Kia to Unveil Crossover Concept, Superman Car at 2013 Chicago Auto Show

Kia's showing in Chicago next week will be a mix of concept, in the Kia Cross GT, and just plain conceptual, in its Superman-inspired Optima Hybrid. Both cars are set to be unveiled at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, which runs Feb. 9-18 at McCormick Place.

Kia released a sneak peak of the Cross GT concept this morning. The photo shows what appears to be a seven-seat crossover larger than the 2014 Kia Sorento. Kia describes the Cross GT concept as "inspired by nature, driven by technology" and stated that it "hints at the future of Kia’s design language in the form of a premium Crossover Utility Vehicle." We’ll have full coverage of the concept next week from the show.

December's Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Cars

Automakers won't report December sales results until later today, but we have data on the month's fastest and slowest sellers. The redesigned Toyota Avalon hit dealerships in the first week of December, and it stormed the fastest-selling list, with regular and hybrid versions averaging just eight days apiece on dealer lots. Shoppers moved toward the Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup truck, too. That’s likely a result of an improved construction market; November housing starts hit their second highest rate since mid-2008.

The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which hit dealerships in September, spent its third month among the fastest sellers; the new-for-2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek also marked its third month on the list. Of the 18 fastest-selling cars, 10 were repeat performers, with such regulars as the redesigned Subaru Impreza and new Scion FR-S. The Kia Soul's severe mileage downgrade doesn't seem to have sapped demand, and neither has the popular hatchback's age. It debuted way back in early 2009, but in December it placed among the fastest sellers for the third month in a row.

Kia Connects With Google for Destination, Directions Service

Kia announced today it has teamed up with Google to enhance the second generation of the automaker's voice-activated multimedia system. The new version of Kia's UVO ("Your Voice") will help motorists more easily determine where they want to go and how to get there, according to the automaker.

The feature, integrated into UVO's eServices system, will use Google Maps and Google Places to allow motorists to search for driving directions and points of interest. The new smartphone-app-based services will debut during the first quarter of this year in the 2014 Kia Sorento crossover. Other models will follow, including the 2014 Forte sedan.

Kia drivers will be able to access the feature whether they are in or away from their vehicles by sending a destination directly from Google Maps on their smartphones via the UVO app. While in their vehicle, drivers can use Google Places to find points of interest or resources such as dealership locations. At the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia announced that UVO would also incorporate "geo-fencing," or the ability to draw zones on a map and receive alerts when your car goes there. This would allow parents, for example, to receive a text-message alert if their teen were to drive somewhere they weren’t supposed to.

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays attended the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and got a look at the updated-for-2013 Toyota RAV4. In this week's most-watched video, Mays says upgrades to the crossover are a good start, but that the true test in this competitive class will be on the road. Check out that video above and see what other videos were popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 2. 2013 Honda Civic sedan
• 3. 2014 Kia Forte
• 4. 2014 Mazda6
• 5. 2014 Porsche Cayman

2014 Kia Forte: Photo Gallery

The Kia Forte sedan grows longer and wider for 2014. The second generation of the Forte gets a curvier silhouette and wraparound headlamps, matching its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. No word yet if the coupe and hatchback will get a similar treatment.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Inside, leather surfaces, along with imitation carbon-fiber trim, give the cabin a more upscale look. Check out more photos below.

2014 Kia Forte Video

With a 2014 redesign of the Forte sedan, unveiled at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia has done much more than make good on its best-in-segment boast of front legroom. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says this wider, longer Forte also has respectable backseat and cargo space, along with cockpit-like cabin styling, soft-touch interior and surprisingly nice amenities for the compact class.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

With its new electric power steering and direct-injection engine, can the Forte achieve the increasingly coveted 40 mpg standard? Mays says wait and see. Check out the video below.

2014 Kia Forte: Up Close

The new Forte shares its platform and 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with the Elantra from affiliated automaker Hyundai, and Kia's swooping redesign shows a family resemblance. The wraparound headlights and (slightly) widened stance suggest Hyundai Elantra. So does the tail, all the way down to the bumper reflectors. I see some Ford Fusion in the taillights, too. It's a fresh look for Kia, if a bit derivative. It should suit the brand well.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Inside is a cockpit-like approach, with gauges and controls arranged in swoopy, circular segments rather than the stacked, horizontal framework from automakers like, say, Toyota.

2014 Kia Forte at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla
• Looks like: A Kia-fied Hyundai Elantra
• Drivetrain: 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic or 173-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with six-speed automatic; front-wheel drive 
• Hits dealerships: Early 2013

Kia sales are up 18% this year despite the fact that one of the brand's staple products, the Forte, has been around since mid-2009. That will change with the nameplate's 2014 redesign, which is longer and wider than its predecessor. Characteristic of Kia, it will offer amenities unusual to the class. The second-generation Forte sedan hits dealerships early next year; there's no word yet on forthcoming redesigns for the Forte hatchback and Koup. If there is, we hope Kia will learn to spell "coupe" correctly.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Styled in part at Kia's Southern California design studios, the Forte has a similar windswept profile as the Elantra from related automaker Hyundai. LEDs accent the headlights, and the lower bumper cutouts borrow cues from the stately Volkswagen Passat. Length and width are up 1.2 inches and 0.2 inch, respectively, and Kia says the new Forte rides about a half-inch lower than its predecessor.

Kia Forte, Updated Sorento to Debut at L.A. Auto Show

We showed you the next Kia Forte in July. Now Kia says the compact car, which sports mini-Optima styling, will show up at the L.A. Auto Show this November. It will debut alongside an updated Sorento SUV.

Kia sales executive Tom Loveless told reporters in Detroit on Wednesday that both updated cars will go on sale early next year — and five more new or updated Kia models will follow. In total, Kia will release seven new or updated cars in 2013, Automotive News reports. "We are going to have a very, very busy auto show circuit," Loveless told reporters.

Here's What the Next Kia Forte Will Look Like

For those who want the Kia Optima’s looks but not its size, the wait is almost over. The redesigned 2013 Kia Forte compact is just around the corner (shown above).

Debuting in South Korea first, the new Forte — known there as the K3 — will arrive in the U.S. in the beginning of 2013, says the automaker.