FIAT Takes Root in North America KIA Continues to Leave Its Mark

FIAT takes root in North America HYUNDAI continues to impress

Fiat is the major Italian car maker that recently and then a performance version that’s mar- There’s no doubt about it: South Korean most impressive car is the full-sized Equus acquired American automobile manufacturer keted under another legendary name, Abarth. auto manufacturer Hyundai has been with V-8 power. Chrysler. In doing so, the European company Last year, Fiat introduced a bigger four- impressing a lot of observers since it first established its return to the North American door version of its already popular little car, came to North America in the mid-1980s If you’re looking for a sporty car, consider market. Its first model here was the (still- the 500 L. Bearing a totally different design, with its very simple cars. Since then, its Hyundai’s Veloster, a modern-looking front- available) Fiat 500, a sub-compact two-door the 500 L is intended for small families or lineup has evolved so much that Hyundai wheel-drive coupe that comes with a re- coupe that can easily accept four people on travellers. Once again, it comes with an eco- is now considered to be one of the biggest gular or turbocharged four-cylinder engine. board. Powered by an economical four-cylinder nomical four-cylinder engine and front-wheel auto makers in the world. Hyundai also has another interesting coupe, engine and front-wheel drive, it looks vaguely drive, along with a standard or automatic the rear-wheel-drive Genesis Coupe, now like the older and legendary 500 model of the transmission. In Canada, its lineup begins with the sub- only available with a V-6 engine. 1960s. Today, this is one of the most modern compact Accent, a popular city car that has city cars on the market; it’s available with a This year, Fiat is introducing another model grown into a very sophisticated little vehicle. Hyundai also has a presence in the SUV standard shift or automatic transmission. of the same car, the 500 X, which happens to Powered by an economical four-cylinder segment with its Tucson compact vehicle, be a small four-wheel-drive SUV. About the engine, it remains a very useful front-wheel- which is offered with front- or all-wheel It didn’t take long for Fiat to come out same size as the also-new Jeep Renegade, drive four-door car. The lineup continues drive and is powered by a surprisingly with a convertible version of the small car with which it shares many components, the with the very popular Elantra, a compact quick four-cylinder engine. Lastly, you’ll 500 X has its own distinctive styling. Yes, it’s front-wheel drive that is available as a sedan, also find at the Hyundai dealership the ver- still very recognizable as a Fiat! hatchback or sporty coupe. satile Santa Fe, which comes in many versions, including the big XL version that The Fiat 500 X is One of Hyundai’s biggest successes has to be can carry seven passengers. the manufacturer’s the recently redesigned latest offering. Sonata, a mid-sized sedan powered by a great four- cylinder engine that also comes in a turbocharged or hybrid version. In the U.S., Hyundai offers a luxury version of the So- nata, the Azera. But all over North America, mo- torists can have the impressive Genesis luxury sedan, now available with V-6 or V-8 power and Hyundai is the Korean brand that had fast all-wheel drive. Hyundai’s and solid success in North America. CADILLAC remains the standard for excellence KIA continues to leave its mark A little more than ten years ago, you most version. Kia also offers a slightly bigger Cadillac, General Motors’ most luxurious all-wheel-drive option or with an even likely saw the arrival of Kia’s South Korean- luxury car, the Cadenza, which is also a brand, touted itself the Standard of Excellence more powerful turbocharged V-6 motor. built vehicles in America as a minor subject. front-wheel drive but V-6 powered. There’s in its ads of the past. You might say the same Rumour has it that GM will soon unveil Not anymore! Kia has grown in an incredi- also the very recent full-sized V-6 or V-8 holds true today. Most recently, Cadillac has an even bigger Cadillac sedan to help it ble way, and today the company has an im- rear-wheel-drive K900 luxury limousine. been reworking its lineup to compete with compete with the German limousines. pressive array of vehicles to offer. some of Europe’s best, including in the per- Kia also offers its own array of light SUV formance car category. Cadillac is also still pretty busy developing It all starts with the diminutive Rio, a sub- vehicles, starting with the unique-looking advanced technologies for its vehicles. compact city car that is available as a sedan or Soul, which is available with one of two four- It all starts with the recently-introduced com- Take, for example, its ELR, a small luxury a hatchback and is powered by a 138-horse- cylinder engines or even an electric motor. pact ATS, a worthy adversary for the BMW coupe based on the Chevrolet Volt’s tech- power four-cylinder engine. Following this One of Kia’s most recognized SUVs has to be 3-series. Cadillac’s small four-cylinder or nology. Yes, its main power comes from an front-wheel drive’s commercial success is the compact and very affordable Sportage, a V-6 ATS sedan is now available as a coupe electric motor, whose batteries can be another interesting Kia product, the compact front- or all-wheel-drive light truck that’s or with the performance V trim. That little charged at home or at special plugs in major Kia Forte. It’s available as a sedan, a sporty powered by a regular or turbocharged four- fighter is followed by the CTS, which was cities. And when the batteries run out of two-door Koup or a practical five-door hatch- cylinder engine. This small vehicle is backed re-launched just after the introduction of the juice, a small, economical four-cylinder back. One of three four-cylinder engines can up by the mid-sized Sorento, which can carry ATS. Now a little bigger, this sedan with engine fires up to provide the necessary power this front-wheel-drive car: a 148-horse- up to seven people. It can be ordered with a rear- or all-wheel drive and four or V-6 power to the electric motor (but not to power 1.8-litre powerplant, a 173-horsepower four-cylinder or V-6 engine with front- or all- power can be ordered in its performance recharge the batteries). Cadillac engineers 2.0-litre version or a more powerful 1.6-litre wheel configuration. Lastly, Kia’s biggest Vsport and high-performance V series. are also working on more-advanced cruise turbo four that develops some 195 horse- light truck is the newly redesigned Sedona, a People looking for a traditional full-sized control technology that will make the car power. In Canada, Kia offers a compact peo- great-looking V-6-powered front-wheel-drive Cadillac sedan will be attracted by the something close to self-driven. We’ll stay ple mover, the Rondo, which looks like a minivan that can come as a basic vehicle or a mighty XTS; it too is offered with an tuned for more news on that! small van combined with a little SUV. true luxury people mover. Kia is Korea’s most And let’s not forget Kia’s most remarkable car has to be the All Cadillac cars and light trucks that Cadillac also remarkable success story. are recognizable by their impressive front grilles. Optima sedan, a mid-sized front- offers great SUVs, wheel drive that can be available such as the compact with one of three four-cylin- SRX and the mighty der engines, inclu- Escalade, which was ding a turbo completely redesig- or a hybrid ned last year. This year, it’s still offered in regular and extended versions, and it will even be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

59G / MARCH-APRIL 2015 / NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX