised turbocharged I-4 but it’s hard to carp about the brand’s dollar to value ratio.

2016 Kia Sorento
Base L 2.4-liter FWD $24,900
Base SXL 3.3-liter AWD $28,300
Sorento EX 2.0T AWD $32,900
Sorento Limited 3.3 AWD $43,100

Nissan has released the first ‘Truckumentary’ video to drum up interest in the next-generation Titan pickup ahead of its official debut.
The series highlights the history of Nissan’s truck operations, along with the design, planning and engineering efforts behind the new Titan.

The first chapter introduces some of the people behind the project, including Nissan North America’s SVP of marketing, Fred Diaz, and the next-gen Titan’s product planner, Brent Hagan.

The Japanese automaker highlights its manufacturing history in the US market, which kicked off with the 1983 Job 1Truck, though the company’s truck roots trace back to the 1960 Datsun 1200.

“When people think about Nissan’s heritage, they think about great iconic cars like the 240Z,” says Hagan. “But honestly, Nissan’s start was made with pickup trucks.”

Several more ‘Truckumentary’ segments will air before the new Titan is unveiled at the Detroit auto show.

Google is reportedly developing an Android edition that will power infotainment systems.
The company’s Android Auto technology, similar to Apple CarPlay, merely projects a tweaked interface from a smartphone to a vehicle’s existing infotainment system, requiring a mobile device to be connected.

The deeply integrated alternative is said to entirely eliminate the need for a smartphone or other device, installing the mobile OS directly onto the vehicle’s infotainment hardware, unnamed sources have told Reuters.

The information follows on the heels of a report that suggests General Motors will use an Android-powered infotainment system for its upcoming vehicles, through a $900 million development contract with supplier Harman International.

Google’s ambitions in the industry aren’t exactly a secret, as the company hosts the Open Automotive Alliance — a collaborative effort to build an Android-based open-source infotainment software platform.

The previous reports suggest GM may be on track to bring its Android infotainment system to market by 2016.

Audi has revealed the RS 5 Coupe Sport edition, the latest offering from the Audi Exclusive individualization program.
The package offers all of the typical exterior refinements of the basic RS 5, along with 20-inch V-spoke wheels and red brake calipers. Buyers can choose from Daytona Gray pearl, Nardo gray or other Audi Exclusive paint colors.

The color scheme carries through to the interior, where Crimson Red Nappa leather can be found on the sport seats and door panels. Red stitching provides further contrast on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter boot.

The Sport edition remains unchanged under the hood, where a 4.2-liter V8 delivers 450 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque — good for a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph.

The company will only produce a limited run of 75 units, each priced at $87,575.

Mazda’s MX-5 platform will not be the base for a new Alfa Romeo Spider as previously thought.
Confirming rumors that have been circulating for much of 2014, Alfa Romeo CEO Harald Wester told CAR that the Italian automaker’s new Spider will instead ride on its forthcoming “Giorgio” rear-wheel drive platform.

Mazda has a contract to build FCA’s variant of the roadster in its Hiroshima manufacturing facility. Abandoning those plans would be costly to FCA.

The good news is that it appears FCA still has a home for the Japanese roadster’s underpinnings. Rather than appearing under the company’s premium Alfa branding, however, the MX-5 platform will likely find its way underneath a more mainstream product.

“The Far East import will probably find a new home with Fiat-Abarth,” Wester said. Moving the new roadster under the Fiat brand banner allows FCA to keep its contract with Mazda whilst simultaneously keeping CEO Sergio Marchionne’s promise to only build Alfa Romeos in Italy.

Meanwhile, Mazda has already shown its 2016 MX-5, with production expected to begin next year.

Honda is celebrating the grand opening of its new Heritage Center in Marysville, Ohio.
The museum is filled with 55 years of Honda vehicles and equipment, all associated with the Japanese company’s presence in Ohio and the rest of North America. Visitor can catch a glimpse of historic and modern automobiles, motorcycles, race vehicles, industrial robots and aerospace products.

The 160,000-square-foot building is also home to Honda’s new Technical Development Center, which serves as a training headquarters for the company’s engineers, service technicians and product associates.

“A vision to dream big is evident throughout the museum, exemplified by the visible evolution of the motorcycles, automobiles and power equipment on display,” the company notes in its announcement. “In addition, the space honors groundbreaking new Honda technologies such as a replica of the humanoid robot ASIMO and the HondaJet, which will begin customer deliveries in 2015.”

The $35 million facility will officially open its doors to the public in January.

General Motors is facing a new enemy in its ongoing court battles, thrown under the bus by the ‘Old GM.’
The pre-bankruptcy entity, which still lives on as a trust, has accused the ‘New GM’ of illegally hiding the defect during the bailout proceedings. The trust argues that the surviving company is consequently responsible for paying lost-value claims and other compensation related to the ignition-switch defect.

The Old GM’s position does not come as much as a surprise, as the New GM asked courts to redirect customer lawsuits to the pre-bankruptcy company. The Old GM is responsible for managing old debts, however it claims to be short on funds to pay damages in a flurry of lawsuit.

“New GM’s request exceeds the bounds of both constitutional due process and the sale order, and therefore, must be denied,” the trust wrote in a filing, as quoted by Bloomberg.

GM has continued to defend its legal position, noting in a follow-up statement that the issues “will be decided by bankruptcy court.” The court’s decision will be significant, potentially exposing the company to claims worth $10 billion.

General Motors has upgraded the Chevrolet Volt‘s regenerative braking system for the 2016 model year.
The Chevy-badged hybrid essentially borrows existing technology that has been limited to its upmarket stablemate, the Cadillac ELR. Drivers will be able to manage the regenerative braking system via paddle buttons on the steering wheel.

Pressing the paddle buttons will adjust the regenerative braking force, allowing drivers to maximize energy capture without using the traditional friction brakes in certain scenarios.

“It is even more refined than the ELR,” observes GM product chief Mark Reuss in a short YouTube segment — shot from inside a heavily camouflaged 2016 Volt.

The next-generation Volt is expected to introduce a wide range of upgrades, including a lighter battery that is rumored to stretch the electric-only range to 50-60 miles.

Full details will be released next month at the Detroit auto show.

McLaren has released yet another teaser photo for its upcoming Sports Series coupe.
The latest shot finally shows the entire vehicle as it launches around a track in full drift, though the front bumper and headlamps are still obscured by camouflage fabric.

The new entry-level model shares the 650S’ carbon-fiber tub chassis and mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, though the teasers suggest a few body elements have taken inspiration from the company’s flagship P1.

Unconfirmed reports point to engine output around 450 horsepower, enabling a zero-to-60 mph sprint in four seconds and a top speed around 185 mph.

The Sports Series is expected to fetch around $210,000 when it arrives, likely in 2015.

It looks like a replacement for the Ford GT is a sure thing, and we’re going to see it at the Detroit Auto Show next month.
Sources familiar with Ford’s racing efforts have confirmed to AutoWeek that not only is the new supercar a done deal, but it’ll be going back to Le Mans to defend its legacy in 2016.

The new supercar will be billed as an heir to both the GT40 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four consecutive times in the 1960s and the retro-styled GT (pictured) sold in 2005 and 2006. Most likely mid-engined, the supercar might not wear the GT nameplate but its silhouette will pay an unmistakable homage to its predecessors.

The Le Mans entry, along with a full Tudor United SportsCar Championship program, will be headed by Chip Ganassi Racing. It will be formally announced in the months following the new car’s debut.

The GT replacement is expected to spearhead an onslaught of high-performance models. Ford will also present the second generation of the SVT Raptor off-roader. We know that it will be based on the new aluminum-bodied F-150 but additional details such as what it will be powered by are being kept under wraps.

As previously reported, Ford will almost certainly show a more extreme version of the Shelby GT350 that debuted in Los Angeles earlier this month. Aimed squarely at the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, the GT350R will stand out with a more aggressive body kit, bigger brakes and a stripped interior.

Finally, rumors indicate a hot-rodded version of the Focus hatchback could make an appearance in the nation’s Motor City. Badged RS, it will pack a 300-horsepower version of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that is available on the 2015 Mustang. The Focus RS will be introduced next March at the Geneva Motor Show if it sits out Detroit.

All of the aforementioned cars will be grouped under the Ford Performance sub-brand, which will be similar to Mercedes’ AMG division and BMW’s M.

Stay tuned to Leftlane for full details and live images of Ford’s high-performance lineup starting next month.