The new Kia Borrego SUV will not see any upgrades for the 2010 model year. A Kia spokesman tells TheCarConnection that the Borrego “won’t be sold as a 2010 model” and that “the company could not rule out a future return–leaving its fate ‘TBD.’”

The Kia Borrego, which arrived in the U.S. market in 2008, was expected to sell up to 20,000 units annually. However, high gas-prices and the financial crisis have hurt sales. Through the first 11 months of 2009, Kia sold a total of 9,510 Borrego units in the United States. In November 2009, Kia sold 825 units of the SUV.

Prices for the 2009 Kia Borrego start at $26,245. It is available with two engine choices including a 3.8L V6 making 276-hp and a 4.6L V8 making 337-hp.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: TCC

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’s Borrego FCEV unveils next-generation of fuel-cell technology.
• •  Fuel Cell Output: 154-hp; additional power output: 134-hp Supercapacitor.
• •  54 mpg combined fuel-economy; 426 miles from 202 liter hydrogen tank.

Kia flaunted its new fuel-cell technology in the form of the Kia Borrego at the 2008 LA Auto Show. Innovations include a higher-output 154-hp fuel-cell and a new 450-volts Supercapacitor which provides an additional 135-hp. 0 to 60 mph comes in at 12.8 seconds with a top speed of 100 mph.

Production plans? Dr. Hyun Soon Lee, president of research an development for Hyundai/Kia Group said that the new Kia Borrego FCEV highlights a new phase of the company’s fuel-cell program. “Now we will be able to build fuel cell electric vehicles in higher volumes and lower cost for fleet testing,” said Lee.

Click through for more high-res photos from the 2008 LA Auto Show.

Kia Borrego FCEV – Live from 2008 LA Auto Show:

Kia Borrego FCEV:

KIA MOTORS UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Revolutionary Borrego FCEV Debuts at Los Angeles International Auto Show

• World premiere for new Borrego FCEV
• New technologies boost performance of fuel cell electric vehicle

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2008 – Kia Motors Corporation’s (KMC) Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) program takes a major technological step forward today with the global unveiling of the all-new Kia Borrego FCEV at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

 Numerous innovations including a higher output 154 horsepower fuel cell and a new 450-volts Supercapacitor give the Borrego FCEV higher performance, a greatly extended driving range and cold-weather starting capability to operate in sub-zero temperatures.

 Available with two and three tank systems with 70MPa pressure, the Borrego FCEV’s power plant is located under the center floor and boasts an additional 47 horsepower of power to produce a peak output of 154 horsepower (a 44-percent increase compared to the previous generation) and propel the vehicle to a top speed of 100 miles per hour (mph) while boasting a best-in-class system efficiency of 62 percent.  With a 202-liter hydrogen storage tank located underneath the vehicle and ahead of the rear wheels, this latest Kia Motors research vehicle has a range of about 426 miles.

 “Entering this new phase of our program is really exciting,” said Dr. Hyun Soon Lee, president of research and development for the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group.  “Now we will be able to build fuel cell electric vehicles in higher volumes and lower cost for fleet testing and the latest Borrego FCEV drives us closer to making fuel cell vehicles available for consumers.”

 Demonstrating its ability to conduct engineering of both gasoline/diesel production models and fuel cell research vehicles simultaneously, Kia Motors will be able to significantly improve the efficiency and quality control of future fuel cell vehicle manufacturing processes.

 With the use of lightweight aluminum body shell components, the Borrego FCEV has a power-to-weight ratio that is similar to the new production model SUV.  The FCEV also retains the roomy cabin, low noise levels and overall driving refinement of its new gasoline/diesel-powered sibling.

Technical Specifications

Type:  Fuel Cell + Supercapacitor
Fuel Cell Output:  154 horsepower (115kW)
Additional Power Output:  134 horsepower Supercapacitor (100kW)
Traction Motor Output:  147 horsepower (110kW)
Dimensions:  192.1 x 75.4 x 71.3 inches
Curb Weight:  4,960 pounds (2,250kg)

Max. Speed:  100 mph
Zero to 60 mph Acceleration:  12.8 seconds
Max. Distance:  426 miles with three tanks
Fuel economy:  54 mpg (EPA combined F/E)

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).