Daily Archives: May 6, 2018
New 2019 Kia Niro EV Unleashed At International Electric Vehicle Expo
Kia surprised everyone at the 5th International Electric Vehicle Expo in Korea when it revealed the all-new Kia Niro EV in production-ready form. Following the surprise revelation, we are now receiving information about the European specifications of the electric vehicle, as well as details about its European debut at the Paris motor show in October.
Based on the new WLTP testing procedure, the Niro’s long-range 64kWh battery will be capable of reaching 298 miles on a single charge, the same range claimed by the Jaguar I-Pace. It is also slightly better than the 292-mile range of Hyundai’s Kona EV, Kia’s smaller sister car.
The production version of the Niro is far off from the concept shown during the Consumer Electronics Show at the start of the year. Instead, it looks very much like the existing hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the crossover. The lone difference in terms of design is the lack of grille, which is now where the charging socket is docketed. Other new elements in the design are the vibrant teal highlights on the front apron and the arrowhead style daytime running lights.
There will be two battery sizes available for the Niro EV—a smaller, cheaper 39.2kWh version and the long-range 64kWh car. The cheaper option won’t likely be available in Europe. That market will only probably see the 298-mile option. Expect the car to arrive in Europe dealerships in early 2019.
The Niro EV is one of the 31 electric vehicles that Kia plans to launch by 2020. Michael Cole, Kia’s European Chief Operating Officer, said in earlier reports that the Niro lineup would have three powertrain choices. So far, we’ve seen two of those three options. And rather than introduce new models for its electrified lineups, Kia would rather develop alternative powertrains for its existing EV models.
Land Rover Announced Updates For The Range Rover Velar
Land Rover is updating its Range Rover Velar for 2018 with a fresh six-cylinder diesel engine and a slew of enhanced driver assistance and safety features.
The new D275 will bring a 3.0-liter V6 diesel option for customers producing 271 horsepower and 625Nm of torque. Those who will opt for the engine will also get to carry the D275 badge. No performance figures or fuel rating has been revealed, but Land Rover claims that the new engine will be capable of delivering 42.8mpg with CO2 emissions of 175g/km.
Aside from the new engine, all other petrol and diesel units will be fitted with new particulate filters. The P250 and the P300 models are both going to have a larger, 83-liter fuel tank.
The Velar is already fitted with a number of driver assistance technology, but even this has been updated with the Steering Assist and Lane Centring, allowing the vehicle to maintain a steady path when driving in a single lane. This Steering Assist feature works at speeds of up to 111mph.
In the new models, all will come standard with a rear camera, front and rear parking aids, driver condition monitor, emergency braking and lane keep assist. Also updated is the forward collision detection system, which can now work between 6pmh and 99mph to alert the driver to potential hazards. It will also be able to apply the brakes automatically during a critical situation.
All Velar models will be fitted with coil springs as standard. Four-corner air suspension will be an option on V6-powered models, as well as in the four-cylinder D240 and P300 cars. Other features to be expected are adaptive dynamic damping, scanning wheel and body movement.
The Kvadrat-made Premium Textile interior is available across the Velar range, not reserved anymore for top-end models. The D275 is on sale now for $67,293.
2020 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 Spy Shots Revealed New Details
This year has been a big one for trucks. Since the start of the year, we have seen the new 2019 Chevy Silverado, 2019 Ram 1500, 2019 Ford Ranger and the 2019 GMC Sierra. Last week, we saw the new 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke diesel, and the Silverado, Ram, and Sierra HD variants will soon follow. There’s even a teaser for the Silverado 2500. To add to all of that, we now have access to spy shots of the upcoming 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali.
The new 2500 Denali model aims to look more than just the Silverado, just like the Sierra 1500 model. It has a new face and even with the camouflage, we can see that the new grille has roughly the size of a regulation football field (okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the drill). All of that new grille is wrapped in a sea of chrome, giving the new 2500 Denali model an aggressive look that’s perfect for its off-road capabilities.
Since the prototype taken by AutoGuide is seen in full camouflage, it’s hard to tell what else is in store for us, design-wise. We can see that the front and rear fender have significant flares, though it is also likely that these came from the covering. We’re still not sure about that. Reports have indicated that the new truck will have the MultiPro tailgate, but GMC has yet to confirm these speculations or whether there is even basis to them.
What we can expect is that the new CarbonPro carbon-fiber bed will be carried over to this new model. Other than that, it’s a wait-and-see game.
Aside from the Sierra Denali 2500, we can also expect the Sierra 3500 to arrive alongside the other heavy-duty variants. There will surely be a mix of aluminum and steel bodywork, similar to the light-duty models.
Spy Shots
Check out the spy shots of the upcoming GMC Sierra Denali 2500 in the gallery below:
2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST Performance Package Packs A Whopping 420HP
We have seen how Chevrolet’s Rally Sport Track (RST) work on the Suburban before. It’s nothing new and the Suburban RST was a dream. However, the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST with Performance package is nothing like we have seen before. It is coming full on packed with a massive 6.2-liter V8 engine that can produce 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Yes, the same 6.2-liter V8 engine in the Tahoe RST with Performance package.
The RST Performance package is now an available option for the 2019 edition of the largest SUV. Last year, when the Suburban and the Tahoe RST made both of their debuts, the Performance package was only offered for the Tahoe RST. But now, compared to the Tahoe RST’s 355 horses and 383 pound-feet of torque, it looks like the Suburban is the new favorite.
The Suburban RST Performance package’s 6.2-liter V8 is mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which might be the same unit found in the Chevy Camaro ZL1. Paired with the Active Fuel Management, the 6.2-liter engine is suddenly more fuel efficient compared to the 5.3’s six-speed auto transmission.
And much like the Tahoe RST Performance package, the Suburban RST version will also have the Magnetic Ride Control dampers. There will also be other options that owners can choose from such as a red Brembo brake package and a Borla dual-side exhaust system. The RST package will come with 22-inch wheels, a gloss-black grille, black Chevrolet badges, and a combination of body color and gloss-black trim.
There is no information yet about the pricing for the Suburban RST and the Performance package. On the Chevrolet Tahoe, the 6.2-liter V8 engine and the RST Performance package added $4,955 while the RST edition costs $2,640 on the 2018 Suburban. Pricing details for both packages should be revealed when the truck is launched later this summer. Stay tuned for more information.