We’ve previously heard that the Hyundai Genesis sedan will get an 8-speed automatic transmission and now its confirmed. According to Lee Hyun-Soon, head of r&d for Hyundai and Kia, the 8-speed automatic will be offered in the Genesis sedan when it is refreshed in the 2011 model year.

Speaking to Automotive News at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Lee said that the Korean automaker is developing the new transaxle in-house. He said that the Kia Borrego SUV may also get the 8-speed in the future.

“This new transmission is for our rear-drive vehicles,” Lee said. “It will improve fuel economy by almost 2 percent. It gives better acceleration” and better noise, vibration and handling performance.”

Hyundai’s Genesis and Kia’s Borrego both use a 6-speed automatic transmission that was also developed in-house. Lee said that Hyundai is aiming to develop all future transmission itself. The redesign Santa Fe, which will arrive later this year, will also get the new 6-speed automatic.

Hyundai Genesis:

Kia is showing off the Borrego Limited Concept, a customized Ruo5 hatchback, the Soul Burner and KOUP Concepts at the 2008 SEMA Auto Show today in Las Vegas.

The 2009 Kia Borrego Limited Concept shows an accessorized Borrego made by Kia’s design team as a test bed for a new line of accessories being studied for the future. Besides a lowered suspension, the Borrego Limited sports an black-glossy exterior with a chrome accents in the grille, front bumper grille, door handles, side-view mirror housings and the bumper step plate.

Completing all that chrome-ness are 22-inch Avarus chrome wheels and Spec-X tires.

Kia Borrego Limited:

In a market where SUVs aren’t selling well at all, the new Kia Borrego, which hit showrooms last month, is already getting a new incentive of $2,000 cash-back in all regions.

Qualified customers can get 2.5 percent financing for up to 60 months plus $1,000 cash-back. The new incentive will end on December 1st. The 2009 Borrego is on sale now and is available in two different versions including a 3.8L V6 producing 276-hp and a 4.6L V8 producing 338-hp.

Pricing starts at $26,245 for the V6 model that gets 17/21 mpg (city/highway) and $30,995 for the V8 model that gets 15/22 mpg.

2009 Kia Borrego:

Source: KickingTires

Hyundai/Kia Automotive Group should really give themselves a pat on the back. Just last week Hyundai announced that its 2009 Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan received National Highway Traffic Safety Administration”s five-star crash test rating – the highest ranking a car can be awarded.

Today Kia announced that the 2009 Kia Borrego SUV has also been awarded a five-star crash safety rating by the NHTSA. Some standard safety features on the Borrego include front seat mounted side airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), traction control system (TCS) and a brake assist system (BAS).

The 2009 Borrego is on sale now and is available in two different versions including a 3.8L V6 producing 276-hp and a 4.6L V8 producing 337-hp.

Click through for more pictures and the press release.

2009 Kia Borrego:

Press Release:

KIA BORREGO EARNS FIVE-STAR CRASH SAFETY RATING FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT
Highest Possible Ratings for All-New Kia Mid-Size SUV in Frontal and Side Impact Crash Tests

- All-New Borrego joins four other Kia models with five-star crash safety rating
- Bevy of standard equipment outshines competition

IRVINE, Calif., September 5, 2008 ““ The all-new 2009 Kia Borrego has achieved a five-star crash safety rating, the highest rating possible, for all seating positions in the latest frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation”s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is the first time Borrego has been tested by the government agency.

“Borrego is Kia”s newest vehicle and it is a prime example of our commitment and dedication to providing the best and most up-to-date standard safety features in vehicles for consumers,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). “Borrego joins four other Kia models ““ Optima, Sportage, Sorento and Sedona ““ in garnering a five-star crash safety rating, and further positions Kia as a serious up-and-coming contender in today”s competitive and economically challenging automotive market.”

The seven-passenger Borrego is the latest entry in the midsize SUV segment and offers the same high level of standard safety equipment that has become synonymous with the Kia brand as well as additional features exclusive to the midsize SUV. Standard safety features include: advanced airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags for all three rows and driver”s knee airbag (V8 models only); four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control system (TCS); tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS); electronic brake distribution (EBD); and a brake assist system (BAS).

Borrego is available with a 3.8-liter, 276-horsepower V6 or a 4.6-liter, 337-horsepower V8. Borrego combines outstanding power with exceptional performance. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for the V6 and a class-leading 7,500 pounds for the V8. Fuel economy also is impressive for a midsize SUV with a best-in-class EPA rating of 15/22 city/highway for the V8 with 2WD and 15/20 city/highway for the 4WD. When partnered with the V6, Borrego is able to achieve a competitive EPA rating of 17/21 city/highway (2WD) and 16/21 city/highway (4WD).

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

Kia Motors America is the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site ““ www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration”s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) (www.safercar.gov). Vehicle Tested with Standard Side Airbags (SABs).