“Soul is such a unique and versatile car, suitable for drivers in any stage of life with its extensive array of safety features, style and overall value, including parents and families,” said Michael Sprague, Vice President of Marketing of Kia Motors America. “The fact that this award is given by two well-respected outlets and based on direct consumer feedback is invaluable and a testament to our continuing commitment to providing attractive vehicles loaded with an abundance of safety, technology and value.”

2010 Chevy Camaro

In terms of curb appeal, there’s no better choice than the all-new Chevrolet Camaro. Its modern take on a classic American style locks eyes, turns heads and drops jaws faster than just about anything at this price point (and even above it). The Camaro even has the moves to back up its bad boy image. Equipped with a 304-horsepower V6, it’s got the chops to keep other ponies at bay. “If you want a great-looking car that expresses your personality without forcing you to take out a second mortgage on the declining value of your home, you have to like the Camaro,” writes Kelley Blue Book.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Not only is the drop-top Miata sharp looking, but it has the performance chops to leave more expensive cars in the dust. According to Consumer Guide, “This Best Buy delivers as much driving enjoyment — if not outright power — as two-seat sports cars costing thousands more.” While other roadsters may blast from 0 to 60 mph in less time, few come close to matching the Miata’s thrilling handling dynamics — especially at this price point. The cherry on top is its superb history of reliability and optional automatic retractable hard top. The Miata only seats two, so it may not be ideal for everyone. But for those who can live with its limited passenger space, there’s nothing more satisfying.

Subaru Outback

Known for its quirky styling, the Subaru Outback balances a car-like ride with SUV utility like few vehicles can. And because all-wheel drive is standard, it’s more sure-footed and versatile than most of its competitors. Like the Jeep Wrangler, the Outback’s rugged all-purpose design makes it perfect for adventure seekers. However, its five-passenger cabin and 71.3 cubic feet of cargo room make it well-suited for soccer moms too. Autoblog describes the 2010 Subaru Outback as “a terrific piece of equipment that offers the fortitude of a bison wrapped in the appeal of a pony.”

Cadillac XTS Concept

Cadillac announced its plans for a 7-passenger crossover vehicle based on GM’s Lambda platform (which was also used for the Chevrolet Traverse) — but those plans were postponed when GM started having problems. However, the plan has now been given the green light once again.

GM VP of Global Engineering, Karl Stracke told Inside Line that the CUV will have a similar look to the Cadillac XTS Concept which was unveiled this year in Detroit — also it’s likely to use some version of the direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 — and possibly even turbocharging.

We can’t wait to try it out — with six of our friends!

The auto industry has been buzzing about the electric Chevy Volt for what seems like forever. And now, finally, it’s almost here. That’s right. The 2011 Chevy Volt will be available in just mere months. According to statement from a  General Motors executive this week, the Volt is “at the “99 percent level” of engineering calibration.

That means it’s in the final stages of test driving and should be ready to roll out any time now.

Larry Nitz, GM executive director of hybrid and electric powertrain and engineering, gave some insight on the progress of the Volt in a conference call. According to AutoWeek, he said, “We’re really pleased with how they drive, how tight they are.”

The Volt has been tested everywhere from congested L.A. highways to 6,500 foot mountains, to which Nitz said, “We’re driving up and down the mountain range because we can. It’s an EV that can drive across the country.”

We’re pretty excited to get the Chevy Volt onto our Joliet Chevrolet dealership for you to test drive yourself. We’ll let you know when that will be as soon as we find out.

UVO, which is short for “your voice,” allows Kia drivers and passengers to control their music, answer and make phone calls and send and receive text messages — all hands free. Not only is this safer (no more texting and driving or fumbling with your iPod), it’s much more convenient. So, all you have to worry about is actually driving to your next summer cookout.

For more information on Kia UVO or to find out which of our Kia models will have it first, contact our Joliet Kia dealership today.

Subaru just announced that the 2010 Outback has earned the Ward’s Auto Interior of the Year award.

To determine winners, eight Ward’s editors checked out about 40 cars and trucks with new or upgraded interiors, then segmented the most impressive ones into different categories. The Subaru Outback won for best interior of a popular-priced car under $29,999.

“We are thrilled that the 2010 Outback has been recognized by Ward’s Auto in their 2010 Auto Interior of the Year Awards,” David Sullivan, Subaru’s Car Line Manager, said in a statement. “During the design process, we spoke with numerous customers about what they wanted in a vehicle and we used their feedback to develop a car that is not only comfortable, but also includes interior features such as an electronic parking brake to open up console space and 60/40 reclining rear seatbacks.

Coupled with 29 EPA mpg on our 2.5i CVT model, and over 71 cubic feet of available cargo space, the changes made to the Outback’s interior have definitely resonated with consumers as sales have doubled each month over the same period as last year.”

For a closer look at the interior, stop by our Subaru dealership at 2525 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet.

5-door Kia Forte

Kia just unveiled it’s new hatchback model of the Forte — which, along with the hatchback, also sees a slightly modified front fascia, which we can expect to see on all newer models of the Forte, as well. The 5-door Forte made it’s first appearance at the New York Auto Show and has been generating a lot of buzz. We’re eager to get these in our Joliet showroom.  For now, take a closer look:

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Today, Cadillac unveiled the CTS-V Sport Wagon show car. While the luxury wagon won’t be available in North America until the first quarter of 2011, enthusiasts area already drooling (ourselves included). The CTS-V will feature a 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 551 lb-ft of torque. In other words, it’ll have the most powerful engine in the history of Cadillac. Impressive!

But that’s not all that matters. The CTS-V being a wagon, interior space is obviously a concern, and there’s no lack of it here. In fact, this car has 25.4 cubic feet behind the back seats (or 58 feet when the seats are folded down). Plenty of room for the family, groceries, Fido and more — all at once!

“The CTS-V Sport Wagon is a natural extension of both the V-Series and the CTS lineup, offering an uncompromising performance car to enthusiasts who want the extra room of a wagon,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing. “The V-Series Sport Wagon is another hallmark of the dramatic presence and power of Cadillac vehicles.”

For more information on the CTS-V Sport Wagon, check out Motor Ward.

Note: this is not the actual SX version. Those photos haven't been released yet.

The Sorento SX Trim from Kia has just been unveiled. The new CUV, which first appeared at this year’s Atlanta Auto Show, has been largely compared to the Chevy Equinox. Luckily, Bill Jacobs Joliet has Kia and Chevy dealerships.

How’s the SX version different from the LX and EX models of the Sorento? Well, it’s sportier, for starters. It has front and rear fascias, a chrome exhaust tip, silver 18-inch wheels, chrome roof rails, stainless-steel pedal cover, and metallic gauge cluster surround … and on and on and on.

Oh, it also has a six-speed automatic transmission and the Sorento-exclusive 3.5-liter V-6 engine, and a much sharper suspension than the previous models. So, it does a whole lot more than look pretty (it even talks, thanks to the voice navigation system with back-up camera).

We can’t wait to get these on our Kia showroom! Stay tuned to find out when to expect them.