The product leakage continues as we’re packing our bags for Geneva. This time, Autoweek.nl has released images of the Kia SOUL Burner Concept, one of three concepts that the Korean automaker will be unveiling in southern Switzerland.

The SOUL is obviously taking aim at the Scion xB, which took the two-box design to literal levels. This new image gives us the full-frontal treatment of the new Kia people-mover, with a fascia that mixes sportiness with an upright demeanor. It’s not bad, although the pseudo-tribal graphics are so 1996. But the raked windshield and shortened D-pillar make it stand out a bit more than the xB from which it finds inspiration.

[Source: AutoBlog]

The Nissan Altima narrowly beat out the Honda Accord for the coveted Consumer Reports Top-Ranked, Mid-priced Sedan, which is revealed in the February 2008 issue. The V6 Accord lost to the V6-powered Altima by a scant one-point, followed by the Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat.

Consumer Reports tested a number of family sedans for its February issue, ranging from the base four-cylinder models and up to the range-topping V6s. The selected vehicles, which also included the Ford Taurus, Dodge Avenger, Kia Amanti and Subaru Legacy, were broken down into three categories: “Affordable,” “Mid-priced” and “Large” family sedans.

The four-cylinder Altima took the top spot in the “Affordable” category, leading by six points over the Accord, with the Kia Optima EX and Passat 2.0T coming in third and fourth, respectively.

Consumer Reports is quick to point out that the Accord, which has won the publications Top Pick for five years, outperformed the majority of the players, but in the end, the Altima proved to be the best value overall.

[Source: AutoBlog]

We’ve already seen some undisguised pictures of Kia’s handsome new midsize SUV, but the vehicle just launched officially in Korea as the Mohave. Official launch means official pictures, and that’s what we have here, a ton of really beautiful images of what we’ll soon know as the Borrego. Not that Borrego, this one sports a full frame, seating places for seven, and the choice of Kia’s strong-like-bull V6 or their first V8. The wisdom of introducing a new body-on-frame SUV at this point, especially in light of the coming new CAFE rules, might be questionable, but the vehicle itself is handsome and it’s hard to deny the inherent value that Kia bakes into its cars. We’ll check the Borrego out in person when it makes it’s US debut at the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, Carscoop unearthed a lot of great pictures to tide us over.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Europeans have a new supermini available to them in the updated Kia Picanto. The facelift transforms the Picanto from the anonymous basic transportation it was (see here), to a friendly looking little critter that you want to name like a Build-A-Bear. The facelift consists of new front and rear fascias as well as a spruced up interior. The new face is a definite improvement over the outgoing car, and shows that Kia’s moving toward a familial look. The grille, for example, is very Rondo-like. Rounded headlights give it a happier face than the vehicle it replaces, and likewise, there are now circular elements incorporated into the taillamp lenses. The interior details also look pleasing enough in the attached photos, and the car even offers niceties such as Bluetooth and both USB and auxiliary jacks for iPods.

Our sister site, Autoblog Spanish, has the French pricing posted. €7,990 puts you in the 63 hp 1.0i. Tack on another €1000 for the moderately spunkier 1.1i 66 HP. The costliest Picantos are the diesels, which sell for €9,690 or €10,690 depending on trim package. Both gasoline engines are good for combined-cycle fuel economy over 40 US mpg.

[Source: Autoblog]

Remember the Kia Kee Concept that made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September? While on its way to California to make its North American debut at the LA Auto Show next week, the car dubbed the “new face of Kia” wriggled out of its cargo restraints and slammed nose first into the front wall of its transporter. Kia spokesman Alex Fedorak said the car has already been sent back to Italy, properly secured this time, and will not make it back for the LA Auto Show. The impromptu bit of rhinoplasty may have improved the Kee Concept’s face, which you might recall we weren’t particularly impressed with. It does, however, recall the visage of a Cylon Raider from the Battlestar Galactica series. That makes two BS references for us today, and we promise it’ll be our last.

[Source: Inside Line]

Hard to tell if these recent spy photos are really the 2009 Kia Mesa or not, but now that the Hyundai Veracruz has been unveiled it’s not much of a stretch to think Kia would want a three row SUV of its own. You can see a few styling cues from the Mesa concept in this prototype like its broad grille and boxy shape. Those six-spoke wheels also look straight out of the Kia/Hyundai parts bin. With the Veracruz scheduled to go on sale later this year, expect to see the Kia version hit the streets about a year later. The concept displayed at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show was powered by a six-cylinder engine, although the company indicated that the Mesa had enough room under the hood for a V8.

SOURCE [Auto Express]