South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. said Thursday
that they have premiered a new concept car and showcased new models at a U.S.
auto show in a bid to strengthen their presence in the world's second-biggest
market.
Hyundai said it unveiled its Veloster C3 concept for the first
time at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show that runs through Dec.
9.
The new Veloster concept is a three-door convertible with Hyundai's
gamma 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injection (GDi) engine, said the
company. Hyundai said the driver can roll down the roll top and drop the rear
seat, enabling the car to haul large items such as surfboards or a
bicycle
Hyundai said a new larger sports utility vehicle (SUV) is also on
display at the L.A. exhibition, with a longer wheelbase and increased overall
length for more passenger space. The SUV will be rolled out in the United States
in the first half of next year, said the carmaker.
Its smaller
affiliate Kia Motors Corp. also showed off its new cars to attract U.S.
customers.
The redesigned Forte compact made its U.S. debut at the
auto show, equipped with a 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter GDi engine, said Kia. The 2014
Forte, already launched in South Korea under the name of the K3, has a longer
and wider body for roomier inside space, with light-emitting diode headlights
and a lower bumper on the outside.
Kia also unveiled the facelift
model of its popular Sorento mid-size crossover at the L.A. motor show, with
improved exterior and interior design. An improved 2.4-liter or 3.3-liter GDi
engine are part of the new Sorento. The Sorento is Kia's second-best selling
model in the United States after the Optima sedan.
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John Krafcik, the chief executive of Hyundai Motor Co.'s
U.S. unit, introduces the Veloster C3 concept at the Los Angeles Motor Show on
Nov. 29, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Hyundai)
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