IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Telluride has been named to Car and Driver’s 10Best list for 2021, marking the second year in a row the big and bold SUV has earned a spot among the esteemed group of vehicles. The highly regarded awards recognize the smartest, most entertaining cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans on sale today.

“We’re excited to include the Kia Telluride in Car and Driver’s 10Best for the second year in a row,” said Sharon Carty, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. “We remain impressed with how many features you get for Telluride’s base price of $33,160, that it is a pleasure to drive and even how adept it is off road. We find ourselves recommending the Telluride over and over to friends shopping for large SUVs, which is a sign of how much we like it.”

The Telluride competed against 57 other vehicles—cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans—to earn its spot on the list of ten vehicles. Experts at the renowned automotive publication judged competitors based on value, mission fulfillment, and road manners. The field included all-new or significantly updated vehicles with a base price below $90,000, along with last year’s winners.

“This award is a badge of honor we wear with pride,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO, Kia Motors America. “It is tremendously rewarding to know the industry’s most keen-eyed experts recognize the high level of craftsmanship and engineering we invested into the Telluride. We look forward to being a mainstay on this list for years to come.”

For 2021, the Telluride received minor enhancements along with a special appearance package, the Nightfall Edition.

About Kia Motors America

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of more than 750 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Telluride, Sorento and K5 are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

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SOURCE Kia Motors America

Compact SUV praised for driving dynamics, design and value

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The 2021 Mazda CX-5 today was named as a Car and Driver 10Best winner, the fourth consecutive year that Mazda’s compact crossover SUV has received the award.

Recognized by Car and Driver for its driving dynamics, design and value, Mazda’s CX-5 had its best sales month ever in October. The 2021 model offers many premium features as standard, such as Mazda’s suite of i-Activsense safety features, including Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. A new 10.25-inch center display, the largest screen ever in CX-5, features the latest Mazda Connect infotainment interface and adds capabilities for Mazda Connected Services and in-car Wi-Fi hot spot. Along with Apple CarPlay^TM and Android Auto^TM, the 2021 CX-5 provides occupants seamless integration with their smartphone and helps enhance the sophisticated experience in the vehicle.

“The Mazda CX-5 is the crossover we recommend to friends who are shopping for crossovers,” said Sharon Silke Carty, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. “It is polished enough to compete with more upscale brands, and its effortless steering and controlled suspension make it fun to drive. It has the right combination of good looks, price and handling and has become a regular on our 10Best list.”

The upper trim 2021 CX-5 models come with the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine that delivers up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium 93 octane fuel or 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular 87 octane fuel. The standard four-cylinder Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine delivers 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. CX-5 also features a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission with sport and manual-shift modes, G-Vectoring Control Plus, and front-wheel drive as standard. Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive with off-road traction assist is available on all trim levels. 

New for 2021 is the CX-5 Carbon Edition. Sharing similar features to the CX-5 Touring with Touring Preferred SV Package, the Carbon Edition offers exclusive styling with Polymetal Gray exterior paint, gloss black door mirrors and 19-inch black metallic aluminum alloy wheels. The interior has red leather seats and special interior trim. The Carbon Edition offers the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine as an option and is available in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Car and Driver’s staff evaluated 57 vehicles during two weeks of testing, before voting on its 2021 10Best winners. The award recognizes the smartest, most entertaining cars, trucks, SUVs and vans on sale. “We judge vehicles with an emphasis on value, mission fulfillment, and whether they are fun to drive,” Carty said. “Each of the 10 winners competes against the entire market to earn this recognition.”

To be eligible for a 10Best award, a vehicle must be new or substantially changed from the prior model year, or be a returning winner from last year’s awards. It also must have a base price of less than $90,000 and be on sale in the United States by Jan. 21, 2021.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the U.S. and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — After more than two decades and one million units sold since the debut of the first-generation MDX in 2000, the new MDX Prototype previews the nameplate’s most ambitious redesign yet. Utilizing a clean sheet design and clear focus on delivering Precision Crafted Performance, the fourth-generation MDX reimagines the three-row SUV’s proven formula with a more emotional, exciting and premium design.

The clean sheet approach harkens back to the pioneering 2001 MDX, the first SUV designed by Acura in California, and the industry’s first three-row SUV to be based on a unibody platform. Both challenging designs were undertaken by the same person – exterior design leader Catalin Matei.

In a new video released today, Matei reflects on the disparate design intentions between the first and fourth-generation MDXs, while also highlighting similarities such as a distinct character line which runs the perimeter of both models, below the headlight on the original, and higher on the all-new MDX to communicate strength and performance.

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/BBv8-gXVvIs

MDX Design Reimagined
Previewed in Prototype form, the fourth-generation MDX makes a bold statement with its more dynamic and muscular design. A more upright front fascia and long, sculpted hood convey power and presence along with an impressive six-inch increase in dash-to-axle dimension versus the outgoing MDX. Inspired by the wind-shaped rocks of the Antelope Canyons, the new MDX’s alluring and sculpted body sides give the vehicle a constant impression of movement.

Elegantly crafted details include multi-faceted diamond surfaces on the grille creating dynamic reflections and light play while moving around the vehicle. The new MDX’s headlight and taillights, “the jewelry of the vehicle” as described by Matei, deploy Acura’s unique Chicane light signature at both the front and rear. 

The new MDX’s performance intent is underscored by its broad shoulders and tapered cabin, drawn rearward on the lower and wider body. Larger and wider wheels are pushed to the corners, anchoring the MDX to the ground and further communicating performance.

The Original MDX: First-Generation Changes the SUV Game       
The original 2001 MDX redefined the luxury SUV segment as the industry’s first three-row SUV to be based on a unibody platform, offering superior comfort, space and driving performance than existing truck-based SUVs. From a design perspective, the first-generation MDX artfully balanced between muscularity and elegance, while communicating strength and stability with its clean look, sharply chiseled front fascia and wide stance. The first gen MDX earned critical praise, including 2001 North American Truck of the Year and 2001 Motor Trend SUV of the Year awards.

Designer Bio: Catalin Matei 
Catalin Matei is a principal designer and exterior design technical expert at Honda R&D Americas (HRA). After graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Matei joined HRA in Torrance, California in 1988. His passion for finding creative solutions to technical problems, combined with his love of cars and drawing, are what led him to vehicle design.

Matei’s first role as a designer was on the 1993 Honda Civic Coupe. Following that, Matei designed both the 2000 Acura MD-X Concept and the 2001 Acura MDX production vehicle. He also led the exterior designs of the 2006 Honda Pilot, 2007 Honda Element SC, and two generations of Honda Odyssey (2011 and 2018).

Matei’s responsibilities for the 2022 MDX ranged from the overall exterior design all the way down to details such as the textures used inside the headlights and taillights. In addition to achieving a highly emotional appearance for the MDX, Matei had to consider the vehicle’s engineering layout and overall packaging.

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance – a commitment to expressive styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the ILX and TLX sport sedans, the RDX and MDX sport-utility vehicles and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar. All Acura models sold in North America for the 2021 model year are made in the U.S., using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Additional media information including pricing, features & specifications and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com.

¹ Based on MotorIntelligence cumulative total sales among all 3-row luxury SUV and CUV models, January 1980 through October 2020.

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SOURCE Acura