Kia’s eye-opening Telluride concept may have gotten the bulk of the attention in Detroit, but the brand’s production car lineup is getting its chance to shine with two new vehicles — the 2017 Forte sedan and Forte5 hatchback.
Both members of the duo received visual changes for the 2017 model year, but it was the hatch that underwent the most dramatic cosmetic transformation. Keeping in line with the brand’s new design language, the Forte5 now wears a wider version of Kia’s trademark “tiger-nose” grill, as well as a retouched front bumper and a sweeping headlight design that seems to elongate the car’s profile.
Also new for the Forte5 is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which bolts up to the range-topping 1.6-liter turbo engine. Power ratings and fuel economy numbers are still forthcoming, but the 178-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo found in the 2016 Optima gives us a good ballpark figure. A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder is the standard offering, packaged with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
Outside of the new look, the biggest changes to the 2017 Forte5 come in the form of tech. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be available through the UVO infotainment system’s 7-inch touchscreen, with the Android system coming first and CarPlay coming online later. The hatch also offers a new suite of driver assistance features, including Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist.
If you prefer a traditional four-door silhouette, the Forte sedan has you covered. Like its hatchback cousin, the Forte gains Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a variety of driver assist features, but it adds Dynamic Bending Light technology, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Front Collision Warning, Lane Change Warning, and Lane Keep Assist as well.
In terms of performance, last year’s 1.8-liter Atkinson four-cylinder has been axed in favor of a larger 2.0-liter unit, and like the Forte5, it bolts up to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto. EX trims get a more powerful 2.0-liter engine, but its output has not been released at this time. Expect the full breakdown, including pricing and other information, to become finalized closer to the on-sale date later this year.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.