This is the kind of news that usually folks like Reuters and Automotive News report, but our friend Ray Wert from Jalopnik is out hanging out with the Koreans this week for the Hyundai Genesis launch in Korea. Here are the latest details about the upcoming Kia pickup we told you about back in March. Simply put, there won’t be one.

Dr. Dong Jin Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hyundai, said that the automaker has interest in the pickup market, however high-gas prices are killing the truck market.

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The cost of owning a vehicle goes beyond the purchase price. Expenses like insurance and maintenance can add up.

But most of all, it must start life with a sticker price well below even the most affordable luxury cars. A low purchase price holds down insurance premiums, taxes and fees, financing costs, and, especially, depreciation.

That’s why the priciest car on our list of the Top 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own is the tenth ranked Honda Civic DX, which starts at just $15,010.

Click through for the list of Top Least Expensive Cars to Own.

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Finding out what appeals to female drivers takes more than just putting on a skirt and high heels. But that can be a start.

To find out which vehicles women prefer, we compiled two lists. One looks at luxury vehicles most driven by women, and the other ranks the overall top 10 vehicles most driven by women, regardless of whether they are luxury or non-luxury.

Click through for the list of the Top 10 Cars Driven by Women.

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Just by the name of the concept you should know that the Koreans are trying to have a little fun with us on April 1st. Kia has announced a unique iteration of the KEE concept called the KEE_wii, with a revolutionary wireless driving system.

Basically taking a page out of the Nintendo Wii book, the steering wheel has been replaced by a small ‘controller’ which fits comfortably into two hands. Kia says that making steering motions with the small controller will turn the car in whichever direction the driver likes. Acceleration and braking can be done by pressing buttons.

“This is ultimate flexibility,” enthused Mr Josef-Hicks, head of the Advanced Propulsion Research Institute and Laboratory at Kia Motors New Zealand. “If you are travelling in left or right-hand drive countries you will be able to control the vehicle from the correct seat and if a passenger knows a road particularly well they can take control and make the journey more efficient and faster. We have patented this newly developed wireless system known as Full Orthopaedic Operating Logic. Okay, so visibility is a minor issue for those in the back seats, but we don’t think this will be a problem as a lot of people don’t really look where they are going when they drive – and we have built in a fail-safe security system called Independent Driver Input Operating Technique that utilises radar to avoid accidents.”

Good one Kia.

Kia KEE_wii Concept:

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During the reveal of the Spectra-based Kia KOUP concept car at the New York Auto Show, Tom Kearns, chief designer of Kia Motors America, was dropping a lot of hints that the concept car will hit production sooner than later.

“Sooner than you might think,” Kearns told Automotive News. “It’s an emotional design, for young people who are ready to make a move up.”

Power comes from a 2.0L direct injection turbocharged engine producing 290-hp and 289lb-ft of torque. Six airbags, stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system is included. Bluetooth, push start and navigation will be options as well.

Click through for more images.

Kia KOUP:

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Along with the sexy new Kia KOUP, Kia unveiled the 2009 Optima midsize sedan at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The larger 2009 Optima will go on sale early fall with a modified exterior and a new engine that provides more power and more fuel-efficiency.

The 2009 Kia Optima will be available in two powerplants including a 2.7L V6 and a more powerfuel 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that produces 175-hp and 169 lb-ft of torque. Two five-speed transmissions are available with an automatic Sportmatic clutchless shifting.

Pricing details will be announced closer to launch.

Click through for live images from the 2008 New York Auto Show and the press release.

2009 Kia Optima:

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While we all focused our attention on Kia’s sister brand, Hyundai’s release of the Genesis Coupe, we had forgetten how cool front-wheel drive coupes can be. Well Kia didn’t. While the Genesis Coupe aims at Mustang GTs, Infiniti G37s and BMW 335i Coupes, there are Cobalt SSs, Civic Sis, Scion tCs and Volkswagen GTIs still itching for a front-wheel drive throwdown.

The Kia KOUP may end up being the spiritual successor to the Hyundai Tiburon, but at least in this concept, it packs a direct injection turbocharged 2.0liter four-cylinder putting out 290-hp and 289lb-ft of torque. Hyundai & Kia don’t mess around with safety features and this car is no exception. Six airbags, stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system is included. Bluetooth and navigation will be options as well should the car reach production.

The KOUP echoes design elements from the Euro Civic hatch, the TSX, the RSX [gee you think Kia designers like Honda?] as well as some VW Eos [at least with the top up].

Kia KOUP:

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Planning a pickup truck has been on Kia’s drawing board since the 2006, when it showed its Mojave Concept at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. It now appears Kia is close to making the final decision on a pickup truck for sale in the U.S. The vehicle was one of the main subjects at Kia’s dealer meeting in February.

A source familiar with the Korean company’s plans says that the pickup has been approved for production at Kia’s plant in Georgia. The source said that the truck will be based on the new redesigned 2010 Sorento SUV.

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Kia revealed its SOUL concept cars at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show today showing, what it says, a ‘world of possibilities’ for customizing. Appealing to the young-at-heart youth (and to those looking for an alternative to Toyota’s Scions), the production model will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September.

As with the upcoming production model the Kia SOUL Diva, Soul Burner and SOUL Searcher concepts have a unitary bodyshell with a 2550 mm wheelbase. All measure 4.1 meters with a spacious body that measures 1785 mm wide and 1610 mm high.

Like the three different Kia SOUL concepts, the production model will allow customers to ‘build an emotional bond’ with their cars by customizing them to their own characters. Kia will announced technical specs and powertrain details at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Click through for more images and the press release.

Kia SOUL Diva, Burner and Searcher Gallery:

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Remember we showed you a teaser shot of the Kia SOUL Burner earlier this month? Well, the guys over at AutoWeek have leaked a full image of the concept ahead of its Geneva debut next week. The SOUL Burner is the ‘bad boy’ of the SOUL concept trio complete with satin black finish and gloss dragon tattoos.

Kia says: “The SOUL concepts will introduce ‘a world of possibilities’ for customizing and personalization to future Kia customers that will be delivered by the new model with its special appeal to the young-at-heart - whatever their age!”

More to come next week from Geneva.

Click through for more images.

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Kia will reveal its ‘fun’ side at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show with three new SOUL concept cars. Kia said the trio of concepts are closely related to the upcoming production model.

Kia says: “The SOUL concepts will introduce ‘a world of possibilities’ for customising and personalisation to future Kia customers that will be delivered by the new model with its special appeal to the young-at-heart - whatever their age!”

Hmm, sounds very Scion-ish to us. The concept shown in the picture here is the SOUL Burner and is supposedly the ‘bad boy’ of the concept trio complete with satin black finish and gloss dragon tattoos.

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Kia and parent company Hyundai are looking forward to the rest of the decade as Hyundai gets ready to unleash the Genesis while Kia gets ready to bring its seven-passenger SUV, Borrego, to U.S. highways. Both vehicles will hit dealerships later this summer.

At first Kia will offer the Borrego with 3.8L V6 and its first 4.6L V8 DOHC engine that produces more than 300 horsepower. The V8 engine is mated to Kia’s new six-speed automatic transmission.

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A slew of new vehicles suggests that diesels are coming back in a big way, but consumers may not be ready to embrace them just yet.

More than 10 diesel vehicles debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year – a staggering number when compared to previous shows, where maybe one or two, if any, were unveiled with little fanfare. As manufacturers ramp up efforts to start selling new diesel vehicles this fall, it seems as though diesel is becoming the new darling of alternative fuels.

Click through for the list of the Top 10 New Diesel Vehicles.

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