Autoblog UK

Following the massive success of the Kia Soul, we are wondering if the new Kia Forte Koup will be coming to Europe. The latest Kia models are mainly targeted at a younger age bracket. The Forte Koup represents a further step in this direction. The two-door coupé made its debut at the 2009 New York International Auto Show and is due to go on sale in the States some time this year. This sporty version is the second model after the Soul to reflect the new Kia design concept. What's your opinion? Do you think the Kia Forte Koup will find a ready market here in on this side of the Atlantic?

What on earth is that? Many visitors to the recent New York Auto Show were asking themselves this very question when they espied this bizarre yellow concept. Speculation ranged from a Batmobile to an amphibious vehicle. Barkan Designs reply to all the enquiries was that this is the ultimate mid-engined pickup. The positioning of the motor gives the truck optimum weight distribution and also its name: Counter Balance. Where other pickup trucks have their engine, this one accommodates luggage. Unladen, it is said to handle like a standard motor car. The 1.5m pickup bed can be lengthened to an optional 2.5 metres. Unextended, the truck is almost five metres in length, 1.92 metres wide and 2.11 metres high. It provides seating for driver and four passengers and runs on a variety of fuels . Barkan claim the Counter Balance could soon be going into small-scale series production and retailing at an attractive price.

Rumours already abound in the European motoring world that the next Kia is soon to be dished up to the public here. The one being spoken of is the Kia Forte, which is based on the Cerato and is already available in several countries. It is due to make its market entry in the States at the end of 2009 and could also be available in Europe thereafter.

The Forte Koup is the continued development of the Koup concept car that was presented by the Koreans at the New York Auto Show in 2008. This two-door car could be described as 'sporty/elegant' and puts out 289bhp. At the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show, Kia also showed the new Chinese-built four-door compact version of the Forte.

Mercedes-Benz chose the occasion of the New York Auto Show to exhibit the E 250 BlueTec, a prototype specially conceived for the North American market. Essentially, this model is an E 250 CDI with pioneering exhaust gas after-treatment technology. Core components of the BlueTec system are two SCR catalytic converters with an AdBlue injector positioned upstream. The after-treatment process is monitored and controlled by an array of sensors. According to Mercedes, the E 250 BlueTec returns a fuel consumption of 42.7mpg. This clean E-Class is due to arrive in Europe some time during autumn 2009, but with the E 350 BlueTec V6 diesel as its engine.

In New York, visitors were allowed to marvel at a limited dream. There will only be 600 units of the Chevrolet Corvette GT1 rolling off the lines. This limited edition will bear the name of "Championship Edition". Words are not required - pictures are enough, so dive into the gallery!

While the American car industry is in a flap, the South Koreans are presenting something that is flapping in a different way in order to fly over American competitors. The wild wings are owned by a bird named Hyundai Nuvis.

At the New York Auto Show, visitors were truly amazed when the Nuvis opened its doors. The dream pilots from the California Design Center had certainly come up with a few ideas. "It was our objective to create a living machine that is always on the move and that would be at one with driver and passengers", explained Studio design head John Krsteski. Not a single line on the concept car stands still. So is it really flapping? The outstanding style element are the large wing doors of this Korean four-seater. Its feathered cloak - or rather bodyshell - is to look like brushed aluminium to underscore the premium aspirations of the Nuvis. The central console is treated with blue acrylic paint and further blue elements are found inside in the shape of a lighting strip on the floor. This blue design concept is to suggest associations with flowing water. The vehicle is powered either in pure electric mode, by by the petrol engine alone, or by both working in concert. Hyundai wants to present this drive concept in America with the next Sonata generation.

Too busy to go to New York? No problem. We've put together a display of the 25 best images from the New York International Auto Show in the gallery below. Look, download, enjoy.

Prior to its US market launch, the new Subaru Legacy had its premiere at the New York Auto Show. The car is due to reach American dealers in the summer and then to make its first appearance in Europe around twelve months later. The flagship model from Subaru has been lengthened to 4.73 metres and its wheelbase extended by eight centimetres to give its five passengers more legroom. The new Legacy makes a more impudent and aggressive impression than its predecessor, with the bodywork of this mid-range family car now looking much sportier. They have obviously kept the four-wheel drive and also the horizontally opposed engine delivering either 170 or 265 horsepower. For Europe, they are also planning to offer a 150bhp boxer diesel. Alongside the notchback version of the Legacy, there will also be an estate as well as an off-road version called Outback.

Toyota subsidiary Scion has just unveiled the iQ Concept at the International Auto Show in New York. Following the surprise success of the Smart ForTwo in the US market, the Toyota iQ could literally beget a 'scion' to take on the already established micro-compact car. Visually, this iQ makes a much more aggressive impression than its Toyota parent. The massive wheel arches, substantial sills, front spoiler lip and special tyres are all intended to attract a younger class of buyer.

At the New York Auto Show, the ailing US car giant Chrysler showed there's life in the old dog yet with the debut of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. As before, this large SUV is based on the same platform as the Mercedes M-Class, but the looks have been considerably pepped up. The biggest external changes compared with the current model are to be found in the now more angular front as well as in the side profile of the five-seater. The overall length of the Grand Cherokee has been increased by five centimetres and the wheelbase has extended by 13cm to 2.92 metres. This means that passengers on the back seat can stretch out their legs a bit more. In choosing an engine for the European market, they are likely to stick with the six-cylinder diesel built in cooperation with Daimler and familiar to us from the previous model. The new Jeep offers three different four-wheel drive systems. This SUV won't be appearing on the American market until the end of 2010. No announcement has been made about any launch date for Europe.