Euro NCAP's Best and Worst Performers of 2010

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which is similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, has released a list with the safest car in each vehicle category and the two worst performers overall of 2010. The cars that attained the coveted five star rating and achieved the highest overall score in their respective segment are:

------ Executive category: BMW 5 Series
------ Small Family category: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
------ Supermini category: Honda CR-Z
------ Small off-road 4×4 category: Kia Sportage
------ Small MPV category: Toyota Verso

On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.

The European body noted that the cars in the top list "accomplished a high combined score based on the scores in each of the individual four areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment, while notably exceeding the thresholds for a 5 star overall rating". Along with the five top achievers, Euro NCAP said that the Suzuki Swift, Kia Venga, BMW X1, VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra, Citroen C4 all exceeded the 80% mark in overall score putting them on the runner-up list for the safest cars of 2010.

Commenting on the results, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General said: “Every year, car manufacturers constantly work to innovate and make their cars better and safer for the driver, whatever the size of the vehicle. The presence in these categories of high performing 5 star cars demonstrates car manufacturers’ commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles.”

In early 2009, Euro NCAP implemented tougher crash testing procedures that make it more difficult for vehicles to receive a five-star rating. Last year, the European body crash tested a total of twenty-nine vehicles from numerous categories, of which 65 per cent reached the five star rating, compared to 90% in 2009.

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FAIL: Kia Sportage Tumbles Downhill [Video]

There's a right way and a wrong way to drive a vehicle down a steep hill. The folks in this previous generation Kia Sportage chose the wrong way, but fortunately for them, the incident ended without any bloodshed. Watch the video after the break.

Via: Motofilm

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2011 Kia Sportage Receives the SEMA Treatment Twice

Kia has teamed up with fashion and lifestyle magazine Antenna to create a pair of concept models based on the new Sportage CUV for this year's edition of the SEMA Show, which takes place in Las Vegas from November 2 to 5. The modified Sportage models are nicknamed "Work" and "Play," and as their names suggest, one is made to appeal to the tech-savvy, on-the-go professionals and the other to recreational enthusiasts. We'll have more on both models from the SEMA Show floor, but for now, follow the break for the press details.

Press Release:

Red "Play" Sportage

The "Play" Sportage concept was designed with the active urban male in mind and gives Kia's aggressively styled CUV a new skin and the latest athletic equipment and accessories, right down to the tires. The exterior was given a fresh and forceful new look featuring a standout matte finish with the body painted a flat red with texturized matte black trim paint. New 20-inch MRR HR4 wheels, also painted a coordinating matte black, enhance the rugged appearance, while a custom Yakima roof rack is outfitted with a red and black Cannondale® QuikFX Bike with unique bike pedals and seat to meet all athletic needs at a moment's notice.

Moving inside, all trim pieces of the "Play" Sportage concept are wrapped in black leather and accented with red stitching for a more energetic appearance. The seats are upholstered with black leather, complemented with black suede racing stripes and trimmed with red stitching running down the seat center for a unified look overall. All of the door panels use a three-material design – including black leather, black suede and red leather – with door-inset Memphis Audio component speakers for enhanced listening pleasure. An iPod Touch(4) is molded into the rear center console for easy access to today's latest music and news, while a custom quick-release camera holder in the rear center armrest holds an Olympus EP-L1 camera to capture memorable moments while traveling on the road. The headliner, also upholstered with black suede, includes a custom beach chair holder, complete with a black-painted beach chair with a red leather seat for last-minute trips to the coast.

Making "Play" Sportage a true athlete's car, the cargo area was transformed into a tailgater's dream with a custom-painted locker, motorized stainless steel barbecue grill and 22-inch LCD television. In the cargo area, a Mac Mini with a wireless keyboard and mouse, speakers and Wi-Fi ensure full connectivity while on the move or tracking live fantasy football updates, and a Memphis subwoofer beneath a mesh overlay furthers listening enjoyment.

Blue "Work" Sportage

Aimed at the sophisticated, tech-savvy busy professional, the "Work" Sportage concept vehicle created by Antenna sports a sleek and professional appearance with custom metallic blue paint, titanium grey wheels, roof rack trim, grille insert and bumper inserts. To add to the "Work" Sportage's unique demeanor, front and rear wheels display concave rims (more pronounced in the rear), with the rear wheels fitted with new 10.5-inch-wide tires to complete the specialized look.

Busy professionals will feel at home inside the "Work" Sportage with luxuriously appointed tan leather seats with a diamond stitching design reminiscent of an argyle pattern. High-quality custom carpeting can be found throughout, while door inserts are wrapped with the same diamond-stitched leather and fitted with mesh speaker ports to conceal the upgraded Memphis Audio system speakers for a seamless appearance.

All business-minded occupants benefit from the latest technology to keep abreast of the latest news updates, including a Motorola Droid X molded into the center console. New iPads are fitted into fiberglass inserts molded into the driver and passenger seatbacks to enable rear passengers to stay on top of pressing work matters, with passengers given the ability to either remove the iPads with a simple button release or keep docked to remain charged. A Bluetooth(5) wireless technology keyboard also is mounted into the back of the center console for easy communications.

To fully meet all needs of today's professional male, a full closet and dressing station is fitted nicely within the "Work" Sportage's spacious cargo area, offering storage for up to two suits, five dress shirts and five belts for any work situation. Grooming needs are met with holders for an electric razor (with a built-in power source) and ties, while a shoe rack with a track system to hold cufflinks and a wristwatch finish off the mobile closet.

Kia Goes Green in Paris with Sportage Diesel-Hybrid Concept

At this week's Paris Motor Show, Kia displayed the Sportage Mild Hybrid eco concept. Based on the latest generation of the South Korean firm's compact SUV model, the concept hooks up Kia's 1.7-liter turbo diesel engine, which produces 115-horsepower and 260Nm of peak torque, to a 5 kW electric motor with a double layer capacitor.

Kia also made small changes to the Sportage's body to reduce aerodynamic drag and added low-rolling resistance tires. According to the company, the Sportage Mild Hybrid emits just 117 g/km of CO2. Kia did not release fuel economy estimates.

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Kia Releases Full UK Pricing on All-New Sportage

After the recent launch of the limited production Sportage First Edition models, Kia UK has announced pricing (see US pricing here) on the full-range of its compact SUV that goes on sale in the country on November 1st. The full lineup consists of four engines, including two petrol units, a 140HP 1.6-liter powerplant and a 2.0-liter with 161HP, and two diesels, a 1.7-liter delivering 115HP and a 2.0-liter with 136HP.

There are also three trim grades badged '1', '2' and '3', with all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions available at the mid and high grade level given the KX preface. The flagship models are offered with a fully integrated satellite navigation system, featuring a 7-inch full-map color touchscreen mounted into the central dash console.

On the Road prices range from £16,645 for the front-wheel drive 1.6 GDi 1 model to £26,170 for the range-topping 2.0 CRDi 3 variant with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.

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