009 Kia Borrego EX
IN FLEET: Sept. 22 - Oct. 6
AS-TESTED PRICE: $39,295
DRIVETRAIN: 4.6-liter V8; 4WD, six-speed automatic
OUTPUT: 337 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 323 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 4,621 lb
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 17/16.3 mpg

SENIOR EDITOR KEVIN A. WILSON: I “threw” a couple of 20-somethings in the third row. The kids are a lot more flexible than we remember–no complaining about access. They’d have preferred something more comfortable, like the Norge (our long-term Chrysler Town & Country), but it was at the end of a long family wedding reception and they were sleeping off the aftereffects.

As for driving the Borrego, it reminded me of what SUVs were like 10 years ago. The ride is on the trucky side, roughly comparable to, say, a three-row Chevy Trailblazer. Except on bad roads, when it’s worse than most recent competitors. I deliberately amended my route, opting for smooth roads rather than shorter distances, after my first experience on a stretch of poor pavement. The driving character is Ford Explorer-like, with some nosedive on braking and not much steering feel.

If I’m going to drop $40,000 on a V8-powered large-ish SUV, I think I’d go with a company that’s into the third or fourth generation of customer feedback on the form, though I suppose if you matched them feature-for-feature, many domestic and Japanese competitors would be closer to $50,000.

Kia has done a fair job of assessing what’s required in the segment, but there are oddities. Such as trying to fold the third row while the leaving the middle seats up–you have to fold the second-row seatbacks halfway forward to make room for the third row to fold down.

Power is sufficient for the mass and the uses you’d envision for a truck like this, but not awe-inspiring.

The next chapter in Audi’s small car future has just been written. This sensational model is the new A1 Sportback – and it’s a five-door version of the German manufacturer’s forthcoming compact hatch.

The A1 was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year in the form of the three-door Metroproject Quattro. The wraps came off this more practical model at the Paris exhibition.

Together, the two concepts preview Audi’s forthcoming MINI rival, due on sale in the UK in 2010. And one thing is for sure: if this latest show car is anything to go by, customers are in for something special.

Taking the look of the Metroproject Quattro to new heights, the Sportback adds an extra pair of doors and a host of neat visual details. At the front is a set of adaptive LED headlights, which change their beam width and length according to how quickly the car is travelling.

The rear end features a split tailgate which has a drop-down glass panel and a vertically split screen, too. And the body itself is made from lightweight steel and carbon fibre composites. Under the bonnet is the most powerful incarnation yet of Audi’s 1.4-litre turbocharged TFSI unit, boasting 148bhp.

This is assisted by a 20kW electric motor which provides an extra 150Nm of torque. The hybrid set-up powers the front wheels only – unlike the all-wheel-drive A1 three-door – through a seven-speed S tronic double-clutch box.

Eco-friendliness is the buzz-word for the Sportback, as it also features a stop-start function and regenerative braking. In addition, it boasts Audi’s adjustable Drive Select system, which incorporates a special ‘efficiency’ mode.

Meanwhile, the satellite navigation even has a setting that can plot the most fuel efficient route to a destination, taking into account inclines and traffic density.

As a result of all these features, the A1 Sportback is remarkably economical, returning a hugely impressive 72.4mpg combined. The car is extremely clean, too, emitting a mere 92g/km of CO2. And it should be a lot of fun to drive thanks to the inclusion of Audi’s Magnetic Ride system, which was seen for the first time on the R8.

The hi-tech equipment continues inside. While the three-door concept featured a plug-in iPhone-style set-up which started the car and allowed a range of settings to be adjusted, the Sportback accepts a variety of mobiles.

Owners simply download some software from Audi, which allows their phone to ‘talk’ to the car. It can then be used to start the engine and remotely change temperature, warming up the interior on cold days.

When the A1 officially arrives in 2010, buyers can expect a wide range of engines – including the latest small-capacity turbo petrols and super-clean diesels.

An Audi spokesman told Auto Express that a hybrid version “would be available at some point down the line”. Prices should start from around £15,000.

As-tested price: $65,015
Drivetrain: 5.0-liter V8; AWD, seven-speed automatic
Output: 390 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 369 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
Curb weight: 4,575 lb
Fuel economy (EPA/AW): 16/17.3 mpg
Options: Sport package including continuous damping control with auto and sport mode, rear active steer, adaptive front lighting system, auto-leveling headlights, sport-style front seats, driver’s seat with power bolster adjustment, thigh support for driver and front passenger, dark-tinted headlights, side air vents and lower side trim ($3,000); technology package including intelligent brake assist with forward collision warning, lane-departure warning and prevention, precrash seatbelts, intelligent cruise control, distance control assist, rain-sensing front windshield wipers ($2,900); Infiniti mobile entertainment system, DVD player in front-center console, wireless headphones, nine-inch, flip-down headliner-mounted display ($1,600)

OUR TAKE: “Performance” SUVs usually are easy targets to bag on. But for those who like the idea of a relatively fun-to-drive vehicle in a more utilitarian package than that offered by a two-seat sports car, this FX is a legitimate option.

The aggressive exterior styling is jolting, perhaps even polarizing, but we like it. Inside, the interior is very nice, with quality stitching and controls. Switch the suspension to Sport, and it is amusing to toss the FX around, especially with a solid engine putting out plenty of power and torque for this kind of vehicle. We always like the option to use the paddle shifters to cycle through the gearbox, but we can’t figure out why so many manufacturers insist on mounting the paddles to the steering column. It only serves to make it difficult to reach them when you have steering lock wound on.

Short of offerings from AMG, BMW and Porsche, there aren’t many high-riding sport-utes that are as fun to drive as this one. It’s worth a look if you want some driving fun in this type of package.

Ford’s new Ka will have higher CO2 emissions than the larger Fiesta.

The most fuel-efficient Ka has CO2 emissions of 112 grams per kilometer. It is powered by a 1.3-liter diesel engine.

The most fuel-efficient Fiesta is an ECOnetic version powered by a 1.6-liter diesel engine. The Fiesta ECOnetic has CO2 emissions of 98g/km.

The Fiesta ECOnetic will go on sale across Europe later this year. It will be the third Ford’s ECOnetic car after a 139g/km Ford Mondeo ECOnetic and a 115g/km Ford Focus ECOnetic.

Ford’s ECOnetic models use measures such as aerodynamic improvements, low rolling resistance tires, lower suspension settings and low resistance lubricants to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

Ford likely will sell an ECOnetic variant of the Ka but has no launch date yet.

Maureen Graham, Ford’s brand manager for the Ka and Fiesta, said: “We are not saying when, we need to agree that with Fiat.”

The Ka is built on the same production line as the Fiat 500 model in Fiat’s factory at Tychy in Poland.

The second-generation Ka will go on sale in most major European markets in late 2008 or early 2009.

It’s no surprise. Not only is the Chevrolet Volt easily one of GM’s most ambitious projects (new technology, short timeline), but we have also been hearing many rumors that the European Opel brand will get its own version of the gas/electric hybrid. So, very few were surprised at the official announcement from General Motors at the Paris Auto Show that Opel’s Volt will arrive in 2011 (Chevrolet’s will debut in 2010.)

“Since fuel economy and the whole issue of ecological driving is as important in Europe as it is in North America, we made a decision that we’re going to trail the North American Volt with an Opel version of that vehicle in the 2011 time frame,” said Hans Demant, managing director of Opel.

Opel will utilize the technology and powertrain from Chevy’s Volt, but says it will likely change the design for its customers. The final product will likely still look a lot like the Volt considering the final shape was chosen for its low aerodynamic drag.

BMW today unveiled its 2010 BMW X1 crossover, following an image leak just hours ago. The reveal follows teasers released by the automaker over the last seven days. On display this week at the Paris Motor Show, the X1 was introduced as a “concept.” But like the recent M3 and X6 concepts, it will be nearly identical to the production car.

A platform mate to the Mini Crossman, the new X1 appears to take design cues from across the BMW lineup. The taillights resemble those of the facelifted 3-Series, while the grille reminds us of the redesigned 7-Series. The headlights are angular and unique, and the foglights are positioned relatively high on the front fascia. The upward sweeping shoulderline and sloped rear window give the impression of an X6-like rear, despite a relatively conventional storage area.

The X1 is expected to hit the market in 2009 with full time all-wheel drive. Its overall size is also said to be comparable to the Toyota RAV4. It remains possible that the X1 will share some components with MINI’s upcoming SUV.

Other details on the production X1 remain a mystery, but drivetrain options will likely mirror those offered in the 1-Series. Since BMW is going after the fuel efficiency crowd,

With the BMW X1 out in the open for all to see, you might be wondering what the automaker’s rivals have in store. Audi has long been known to have a small crossover in the works, likely named Q3. So how might this mini SUV look? Our illustrator has created two images to answer that question.

Originally thought to be a three-door, sources now indicate the Q3 actually has the typical four-door configuration. A recent rumor suggests the vehicle might actually be named Q1, but Q3 seems like a more logical progression from Q7 and Q5.

To be underpinned by a longer and stronger version of the next-generation Volkswagen Polo architecture, known internally as PQ24, the new Q should get a body that is just over 155 inches in length.

Powerplants will include VW’s 1.4-liter TFSI inline-four engine that can be had in a 125 horsepower and 150 hp versions, with North American versions also likely getting the 2.0 inline-four TFSI good for 200 hp model is also expected. European models will receive two diesel engines, including an 80 hp 1.2-liter turbodiesel and a 1.6-liter TDI with up to 119 hp.

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Few weeks ago Aston Martin official announced the revival of the Lagonda luxury brand. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Lagonda will unveil a concept car in 2009 and the first production models (that will compete with Rolls-Royce) will come in 2012.

According to latest reports, the first model from Lagonda will be a large (possibly tall) luxury sedan. It will most likely not carry the name Rapide because Aston Martin has already reserved the name for its new sedan.

By taking into account Lagonda’s history of combining aggressive looks and curvy lines, especially in Lagonda’s Rapide of the 60s, our designer imagined how this future sedan might turn out. Take a look at our first exclusive rendering, and tell us how you think it stacks up to the competition.

At the Paris Auto Show, Ford will take the wrapping off its latest package for its Kuga crossover. Called the Individual, the package was inspired by the Iosis X Concept first shown in Paris two years ago.

Taking full advantage of the ’kinetic’ shapes of the Kuga’s interior, the Ford Individual Design team has developed a completely new color scheme, and combined it with premium quality materials, with contrasting colors and textures.

Although the Kuga is currently only available in Europe, this is likely to be one of the cars Ford will start to sell in the U.S. as part of its vehicle downsizing program.