Kia Motors seems to be racking up awards one after another these past days. Now, it is the Kia Soul which has solicited another award, bagging the 2010 Automotive Excellence Award by Popular Mechanics. The Kia Soul has already pocketed previous awards including the Top Safety Pick and the Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. Apparently its features which include its appealing style, fuel efficiency and overall value have been responsible for these awards. The Kia Soul is 1 of 10 vehicles acknowledged from the list.

The Kia Soul is available in four trims with starting prices at $14,000.00. Packed with features that include a SIRIUS Satellite Radio and audio (CD/MP3) peripherals, there is no doubt that the Kia Soul is truly a classy vehicle to consider. But add these to the overall stature of the Kia Soul 2010 and you know why this 5-door vehicle is truly getting the recognition it so truly deserves!

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(Source) Reuters

Tags: audio cd mp3, automotive excellence, excellence award, fuel efficiency, image credits, KIA, kia motors, new cars, no doubt, peripherals, popular mechanics, reuters, sirius satellite radio, stature, trims

Kia Motors America unveils its latest vehicle to roll out at the West Point, Georgia facility with the 2011 Kia Sorrento CUV. The new 2011 Kia Sorrento CUV carries a modern CUV design fit for the common motorists of today. The vehicle can accommodate up to 7 passengers and is longer than previous Kia Sorrento models. It is available in 2 engine options, a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder and a 3.5 liter V6 engines, both complimented by a six-speed automatic transmission. Other features include AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service.

(Source) Press

Tags: automatic transmission, cd mp3, complimentary service, engine options, KIA, kia motors america, kia sorrento, liter, models, motorists, radio capabilities, satellite radio, service source, three months, v6 engines, west point georgia

Thanks to its bold styling and remarkable technology features, the 2010 Kia Forte Koup has been adjudged the “Best of the 2009 Orange County Show” by NADAGuides.com, being only one of five cars to be honored at the said show. The first-ever two-door coupe is the latest addition to the Kia Motors lineup which follows the footsteps of slightly larger four-door sedans released by Kia Motors America. The Kia Forte Koup is available in EX and SX models and comes powered by a 2.0 (EX) or 2.4 (SX) liter inline four cylinder engine, 156 horsepower and a multi-port electronic fuel injection. Other highlights include Bluetooth connectivity, AM/FM MP3 audio systems and SIRIUS Satellite Radio service.

(Source) Press

Tags: bluetooth connectivity, Cars, cylinder engine, electronic fuel injection, footsteps, horsepower, inline four, KIA, kia motors america, latest addition, liter, models, orange county, remarkable technology, satellite radio service, sedans, service source, sx

Kia Motors has announced a new luxury model in their vehicle line up with the KND-5 Concept car. This new luxury model aims to satisfy the growing demands for vehicles who are looking for refinement and safety for ideal driving conditions. The new luxury sedan will be known as the Cadenza outside Korea and will make its debut in the Middle East. Cadenza is a name derived from an Italian music term which stands for elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto.

Among the notable features of the Cadenza include its sporty look, bold headlamp design, stylish taillights and passenger friendly high-tech features. It also carries the usual vehicle features like power steering, extendable seat cushions, and auto defogging of windshield and ventilation front seats.

(Source) Press

Tags: cadenza, concept car, concerto, debut, driving conditions, flourish, italian music, KIA, kia motors, Korea, luxury model, music term, power steering, refinement, seat cushions, taillights, vehicle features, ventilation, windshield

Kia has unveiled the pricing for their 2010 Forte Koup today, starting form $16,595, plus $695 destination.  The standard model is a manual EX model, although upgrading to automatic will raise the price to $17,595. A five speed auto-plus will bump the price up to $18,695. Other options include a leather interior ($1,000) and sunroof ($600).

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Kia Motors continues to introduce larger vehicles as it has revealed that an all-new Kia Sorento model will start production at their U.S. plant. The latest model is the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV which is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line at the West Point, Georgia plant.

The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV boasts of an improved fuel economy and more passenger room and seating capacity that previous Kia Sorento models. It will be longer and lower and carries a sleek styling and futuristic touch. The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV will also highlight two- and four-wheel drive options and a variety of upscale appointments to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

(Source) Pres

Tags: appointments, assembly line, consumers, CUV, four wheel drive, fuel economy, georgia plant, KIA, kia motors, kia sorento, models, west point georgia, wheel

Thanks to its quirky styling, interior, extensive warranty, fuel economy and other comfortable features, the 2010 Kia Soul racks up another feather to its cap by being named in the Top Top 10 Back to School Car List by KBB.com. This comes at the heels of garnering another previous citation for being the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The feedbacks were based from what the editors had gathered together from what vehicles offer as far as reliability, safety features, affordability, practicality, good handling and attractive styling are concerned which may be appealing to parents and students. The 2010 Kia Soul prices start from $13,300 which also makes it a lot preferred on the car of choice.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, pricing for the versatile five door begins at $13,300 for the base trim, while Soul+ starts at $14,950. Moving up to the Soul! offers a price beginning at $16,950 and the Soul sport, designed for those with active lifestyles, starts at $16,950 and tops out at $18,600.

(Source) Press

Tags: active lifestyles, affordability, back to school, citation, feedbacks, fuel economy, KIA, parents, practicality, safety features, school car, soul soul, trims, warranty

Kia Motors America embraces the Facebook marketing pitch with the launch of the “Go Hamster Go” Facebook app that makes use of face-recognition technology as well to through the use of webcams for people who have one.

The highlight of the game is the 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle. The player controls the competition with his or her face using a virtual magnet that “connects” to his or her forehead. The object of the game is to grab a hamster with the magnet as it comes off of a conveyer belt and place it into a Soul as an onscreen clock ticks down.

Each hamster wears a colored t-shirt mirroring a Soul paint color (Java, Alien Green, Molten, etc.), and when the player successfully drops a hamster into a Soul, the car turns into that color and drives away, while the next empty Soul arrives. The exit window lists the final score as well as the many exciting personalization options the user managed to add to the Soul.

This new marketing strategy and ad campaign promises to be something that should build on the 2010 Kia Soul vehicle. With Facebook making strides and posing as a new form of promotional campaign, expect the Soul to benefit a lot from this new game like most products marketed via this popular social networking site.

(Source) Press

Tags: ad campaign, clock ticks, conveyer belt, exit window, face recognition technology, facebook, final score, forehead, hamster, KIA, kia motors america, launch, making strides, marketing strategy, new game, new marketing, paint color, personalization options, social networking site

Kia has recently sent out a press release containing renders of their forthcoming premium sedan; the 2010 VG. We won’t see the actual car until next year at the Detroit Auto show but Koreans can expect it to hit dealerships later this year

Hyoung Keun Lee, exec over at Kia, comments on the car’s design:

“VG clearly demonstrates the next stage in Kia’s design evolution and showcases our new design principle of ’sophistication by simplicity’. The exterior is a seamless blend of powerful front, sleek profile and sophisticated but simple rear lines to create an elegant and luxurious appearance,”

Unfortunately for the UK, Kia currently has no intentions of having the VG hit European shores.

Tags: Concept, KIA, premium sedan, render, vg

Kia has recently detailed their intentions to bring hybrid vehicles to the UK within the next 3 years. Exactly what vehicles these will be, we have no idea, but let’s hope Kia comes up with something good.

Furthermore, Kia was also quoted to have said that they don’t believe hybrids will be around for much longer instead pointing towards hydrogen powered vehicles as the future:

Kia is committed to bringing a range of new technologies to UK consumers as soon as is viable. It will not be too long before we have hybrid vehicles but we see this as a step on the way to a fuel-cell powered future. This is the real answer to the problem of automotive pollution – even fully electric cars just push the pollution problem further up the chain to the generators. Hydrogen offers a real long-term solution to the challenge of individual mobility coupled with environmental sustainability.

We’ll keep you updated as Kia makes further statements.

via Autoblog

Tags: hybrid, Hydrogen, KIA, UK

Kia Motors America formally launches the all-new 2010 Kia Forte Koup 2-door coupe this summer. This latest releases continues to bring the innovative style and features of the Kia brand, available in two trim levels, the EX and SX.

Among the highlights of the all new 2-door Kia Forte Koup include:

• 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine
• Four transmission options
• Supportive sport seats outfitted with more aggressive bolsters on the seat cushion and seat back for optimal comfort
• Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls that enable voice-activated hands-free operation for compatible cell phones
• Six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio

Additional standard equipment on all Koup models includes air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, driver’s seat height adjuster, adjustable rear seat headrests, tilt steering column, rear defroster, center console with dual cup holders and storage area, dual map lamps with ceiling-mounted, drop-down sunglasses holder and variable intermittent windshield wipers.

(Source) Press

Tags: cruise control, cylinder engine, headrests, kia motors america, power door locks, remote keyless entry, seat cushion, sport seats, steering column, steering wheel, storage area, windows power, windshield wipers

Everyone is of the belief that in order to be fuel efficient you will need to buy a hybrid vehicle in order to save on gas and the environment. There are vehicles that are out there that are not only fuel efficient, but are inexpensive as well.

The list of non-hybrids that are fuel efficient is not very long, but it is not very pricey as shown with the Toyota Yaris. Other examples of vehicles with very good fuel economy but are not hybrids are the Honda Civic as well as the Kia Rio. All average over 30 miles per gallon on the highway and in the mid twentiues in the city.

Tags: honda civic, hybrid, kia rio, toyota yaris

Score one for the less heralded SUV of Kia Motors of America, the Kia Sportage as it bagged the AutoPacific Inc.’s 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award. These awards are handed out depending on how a vehicle matches the car owner’s expectations and apparent the Kia Sportage was able to achieve such a feat.

“We take great pride in knowing our owners are satisfied with their vehicles and Sportage’s recognition as an ideal vehicle is a tremendous compliment,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, Kia Motors America (KMA). “This second AutoPacific award directly reflects the satisfaction of smart, discerning Sportage owners, and this type of consumer feedback validates Kia’s commitment to providing high levels of quality, style, safety and practicality in all of our vehicles.”

Among the features that feted the Kia Sportage this award included the following:

• Passenger and Cargo Space
• Off-Road Capabilities
• Fuel Economy
• Six Airbags with full-length side curtain airbags
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio with three months complimentary service and USB and auxiliary input jacks
• 2.0-liter engine delivers impressive fuel economy at 20 mpg (city) and 25 mpg (highway)

(Source) Press

Tags: autopacific, auxiliary input, cargo space, complimentary service, consumer feedback, curtain airbags, fuel economy, input jacks, KIA, kia motors america, kia sportage, liter engine, michael sprague, mpg city, practicality, quality style, road capabilities, satellite radio, score one

Kia Motors America unveiled new pictures of the special edition 2010 Denim Kia Soul. From afar it looks like the same Kia Soul which initially came out but go a bit closer and you may notice the changes for this popular urban passenger vehicle.

Among the highlights of the 2010 Denim Kia Soul Special Edition:

• Unique denim exterior color
• White side-view mirrors
• White 18-inch alloy wheels
• Front fender turn signal indicator lights
• Wing-type rear spoiler
• White racing stripes completing the rally-inspired look.
• Audio Upgrade Package (center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music)
• An iPod connection cable for full functionality via the radio head unit and steering wheel controls
• Carpeted floor mats
• Moonroof
• Fog lights

The special edition Denim Soul is priced at $17,300 for a five-speed manual transmission and $18,250 for the automatic version.

(Source) Press

Tags: center speaker, connection cable, denim, external amplifier, fender, floor mats, fog lights, functionality, inch alloy wheels, indicator lights, KIA, kia motors america, manual transmission, racing stripes, radio head, Rally, rear spoiler, steering wheel, turn signal

It may be small but it is the concept that counts. As far as the Kia Soul’ster is concerned, the brainchild of Kia Motors America has been lauded and has received the 2009 Concept Truck of the Year award. The Kia Soul’ster debuted at the 2009 North America International Auto Show. With the new concept vehicle, Kia presents a creative concept vehicle that is sure to be a great add for transportation needs which are quite relevant today.

“The Soul production vehicle has provided our design team with a tremendous platform for expression, and with the Soul’ster we sought to highlight a different side of the Soul and take it to another level,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America. “It is an honor for the Soul’ster to be named Concept Truck of the Year, and further proof that Kia’s global commitment to design is dramatically altering the brand’s image and consumer opinion of our company and our vehicles.”

Indeed, Kia Motors has been on the aggressive route towards improving its vehicle quality and niche. And as far as a new concept vehicle, or truck in this case, the Soul’ster carries an appealing design that is sure to be admired and a hit in the car market soon.

(Source) Press

Tags: brainchild, car market, chief designer, consumer opinion, creative concept, expression, global commitment, kearns, KIA, kia motors america, niche, north america international auto show, proof, vehicle quality