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Automobiles

Chevrolet Corvette Timeline: Milestones and More from C1 through C7

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By Andrew Wendler

Chevrolet Corvette Timeline: Milestones and More from C1 through C7

Over its 60-odd-year run, the Corvette has largely stuck to its original objective of providing homegrown performance wrapped in a stylish, two-seat package. Its journey has at times been an uncertain one, but now in its seventh generation, it’s safe to say the hits have outnumber the misses. Here’s our look at the Corvette story from conception to 2014 C7.

C1 1953–1962

1951: Harley Earl, GM’s chief designer, drives the Le Sabre concept car to Watkins Glen, where he falls in love with the Jaguar XK120. The wheels begin to turn.

1953: Chevrolet reveals the Corvette dream car on January 17, 1953, at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel, as part of the kickoff to that year’s GM Motorama. Named after small, highly maneuverable naval escort ship, the show car is also known as the EX-122.

On June 30 of the same year, the first production 1953 Corvette rolls off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. Production is capped at 300 units, all in the now iconic Polo White/Sportsman Red exterior/interior color scheme and powered by the 150-hp, three-carb “Blue Flame” inline-six and a two-speed Powerglide transmission. The only options are a heater and an AM radio.

1954: Corvette production begins at GM’s St. Louis, Missouri, facility on January 1. Chevrolet expands the exterior color choices to include Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black. Beige is added as an interior option. The straight-six engine gets bumped to 155 hp. Just 3640 Corvettes are produced by year’s end.

1955: The small block Chevy V-8 makes its first appearance between a Corvette’s fiberglass fenders, and a three-speed manual appears as an option. The year closes with the six-cylinder bidding adieu. Production totals 700 units.

1956: Factory-installed removable hardtops are offered for the first time, and the exterior gets exposed headlamps, sculpted side coves, and roll-up windows. Seatbelts make the scene as a dealer-installed option, and one-hundred and eleven buyers drop $188.30 on a high-lift cam (order code: RPO #449). Head Corvette engineer (and future legend) Zora Arkus-Duntov tells the brass to go racing, but his pleas for a racing program fall on deaf corporate ears. Two four-barrel carbs enhance the 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V-8, and our own Karl Ludvigsen (back when we were known as Sports Cars Illustrated) deems the ’56 credible: “Without qualification, General Motors is now building a sports car.”

<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-117839" title="1958 Chevrolet Corvette" src="http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/1958-Chevrolet-Corvette-0031-220×134.jpg" alt="1958 Chevrolet Corvette" width="220" …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Video Gaming

Darkstalkers Resurrection Review

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Capcom really ought to take notice. I mean, really: no one should outclass it on its home turf. But then in come the fine folks at Iron Galaxy to handle the porting duties for Capcom’s dusty old classics fighters, and they end up delivering great new additions that beat Capcom at its own game – literally. Darkstalkers Resurrection isn’t just a generously featured port of two fan-favorite fighters in one, it’s a shining example of how social features should work.

If you’re old and crusty, you may have played Night Warriors or Darkstalkers 3 at your friendly neighborhood arcade in the late 90s. They marked a much-needed departure from the Street Fighter series, trading out well-worn martial arts tropes for vampires, sasquatches, and mermen. It played just as differently as it looked. Though it might seem tame compared to something like Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, features like air blocking, EX specials, and unblockable attacks had either just started emerging, or were being introduced by Darkstalkers for the first time. Fifteen years on, such moves have become fighting-game staples. But even though their best tricks are now old news, both games in Darkstalkers Resurrection remain enjoyable, and feel almost as unique now as they did then.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Video Games

Automobiles

Official: 2014 Kia Forte Koup bows with new look, new engine

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By Steven J. Ewing

2014 Kia Forte Koup

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Third time’s the charm. The final member of Kia’s Forte trio has been revealed here at the New York Auto Show, and this new coupe Koup will join the sedan and five-door models when it goes on sale near the end of this year.

The two-door Forte looks sharp, and we like the way Kia’s new design language for its compact car has translated onto this coupe model. LED running lights are found up front, matching the LED taillmaps at the rear. EX models will ride on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the upgraded SX model will use 18-inch rollers.

Two powertrains will be offered in the Forte Koup: a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four in the EX, producing 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission; and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four in the SX, rated at 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The five-door Forte also gets this turbocharged mill, and if its specs sound familiar, it’s because this engine is also found under the hood of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo.

Inside, Kia says there are plenty of sporty touches to the cabin, though all that really means for buyers is a smattering of fake carbon fiber and some leather-wrapped touchable surfaces. Still, things should be pretty pleasant inside the Forte, and Kia promises standard features like the company’s UVO connectivity system, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio and a rear camera display.

Pricing will be announced closer to the 2014 Forte Koup‘s on-sale date later this year. We’ll have more images direct from New York in short order, so stay tuned. In the meantime, take a glance below for the official press release.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte Koup bows with new look, new engine

2014 Kia Forte Koup bows with new look, new engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

2013 Kia Optima Hybrid Gets More Torque, Better Mileage, Another Trim Level, and a Slightly Higher Price

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2013 Kia Optima hybrid

Kia has whipped up a small batch of changes for its mid-size Optima hybrid for 2013, which improve the car’s fuel efficiency and broaden its price appeal. First introduced for 2011, the Optima hybrid was offered in just a single trim level, and we found it to be handsome, if a bit rough around the edges. Now, Kia is offering buyers two trim levels—LX and EX—both of which see a host of underhood upgrades intended to improve fuel economy and drivability.

The 2013 Optima hybrid’s engine compartment plays host to a new electric motor that packs seven more horsepower than last year’s unit; the four-cylinder engine actually loses some output, dropping from 166 horsepower to 159. The gas engine’s peak torque is unchanged at 154 lb-ft, and the new electric motor makes the same 151 lb-ft of twist as last year’s. The lithium-polymer battery pack has more capacity than before while taking up less trunk space, and contributes to a boost in overall torque—235 lb-ft from 195; combined horsepower drops by 7 to 199. The net result is an improvement from 34 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway to 36/40 for the Optima hybrid LX, a 1-mpg increase in city mileage for the Optima hybrid EX model, and a claimed increase in responsiveness and performance. Regardless, the Optima’s efficiency, at least as rated by the EPA, is significantly off of the segment-leading Ford Fusion hybrid, although the LX beats the Toyota Camry hybrid on the highway. Kia says that the increase in mileage and output come via improved battery cooling and an updated software-management system.

As for pricing, the 2013 Optima hybrid LX starts at $26,675, just $125 more than last year’s single EX model, while the up-level 2013 EX starts at $32,725 and basically comes one way: loaded. Standard equipment is essentially unchanged for the base model, and all of the goodies from the 2012 model’s $5350 Premium Tech package—HID headlights, a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch aluminum wheels, an Infinity audio system, navigation, heated front and rear seats, and a cooled driver’s seat—are standard on the reloaded EX model. LX buyers can spec a Convenience package, which adds an eight-way power driver’s seat and Kia’s UVO infotainment system, for an additional $700; both items are standard on the EX, which sees an identical $125 price increase over last year’s model equipped with the Premium Tech and Convenience packages.

It’s hard to argue with more choices, more torque, and better mileage for an almost indiscernible increase in price. We look forward to trying out the updated Optima hybrid and seeing whether it drives better, and it’ll be interesting to find out if the mechanically identical Hyundai Sonata hybrid will receive the Optima’s improvements anytime soon.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Kia Optima Hybrid gets same updates as Hyundai cousin, slightly higher price

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By Sebastian Blanco

2013 kia optima hybrid

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After a slight delay, we now bring you your regularly scheduled refresh of the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. As with the Hybrid Sonata Hybrid update, the reworked Optima gas-electric gets more power – a 40 pound-feet increase in torque, up to 235 lb-ft – from a bigger 47-horsepower electric traction motor and a more powerful 47-kW lithium-polymer battery. The price also gets bigger, but only a little bit. The new MSRP starts at $25,900, up $100 from the 2012 Optima Hybrid. That’s for the base LX model, the fully loaded EX trim starts at $31,950 (fees and delivery extra).

Given that this is a hybrid, fuel economy is key, and the 2013 model bumps those all-important EPA numbers up a smidge, too. The 2013 Optima Hybrid LX is expected to get 36/40/38 city/highway/combined miles per gallon. The 2013 EX does a little worse, at 35/39/37. For comparison’s sake, the 2012 model (there was only one trim level) is rated at 34/39/36, the same as the 2011, when Kia introduced the Optima Hybrid. These numbers are the updated, lower figures after Kia admitted earlier estimates were too high, so the new version is better in almost every category. Add in more trunk space and a new-for-2013 navigation system with rearview camera in the EX model, and you’ve got yourself a bunch of small but welcome updates.

Continue reading Kia Optima Hybrid gets same updates as Hyundai cousin, slightly higher price

Kia Optima Hybrid gets same updates as Hyundai cousin, slightly higher price originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Official: 2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900*

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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During our recent First Drive of the 2014 Kia Forte sedan, Kia revealed many of the sedan’s specs, but left out pricing and fuel economy for its all-new compact sedan. With the new Forte set to hit dealerships soon, Kia has announced the starting prices for the sedan’s two initial trim levels and released the fuel economy for the EX trim level equipped with the bigger engine. Marking a slight $500 jump in price over the current 2013 model, the 2014 Forte sedan will have a starting MSRP of $15,900 (*not including a destination charge of $800).

This price is for the base LX sedan with the 148-horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-four paired to the manual gearbox, but buyers wanting an automatic transmission will have to pony up an extra $1,500. Some of the notable features standard on the LX include Bluetooth and heated, power-folding door mirrors.

Stepping up to the EX trim level will run $19,400, but it also brings the peppier 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder producing 173 horsepower and returning 24 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg highway and a combined rating of 28 mpg; Kia says these are EPA estimates, but the EPA‘s website does not yet list the 2014 Forte. Kia is still holding out on fuel economy for the base engine.

These are the only two trim levels mentioned for the new Forte – there is no word as to whether or not Kia is planning a sportier SX trim level – but you can check out some of the options and features that will be offered on the 2014 Forte in the press release posted below.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900*

2014 Kia Forte sedan priced from $15,900* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

How Much, Good Lookin’? 2014 Kia Forte Priced from $16,700

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2014 Kia Forte EX GDI sedan

Kia’s redesigned 2014 Forte sedan is a handsome piece, and it’s larger and even better-equipped than the car it replaces. All of that added goodness, however, will only cost buyers an additional $525 relative to the least-expensive 2013 model. Kia has released pricing for the new Forte—which starts at $16,700—and released EPA fuel-economy ratings for one of the Forte’s two available powertrains. Like last year, the 2014 Forte sedan comes in LX and EX flavors, although the previously available SX trim level is absent for now. A new five-door Forte soon will replace the outgoing hatchback, but a successor to the two-door Forte Koup likely is a few years away.

The entry-level LX comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and a 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. A six-speed automatic is optional, while the uplevel EX trim level gets a standard automatic and a more powerful 173-hp, 2.0-liter four with direct injection. (Yeah, we’re just as bummed as you are that the zestier engine cannot be paired with a stick.) The 2.0-liter is rated for 24 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, which is pretty much par for the compact class. Ratings for the 1.8-liter are forthcoming. In terms of features, the LX comes standard with power windows, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth, and heated power-folding mirrors. Besides adding the burlier engine, stepping up to the EX brings Kia’s second-generation UVO infotainment system, 16-inch aluminum wheels, backup camera, cruise control, Flex Steering with three driver-selectable steering modes, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and keyless entry. Full pricing and option breakdown below:

Forte LX: $16,700 + $1500 for six-speed automatic transmission; available Popular package ($900) adds 16-inch aluminum wheels, keyless entry, cruise control, two additional audio system speakers, sliding center armrest, rear center armrest, soft-touch front door panels, and mirrors with integrated turn indicators.

Forte EX: $20,200; available Premium package ($2600) adds sunroof, leather seats, 10-way power driver’s seat with memory, heated front and rear seats with driver’s seat ventilation, heated steering wheel, push-button start, illuminated exterior door handles, and puddle lamps; requires $300 17-inch aluminum wheels. The Technology package ($2300) brings navigation, a 4.2-inch color gauge-cluster display, HID headlights, LED taillights, and dual-zone automatic climate control; buyers must spec the Premium package to get the Tech bundle.

Compared to compact-segment stalwarts like the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta, and the newcomer Dodge Dart, the Forte’s pricing is fairly competitive, with a base price that matches up or undercuts some of those cars’ mid-level trims. While that may not seem terribly flattering for the Kia, its bevy of standard features puts it, in base trim, closer to the other offerings’ mid-level trims. At the top end, a loaded Forte EX rings in at $25,400. A similarly spec’d Dart Limited (with the base, 2.0-liter four, not the optional 1.4-liter turbo four and dual-clutch automatic) or …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Computers

Review: Manga Studio 5 levels up with new tools and a fresh UI

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Manga Studio 5 has a bit of everything for digital artists who create illustration and comics. Featuring an overhauled user interface, including new brushes and tools, it’s a good time to start with Manga Studio ($80, buy-only). Current Manga Studio 4 may want to wait for file compatibility fixes before purchasing a $50 upgrade from Manga Studio 4 Debut or EX.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Automobiles

Chicago: Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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The US-bound 2014 Kia Forte first showed up in sedan form back at the LA Auto Show last year, but Kia unveiled the hatchback version of the car today at the Chicago Auto Show. Unlike the current Forte 5-door the 2014 will feature styling that is distinct from its sedan counterpart, but the big news is it will also get a few extra ponies under the hood.

Since the Forte 5-door will only be offered in EX and SX trim, the sedan’s 1.8-liter inline-four is not offered on this model. The base engine in the EX is the 2.0-liter direct-injected four, producing 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. Those looking for more power should check out the Forte SX, which uses the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine currently found in the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. This engine produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, and it can be paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission; the latter of which is optional and comes with paddle shifters.

Aside from the obvious styling changes required for the added cargo area, the 2014 Kia Forte 5-door gets numerous design elements to set it apart from the sedan. The face of the new hatchback will get a much smaller tiger-nose grille than the sedan, but it will get a larger lower intake, which we can’t help but compare to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Kia also gave the Forte 5-door dual exhaust outlets and LED taillights, and the SX model will get stylish 18-inch wheels. Inside, the 5-door design allows the Forte to increase its cargo volume to 23.2 cubic feet, and the cabin can also be equipped with features such as heated front seats, ventilated driver’s seat, navigation, leather seating and dual-zone climate control.

While the sedan is expected to go on sale during the within the month, the Forte 5-door won’t be in showrooms until the third quarter of this year. Scroll down for the official press release for the 2014 Kia Forte 5-door.

Continue reading Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine

Kia debuts Forte 5-door with available 201-HP turbo engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog