– The 2005 Kia Sportage sport-utility vehicle, on sale March 1, starts at $15,900. That is for a front-wheel-drive LX model with a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission but no air conditioning. Adding a 4-speed automatic and air boosts the price to $17,500. The most expensive version is a four-wheel-drive EX with a 2.7-liter V-6 and automatic at $21,400. The prices do not include the $590 destination charge. The Sportage is built on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson.
– NASCAR legend Richard Petty who piloted a Charger around the track in his glory years, was on hand to help Dodge unveil its new Charger sedan at the Detroit Auto Show. When he was pressed for his reaction to the new car, he replied: “It doesn’t need the Dodge name on the door for you to know it’s a Charger.”
