Entries Tagged 'Kia' ↓

The all-new Kia Sportage will show a dramatic shift in design direction when it makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on 2 March, 2010.

Embodying Kia’s new visual dynamism, all-new Sportage is a fresh, bold, athletic and sporty design that blends the key features of an SUV – the commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance – in a sleek and urban-friendly design.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, all-new Sportage will offer more space for people and cargo, with improved ride quality thanks to a longer wheelbase.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “Sportage was the car that really made the breakthrough for Kia in Europe and the all-new version will make people sit up and take notice just as the original did. I am convinced it will begin a remarkable new chapter in the Kia story.”

The all-new Sportage comes to the UK later this year, with a range of highly competitive diesel and petrol engines.

The world premiere of the all-new Sportage will take place at 08.45 on 2 March, 2010 on the Kia Stand (No 6441) in Hall 6 at the Geneva International Motor Show.

Source : www.global-autonews.com / secretnewcars.com

NEW LOOK cee’d AT FRANKURT

Kia’s best-ever selling C-segment car gets a new look at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September and when the car goes on sale in the UK from October 1 a new ECO-dynamics model will be added to the range.

The cee’d is Kia’s top-selling model in Europe and has been thoroughly re-engineered and restyled under the direction of Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, to feature the latest version of the company’s signature grille – an evolving expression of the brand’s design DNA.

Comprehensively updated, the new Kia cee’d range will deliver a host of customer benefits including numerous exterior and interior design refinements, upgraded standard equipment and technical innovations. The cee’d also gets a fully-revised suspension set-up.

The changes will also significantly reduce fuel consumption and in the new ‘Intelligent Stop and Go’ ECO-dynamics version to be launched for the first time in the UK CO2 emissions are reduced to 110 g/km. On average emissions will be cut by five per cent across the cee’d line-up.

Kia Motors UK Limited Marketing Director, Simon Hetherington said: “The new cee’d is 25 mm longer and is more distinctive in appearance with a stronger road presence. Following our established model range line-up, customers will enjoy a thoroughly revised interior including a new-style steering wheel and gear lever, all-red instrument illumination, a new centre console and new audio systems, plus dual-zone climate control air-conditioning.”

Technical innovations being introduced with new cee’d will include fuel-stretching ISG technology on the 1.6-litre diesel engines for the first time, a “hill-holder” function for the ESP and brighter projection-style headlamps. The new ‘U2′ 1.6-litre diesel engine will be matched to a new six-speed manual transmission.

The ‘new look’ Kia cee’d range, which is backed by the company’s unique 7-Year Warranty, will make its world premiere at 13.00 hrs (CET) on 15 September at Frankfurt’s International Motor Show.

Full UK range details and pricing will be announced prior to the on-sale date.

From:USA Today

SEOUL — Kia thinks it has found its soul.

The quirky, youth-oriented little car is being snapped up so fast in North America that execs at the Hyundai-owned brand here are trying to figure out how many more to make.

Kia thought it would sell 40,500 Souls in the U.S. and Canada in its first year on sale, which started about a month ago. Now, executives are studying whether they may need 10,000 or more additional cars, says Sung-Bok Lee, general manager of Kia’s Americas team.

Soul could become the kind of high-impact hit that thus far has eluded Kia.

“It marks a new direction for the brand,” says Jack Nerad, editorial director for Kelley Blue Book. “Kias have largely been bought strictly on their price/value position. Strong interest in the Soul, largely driven by styling, indicates they are turning the corner toward aspirational models that people will buy because of what they are, not their price.”

Kia wants to shed its image as a maker of high-value, but mostly dull-looking vehicles. The goal is cutting-edge design to attract more upscale buyers.

With the Soul, “We target the younger generation,” says Soon-Nam Lee, head of the overseas marketing group here at Kia headquarters. “The higher goal (is) to enhance the brand image.”

The five-passenger Soul is stylish but still low priced. It starts at $13,995 including destination charges, and tops out at $18,595. Soul is rated at 31 miles a gallon on the highway with its base engine. The two Lees, who share a common South Korean name but aren’t related, say the low price and upscale look will give Kia an edge in picking up market share during the recession.

Soul is being treated as a so-called halo car, an industry term for head-turning vehicles that bring customers into dealers’ showrooms, even if they end up buying something else in the line.

Kia, Hyundai and Subaru were the only major automakers to eke out U.S sales gains in the first quarter vs. the same period last year. In Kia’s case, it was 2.3%, better than Hyundai’s 1.9%. The overall U.S. auto market was down 37.6%, Autodata says.

Some of Hyundai’s success has come from its “Hyundai Assurance” program, which allows people who are laid off to return their cars without having their credit dinged. Ford and General Motors followed with similar programs. But not Kia. Soon-Nam Lee says Kia will find its own promotions but would not say what’s in the works.

Kia is also picking up U.S. market share, which was 2.3% in the first quarter, Autodata figures show. He says the goal is to grow to 3.5% of the U.S. market for the year. “Even in a recession, we are investing in the marketing side.”

With performance-inspired, aggressive and sleek styling, Kia Motors America (KMA) today globally debuted the 2010 Forte Koup production vehicle during a press conference at the 2009 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Joining the Forte family in the KMA lineup, the company’s first-ever two-door coupe embodies the brand’s current bold design direction first seen on the concept version of the Soul urban passenger vehicle in 2006.

“On the heel of the introductions of the Soul and Forte sedan, Forte Koup represents the next exciting step in the transformation of Kia design and offers a blend of sporty and emotional appeal,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA. “We believe our new design evolution coupled with standard Kia value and safety features will continue to attract customers to the Kia brand.”

Curb Appeal

Based on the design styling of the KOUP concept vehicle shown during last year’s show, Forte Koup’s fluid lines and balanced proportions, meant to evoke an emotional driving experience, closely mirror the powerful design cues of the concept vehicle and offer the same aggressive stance with swept-back wrap-around headlamps, aggressive air intakes and a low, sleek profile. Available in two trim levels (EX and SX), Forte Koup offers a muscular yet sophisticated design. Even from behind, Forte Koup exudes attitude with slim, wrapped tail lights, duel exhaust outlets and a rear diffuser.

Athleticism and convenience are standard for the Forte Koup EX with body-color bumpers, power heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and 16-inch alloy wheels outfitted with P205/55R16 tires. The SX trim offers an even sportier profile with 17-inch alloy wheels paired with P215/45R17-sized premium tires.

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Kia released the first official images of the near-luxury sedan concept car, code-named KND-5, ahead of its debut at the Seoul Motor Show 2009 which opens to the press on April 2.

KND-5 boasts a dynamic and balanced appearance that reflects the style of the near-luxury sedan VG (code name) which is scheduled to debut in Korea in late 2009.

VG will be Kia’s first near-luxury sedan and complete the automaker’s passenger car lineup along with the Lotze mid-sized sedan (known as ‘Optima’ or ‘Magentis’ in overseas markets) and Opirus luxury sedan (known as ‘Amanti’ in North America).

Based on the VG, the KND-5 features an exterior with a newly interpreted line and the striking LED headlamps of a luxury sedan.

The front of the car sports Kia’s family-look radiator grille which is based on a symbolic representation of a tiger’s roaring countenance. The 20-inch large-diameter alloy wheels enhance its aggressive yet refined image.

KND-5 employs the same color for its body on the door handles and has a powerful, muscular profile. The panorama sunroof extends seamlessly from the front windshield to contribute to its open and sleek facade.

The KND-5 measures 4,945mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,475mm high with a wheelbase of 2,845mm.

The concept car is outfitted with a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine.

Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO, International Business Division, said, “The aggressive and sophisticated KND-5 exemplifies Kia’s futuristic design and values. As a concept car that presents the new direction of luxury sedan design, KND-5 will likely generate a lot of buzz at the Seoul Motor Show.”

An image showing the concept version of Kia’s upcoming VG luxury sedan has leaked to the web ahead of its unveiling at the Seoul Motor Show next month. Dubbed the KND-5, the concept hints at what we can expect from the company’s new Amanti replacement which will officially debut later this year.

Created to rival other near-luxury sedans such as the Volkswagen Passat CC, the new KND-5 concept boasts an elegant exterior which features upscale design touches such as LED lighting, 20-inch wheels, and a massive panoramic glass roof.

The Kia KND-5 concept is roughly the same size as the current Kia Amanti, measuring 4945mm long, 1850mm wide and 1475mm high. The concept car is built on a newly developed front-wheel-drive platform with a wheelbase of 2845mm.

Perhaps the most interesting information about this near-production concept vehicle is the engine unit displaced under it’s hood. According to Kia’s official Korean press release, the KND-5 concept features a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine!

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the KND-5 concept previews Kia’s upcoming near-luxury sedan, code-named VG, which spy pics have been seen quite oftenly on the web lately. The 2010 Kia VG will share it’s FWD platform with the next gen Hyundai Azera (codenamed HG) and is scheduled to make it’s official Korean debut in September this year.

The KND-5 concept, will be put on display at the Kia’s booth at Seoul Auto Show alongside next generation, 2010 Kia Sorento and Kia Forte hybrid electric vehicle, the world’s first hybrid car to be powered by LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gasoline) and applied with lithium polymer (Li–poly) batteries.

source: Kia-world.net