The all-new 2011 version of Kia’s venerable Sportage CUV takes its design “Kue” from the concept vehicle of the same name that was shown during the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Completely and beautifully redesigned, Sportage offers more urban and fluid silhouettes than its predecessor while retaining the desirable benefits and functional features of the popular CUV. Sportage also offers increased levels of performance and efficiency, comfort and convenience and the latest in-vehicle technologies incorporated into all of Kia’s latest new vehicles.

“Adding world-class design and cutting-edge technologies to an already successful value-packed CUV equation, the all-new Sportage offers Kia the opportunity to attract an entirely new and more sophisticated customer,” said Michael Sprague, vice president marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). “The 2011 Sportage retains the functionality and versatility of the previous generation model but repackages the CUV into a sleek, modern and bold style with new proportions and a completely new look to help elevate the Kia brand further as a world design leader.”

Available later this month, the 2011 Sportage offers image-conscious yet practical consumers more power (176 hp) and improved fuel economy along with the options of a panoramic sunroof, navigation, push-button start, rear camera display, LED daytime running lights and an air-cooled driver’s seat (a compact CUV segment first). However, what first draws attention to the new CUV is the visceral connection drivers make with the striking new design of the all-new Kia Sportage. Also expected to be available in late 2010 is the UVO powered by Microsoft®¹ in-vehicle communication and entertainment system based on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform.

“An increasing number of consumers are craving and expecting connected experiences in their vehicles including being able to quickly and directly access music files, change radio stations and make or answer phone calls through voice or touch-activated controls,” said Mukund Ghangurde, director of product management for Microsoft’s Windows Embedded business. “It’s exciting to see Kia Motors embrace the power of the Windows Embedded Automotive platform to deliver Kia UVO. We look forward to our continued partnership to deliver connected and engaging in-vehicle experiences for drivers.”

Available in three trims – Base, LX and EX – pricing for the dynamic compact CUV will begin at $18,295² for the base trim, offering standard convenience features, including air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service,³ MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth®⁴ wireless technology. LX will start at $20,295* and will include standard outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators and privacy glass. Moving up to the EX trim level offers a beginning price of $23,295* with standard features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Emotion-Evoking Exterior Design

With a high beltline, sweeping angles and more pronounced wheel flares than its predecessor, the team at Kia’s U.S.-based design center in Irvine, Calif. aimed to convey an even more demanding road presence within Sportage’s compact size by emphasizing its hunkered-down position. The all-new 2011 Sportage projects a modern and clean CUV and greatly expands beyond the current generation’s basic and reliable appeal. The full-sectioned body, defined by a spearing shoulder line throughout the length of the car, helps to visually connect the headlamps and tail lights. The crispness of this line, together with the lowered body, offers a distinct sense of precision while the pronounced C pillar gives a sense of solidity and balance when viewed from the side.

Drawing generously from the distinct styling elements of the Kue concept, the 2011 Sportage’s front end proudly displays the new face of Kia, the brand’s signature grill, with dramatic swept back headlamps, tabbed grill outline and a distinctive lower fascia treatment. The dynamically sculpted hood, framed by a distinctive windshield design, adds to Sportage’s fresh appeal. The rear view offers a clean and contemporary look with pronounced unique tail lights set solidly within the rear lift gate. Longer, wider and lower than the previous model, the all-new CUV successfully retains the key features, including a commanding driving position and of security and powerful road presence, which helped make the second-generation Sportage so popular among consumers.

Starting with the Base trim, Sportage offers numerous standard exterior features, including 16-inch alloy wheels matched with 215/70R16 low-rolling resistance silica tires, body-color door handles, body-color and electrically adjustable side mirrors and a 6-speed manual transmission. The LX adds side mirror LED turn signal indicators, keyless entry, and tinted glass. Moving to the EX trim offers more prominent 18-inch alloy wheels mated with 235/55R18 silica tires, roof rails, a rear spoiler and chrome body trim and door handles. Available later in the model year will be the SX trim, featuring Kia’s all-new efficient and powerful 2.0L turbo GDI engine.

Contemporary and Comfortable Interior Space

Sportage’s sleek aesthetic design from the exterior flows seamlessly into the interior, establishing an inviting and comfortable ambience with well-appointed features and the availability of numerous convenience and technology features. With the signature three-pot instrument cluster set prominently within the dash, Sportage’s interior exudes contemporary design and an upgraded driving experience.

All LX models come standard with a host of convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, 12-volt power outlets in the front and cargo areas, power side mirrors with integrated LED indicators, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, keyless entry with panic alarm and multi-way adjustable front seats. Stylishly appointed cloth seats provide comfortable seating while 60/40 split-folding rear seats effortlessly accommodate driver and passenger cargo needs.

Further increasing the level of refinement, EX models benefit from a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, telescopic steering wheel, illuminated vanity mirrors, automatic folding rear seats, a dual-zone temperature control air-conditioner with ionized filtration, illuminated and cooled glove box, and a power driver’s seat with lumbar support for additional comfort and support. Both trim levels come equipped with an active EcoMinderTM indicator for optimal fuel-efficient driving.

Impressive technology features also come standard throughout, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service. Also standard on both trims are auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth® wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls to enable hands-free operation for compatible mobile phones. The 2011 Sportage also will be among the first Kia models to offer UVO powered by Microsoft®, an advanced hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system (standard on EX models) that enables drivers and passengers to answer and place phone calls, receive and respond to SMS text messages, access music from a variety of media sources and create custom music experiences. HD Radio® also will be made available to enhance listening enjoyment.

Available upgrades for the LX trim include 17-inch alloy wheels paired with 225/60R17 silica tires, navigation with SIRIUS traffic data, rear sonar detector and rear-view back-up camera, heated side mirrors, an air-conditioned and illuminated glove box, telescopic steering wheel, roof rails and a rear spoiler.

Sportage EX models can be further enhanced with available features, including leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, an air-cooled driver’s seat, push button start with Smartkey, rear sonar detector and rear-view back-up camera, heated side mirrors and a panoramic sunroof.

More Powerful, Fuel-Efficient Engine

The all-new Sportage comes standard with a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), offering more power (176 hp) and better fuel economy (22/31) than the previous 2.7-liter V6 engine. A more powerful but extremely fuel efficient 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine delivers V6-type power with a four-cylinder engine that produces 270-plus horsepower also will be available in the 2011 model year. Offered with either a front-wheel drive (FWD) or a Dynamax™all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration paired to either a six-speed manual transmission (Base) or a six-speed automatic transmission, consumers will have a variety of powertrain combinations to fit their driving needs. The six-speed automatic transmission, first seen on the 2011 Sorento CUV, is a proprietary design for Kia that was designed, engineered and built specifically for Kia vehicles, making the brand one of only three manufacturers to employ such a transmission. All automatics feature Sportmatic® clutchless shifting.

Perfectly suited for on-road driving through the city or on the highway, the FWD configuration offers an efficient package with responsive acceleration, enhanced fuel economy and impressive ride and handling. For drivers who typically face more difficult road and weather conditions, the AWD powertrain provides even more possibilities.

The Sportage’s Dynamax™ AWD system, co-developed by Kia Motors Corporation and Magna International, Inc., continuously monitors driving conditions and anticipates AWD system requirements, compared to other common AWD systems which can only react to conditions after they occur. This offers drivers the benefits of improved lateral stability while cornering as well as the removal of unintended over and under steering by reducing unwanted traction to the front and rear axles. Aimed at achieving increased torque and improved performance on every surface, Dynamax™ offers true AWD for drivers who want an exciting driving experience with enhanced safety and performance.

Sportage’s AWD design delivers 100-percent of engine torque to the front wheels during normal driving conditions, enhancing fuel economy, however when wheel slippage is detected a percentage of the torque is automatically transferred to the rear wheels to help maintain forward momentum. When driving in slippery conditions, such as rain, snow, mud, unpaved roads or off-road, the driver can manually select the “Lock Mode,” distributing torque evenly between front and rear axles up to a speed of 25 mph for enhanced stability.

New and Improved Platform

The 2011 Sportage is all-new, including its platform, which has been completely redesigned for the new CUV. With an overall length of 174.8 inches, overall width of 73 inches, wheelbase of 103.9 inches, Sportage is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, enhancing handling and aerodynamics. Built on a unibody frame, Sportage utilizes independent front-and-rear suspension systems. MacPherson struts are used in the front and have been fine-tuned to improve feel and stability, while new side-load coil springs reduce friction. An all-new, multi-link rear suspension system is used in conjunction with new dampers and coil springs mounted separately to minimize intrusion into the cabin and trunk space and add to Sportage’s handling.

The newly engineered suspension offers the same comfortable ride as the previous generation but also delivers improved handling characteristics with more precise responsiveness to driver input. Both the front and rear suspension systems are mounted on a lightweight hydro-formed subframe, to help isolate the occupants from irregularities in the road surface.

Significantly quieter and more refined than its predecessor due to an aggressive series of NVH reduction measures, the all-new Sportage employs a new bodyshell design with greater use of high tensile strength steel.

Impressive Safety Features

Like all Kia vehicles, the 2011 Sportage is equipped with a long list of standard safety equipment. Both trims come outfitted with driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and front active headrests, four-wheel Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a Brake Assist System (BAS), which recognizes an emergency stop and delivers significant braking power. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) also come standard on all models, the former assisting in preventing the vehicle from rolling backward when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient, while the latter locks the vehicle at a slow speed down steep grades so the driver can focus their attention on steering.

To assist drivers when the vehicle is in reverse, an available back-up warning sensor helps the driver avoid contact with certain objects in the vehicle’s path by triggering an audible warning when the vehicle approaches an obstruction, while an available rear-view back-up camera enables drivers to view certain items behind the vehicle.

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The all-new Kia Sportage crossover, one of the stars of the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is to go on sale in the UK earlier than expected, on 1 August, with a high specification Sportage First Edition version.  The full line-up of the all-new Sportage, including two wheel drive, petrol and additional diesel versions, will go on sale in the UK from November, however early production of RHD all-wheel-drive 2.0-litre diesel models means that eager British customers will not have to wait long to get into Kia’s latest stunningly designed model.

The Sportage First Edition is a unique version that comes complete with all-wheel drive, a choice of manual or automatic transmissions and an efficient common-rail turbodiesel engine.  The 2.0-litre CRDi engine emits just 156g/km CO₂ and achieves a combined cycle economy of 47.1 mpg – an impressive 31g/km less and 7.3mpg more respectively than the outgoing model. 

Available in a choice of five colours – including the striking Techno Orange – the First Edition comes as standard with a comprehensive high-end specification including a full leather interior, dual zone climate control, automatic rain-sensing wipers, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Designed by Peter Schreyer to combine the stance and attitude of a compact SUV but with a sleek, urban design and have greener credentials, Kia’s all-new Sportage is designed to meet the requirements of young families – or the young at heart – who lead busy, primarily urban-centric, lifestyles.  Final development of the Sportage’s chassis in the UK has ensured that the ride and handling are optimised for British road conditions.

Full details on the all-new Sportage First Edition will be available on 20 July.

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Look at the new Sportage and its visual links with the Kue show car – unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show – are hard to ignore.  “It’s crucial that we draw real design inspiration from our concept and showcars, like the Kue, and inject that motivation into our production cars – The new Sportage is clear proof of that,” says Schreyer. 

“If you look at the side profile of the new Sportage, you can see a strong resemblance to the Kue, underlined by the show car’s distinctive sheetmetal motif which again is mirrored in the Sportage.”  While some manufacturers simply tease the car-buying public with futuristic concepts, the look and feel of Kia’s forward-looking show cars can easily be found in its subsequent production vehicles.

“We started work on the Sportage about three years ago,” says Schreyer.  “We worked mainly with the design team here in Frankfurt and with our counterparts in California, so we’re talking about fifty designers in total.  We started by analysing what the current Sportage means to the brand, what it means to Kia customers and what our customers expect.”

According to Schreyer, there were two divergent trains of thought – one idea was to pursue a tougher and more off-roadish theme, while the other was to create an agile and urban-friendly style.  Either way, the designs had to maintain the advantages of the four-wheel drive – a usefully high ground clearance, an elevated seating position and the feeling of being in command.  “I encouraged our designers to go in both directions because there is always the chance that a design element from one could be used on the other,” says Schreyer. 

“Then we moved onto sketches and quarter scale models.  We then picked maybe three of the most promising ones and created full-sized models.  This decision-making process takes three to four months, part of the entire eighteen-month design process.  Such a quick process makes Kia very flexible,” explains Schreyer, “because time-wise we are close to market and can react very quickly.”

New Sportage – Exterior Design

“Since starting the project, it was clear for us designers that we wanted to leap ahead and establish a paradigm shift in the way we look at Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), while at the same time strengthening the new Kia design language in the interior” explains Massimo Frascella, Head of the Exterior Design Team on the new Sportage.  Frascella continues: “If you look at current compact SUVs, you‘ll discover that in the past the main focus was merely on the ‘utility’ side: the cars were practical, but often aren’t show-stoppers to look at. A contradiction to how they are often used, with most SUVs driven in urban environments, where style and a bit of ‘show-off’ play an increasingly important role.”

Sitting below the central bonnet-mounted badge, the trademark ‘tiger’ face sweeps out to effectively frame the grille before broadening out and encompassing the car’s large and piercing headlamps to create a distinctive and powerful visage.  The strength of this countenance is reinforced by the clamshell bonnet and its contours that run into raised shoulders as they flow down to meet the headlamps.  “The clamshell bonnet gives a sense of strength and solidity to the front end,” says Schreyer.  “Together with the grille, these shoulders create a strong three-dimensional feel to the face of the new Sportage, and they also help the driver accurately place the car on the road.”

The new Sportage’s athleticism is reinforced by its rakish windscreen angle, which sweeps seamlessly into the low roofline.  And the top of the screen itself reflects the grille profile.  “The profile line of the top of the windscreen mirrors that of the grille,” explains Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Europe.

“We first featured this castellated element on the Kee concept car, at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.  This is followed through to the rear, which has the same distinctive outline at the base of the rear windscreen.  These two features instantly heighten the Sportage’s on-the-road visibility – as do its sculpted flanks, which, flanked by boldly flared wheelarches, feature a striking concave motif in the door panels.”

The key design element of new Sportage’s purposeful stance is the relationship between its high shoulders and narrow glasshouse, explains Schreyer.  “We’ve created a car with a sportscar-like ratio between sheetmetal and glass.  The side-windows are very narrow which gives you an almost rally-car feeling.”  Follow the shoulder and roof lines and they meet at the striking reverse-angled C-pillar.  “The size, the shape and the proportion of the C-pillar on any car is absolutely crucial to its appearance,” says Schreyer.  “And as you can see on our new Sportage, it determines the entire look and feel of the car.”

Using a tape-measure against the new Sportage confirms it is slightly lower than the previous generation, but the design of the new Sportage makes it look significantly lower, and both sleeker and more assertive.  The surfacing is modern and clean and the side profile is defined by a spearing shoulder running the whole length of the car, visually connecting headlamps and tail lamps. The simplicity of this line, together with the lower body sculpting, conveys a sense of precision and dynamism.

Large-diameter wheels, muscular wheel arches and a prominent shoulder line provide a powerful stance while the darker cladding brings a touch of ruggedness to the whole vehicle. 

New Sportage – Interior Design

The new Sportage’s cabin had to reflect the dynamism and sporting nature of the exterior.  But how do you inject real ‘sportiness’ into a compact SUV with a high seating position?  Ralph Kluge, Head of Interior Design on the new Sportage project explains: “The driver needed to feel connected and cocooned by sitting “in” rather than “on” the vehicle as they would in a sports vehicle.  As new Sportage is rather compact, a balance was required so that this didn’t feel claustrophobic – we achieved by two significant changes in the architecture of the Sportage’s interior.  Firstly, the horizontal layout of the instrument panel (IP) creates a feeling of space by visually stretching the car’s width. Secondly, the high centre console, that in conjunction with rising feature lines on the doors makes you feel like you are sitting inside of a sporty coupé rather than in an SUV.  The Sportage’s exterior, with its high shoulder line and compact glass areas further support this.”

The main feature of the IP is the ‘wing’ that seamlessly integrates the radio, air-vents and instrument cluster into one clean, sweeping form. This ‘wing’ sits in a deep cut-out that reinforces the impression of solidity, and, at the same, time integrates a second level of controls for the heating & ventilation control unit below and a second screen above. This two-tier design stretches across the width of the interior, going against the convention of upright, blocky SUV interiors, and creating, instead, a much more harmonious atmosphere. The muscular IP section together with the high level console further enhances the feeling of being in a solid, secure interior.

“The exterior design is very sporty for a car of this type and, although you sit high in the cabin, there’s still something undeniably sporting about it because the windscreen has a very fast angle and the shoulderline is high,” says Guillaume.  “This gives you a sort of cocooned and safe feeling, and yet from a practical point of view there is still plenty of rear headroom.”  In the generously proportioned rear cabin, the boldly angled C-pillar cuts back on itself well behind the rear passengers, to enhance the car’s low-slung profile without encroaching on their view out.”

Kia Design – Beyond the new Sportage

Kia’s design language is based around architecture.  “It’s the way the greenhouse sits on the body, the proportion, the graphic when viewed from the side, the wheel arch size, the face, the stance, the overhangs, and the down-the-road look and feel of the car.  Everything should work together.” explains Schreyer.  “When it comes to encapsulating Kia design I always refer back to the simplicity of the straight line.  It means that we are trying to keep our design simple… and, in design, simple is the hardest thing to create.”

The arrival of the new Sportage marks another design milestone for Schreyer and Kia’s design teams – another step closer to his goal.  “I think the new Sportage is fresh and bold and couldn’t be mistaken for anything but a Kia.” says Schreyer. “In the past to buy a Kia was to make a very rational decision.  I want to create the situation where people see a Kia and want one firstly because of the way it looks, and then they discover that in addition to its great design it’s also attractively priced and has a great warranty.  I want to give Kia global appeal, and I want that appeal to be about design above all else.”

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Arriving in Kia showrooms across the UK in 2011, the Optima continues Kia’s design-led transformation, while revealing a completely new and stunning design language for Kia, highlighted by a dynamic and streamlined profile that conveys elegance and athletic confidence from every angle.  Kia’s new saloon will be called ‘K5’ in Korea and ‘Optima‘ in all other markets.

Designed at Kia’s studios in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California, the all-new Optima is longer, wider and lower than the Magentis it replaces and is based on an all-new midsize platform that allows for distinctive dimensions and proportions, while also providing a unique canvas for Kia’s global design team to pen a vehicle that stands apart from everything else in its segment.

“The Optima is a new strand in Kia’s evolving design DNA with a blend of simple and fluid lines and elegant but uncomplicated shapes that draw the attention of the eye in much the same fashion as a perfectly-tailored fine Italian suit,” commented Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors Corporation.

“From the distinctive sweeping chrome accent that stretches through the C-pillars to the sleek greenhouse and flared wheel arches, every inch of the Optima projects a distinguished and refined style and extreme attention to detail,” adds Schreyer.

The all-new Optima’s smooth-flowing lines speak of grace and style and offer a strong hint of European-style luxury.  Optima’s groundbreaking spirit will continue under the bonnet with the introduction of new powertrains, which deliver class-leading power with highly competitive fuel economy – and employ engine management systems such as direct injection, multi-point injection and turbo charging to help bring performance to the brand without sacrificing fuel efficiency.  Kia’s first-ever hybrid car, a new version of Optima, for the North American market, will be available in 2011.

Sleek and Streamlined Exterior

The all-new Optima projects a high-performance yet elegant image with its unique silhouette and sleek stance that builds upon Kia Motors’ philosophy of creating high quality and dynamic vehicles that evoke passion.  The striking face of Optima features Kia’s bold signature grille that is flanked by projector headlamps.

Optima’s coupe-like profile is enhanced by a sweeping chrome arc that flows from the A- to the C-pillars, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further and enhances its proportions.  Optima’s roofline connects with its high and pronounced shoulder line that leads to its sculpted flanks and the extended (2795 mm) wheelbase.  Boldly flared wheel arches and a steeply sloping rear window create a saloon with a graceful muscular stance.

The all-new Optima will offer numerous standard exterior features including dual exhausts, solar glass and indicators on the wing mirrors.  Depending on the trim level, fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, exterior chrome or body-colour door handles along with 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/55 R17 tyres will also be available.

Higher trim levels add HID headlights with auto levelling, LED rear lights, unique front grille design, rear lip spoiler, sculpted side sills, aero wiper blades, red brake calipers and 18-inch black machined finish alloy wheels furnished with 225/45 R18 tyres – achieving a true performance look.

Luxuriously Equipped Interior

Inside, all-new Optima creates an immediate sense that this is a driver’s car.  The instrument panel is contoured toward the driver to suggest a cockpit feel, with precise gauges and controls for an overall sporty performance experience without sacrificing comfort or roominess.  Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel (standard on automatic versions outside North America) convey that Optima is built for people who are passionate about driving their cars.  A high console with a short shifter adds to the cockpit ambience, while an optional glass panoramic sunroof will provide an open-air feeling.

Offering occupants both space and comfort with a number of standard convenience features, the saloon’s chic cabin unifies with the exterior design by welcoming its passengers with lean and ergonomic seat design.  Modern standard features such as six-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, illuminated vanity mirrors and a trip computer will further expand the cabin’s luxurious qualities.

In addition to offering a comfortable cabin, impressive technology features will also come standard throughout, including a high quality ‘Dimension’ audio system with AM/FM/CD and MP3 compatibility with eight speakers.  Auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls will feature, according to the market.

Interior comfort and convenience will be enhanced with available features that include a tilt/telescopic steering column, power door locks, power windows, sun visor extension and an air-conditioned glove box.  Stylishly appointed cloth seats provide comfortable seating while a 60/40 split-folding rear seat offers a versatile cargo capacity.  Automatic transmission-equipped Optima cars (in markets outside North America), will feature cruise control and Kia’s ‘Active Eco System‘ indicator to assist with fuel efficient driving.

Other available premium features will include push-button start with smart key, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto light control, driver and front passenger automatic window up/down and eight-way powered driver’s seat, illuminated glove box, rear reading lamps and chrome door handles. 

Depending on the trim level, Optima will also offer unique black leather woven seat trim, black interior trim with carbon insert film and metal accents, a supervision instrument cluster with LCD display, centre fascia and gauges, soft trim with French seams, alloy foot pedals and illuminated door scuff plates.

Available upgrades will also include a powered panoramic sunroof, leather seat trim, memory driver’s seat and a heated steering wheel for additional interior refinement.

For Europe and North America, a voice-activated navigation system with a seven-inch screen, will combine with the audio system functions to enhance the cabin for audiophiles or those who seek the latest superior quality technology for a modern driving experience. 

All-New Advanced Platform

The Optima is built on an all-new platform.  Optima’s low, lean and powerful stance is enhanced by its overall length of 4845 mm – an increase of 45 mm over the previous model – overall width of 1830 mm and wheelbase of 2795 mm, an increase of 75 mm, and has a low ground clearance for enhanced aerodynamics and reduced drag, boosting fuel efficiency.

Optima’s lightweight bodyshell design uses high-tensile-strength steel to enhance structural strength, while also achieving high torsional stiffness, benefiting handling, ride quality and refinement.  Additional measures to help ensure good noise vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction qualities are fitted throughout the Optima.

Optima employs unitary construction with sub-frames to support the fully independent front and rear suspension systems.  MacPherson struts are used in the front with a multi-link layout at the rear, with separate coil springs and shock absorbers at the rear, and a front anti-roll bar to ensure responsive handling and provide excellent ride comfort.

Class-Leading Efficient and Powerful Engines

For Western Europe, the new Optima will be available with a choice of 2.0-litre CVVL petrol and 1.7-litre VGT turbo-diesel engines.  In Russia and some Eastern European markets it will be offered with a 2.4-litre MPI petrol engine producing 178 ps.  All transmissions for the new Optima, both manual and automatic, will have six speeds.  Outside Europe, Optima will be available with six all-new Theta II family engines (depending on market), with Kia’s first application of GDI technology and up to 278 ps of power.

Safety-Minded

In line with Kia’s safety engineering philosophy, the all-new Optima will have a high level of safety features as standard.  Equipment includes six airbags (dual front airbags, front-seat mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags), front active headrests, side-impact door beams, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and, available in both Europe and North America, a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).  Safety driving systems on the Optima will include anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist System (BAS) and Hill Assist Control (HAC) – depending on market.

Optima will replace Magentis in the UK when it launches in 2011.  The introduction of this sleek new saloon signals a significant step forward in design and equipment levels for the Kia brand in the UK.  Exact trim, equipment and pricing will be announced closer to the launch.

Technical overview

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The next generation Kia Magentis is set to make its world premiere next month at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.

“The next generation of Magentis possesses the power to surprise,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer. “It’s a car that people will simply not expect from Kia – and that’s exactly what we set out to achieve.”

The saloon exudes an athletic confidence from every angle – its raked roofline, high and pronounced shoulder line of its sculpted flanks and its extended wheelbase are complemented by flared wheelarches and a shallow glasshouse that create a saloon with a muscular, self-assured stance.

The striking visage of the car features a new interpretation of Kia’s bold ‘tiger’ family face that’s edged by piercing projector headlamps.

Following the theme of recent model revisions, new Magentis is longer, lower and wider than before, the Kia’s coupe-like profile is enhanced by the sweeping chrome arc that flows from A to C pillar, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further still and enhances its cab-backwards proportions.

“For this car we started with a clean sheet and worked to achieve an exterior design with a European feeling and stance,” explains Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Europe. To help achieve this, the exterior was designed by his team in Frankfurt. The interior was created by the design team in California.

The new D-segment offering is spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the intelligently configured and driver-oriented cabin underlines a newfound poise and presence.

“This new model embodies Kia’s confident new design direction,” says Schreyer. “It’s a global car with individual appeal.”

The all-new Kia saloon will be launched in phases around the globe and will be seen in UK showrooms in 2011 – the model name will be confirmed closer to launch.

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To showcase its ‘EcoDynamics’ range of fuel-saving vehicles, Kia Motors is revealing an ‘ultra-low’ CO2 version of its popular cee’d at the Geneva Motor Show. The new model achieves a significant 11 per cent reduction in emissions – down to just 98 g/km, compared with 110 g/km for the current cleanest cee’d.

The five-door hatchback is powered by Kia’s new ‘U2’ family 1.6-litre diesel engine, designed and engineered at Kia’s R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany and manufactured in Slovakia.

Cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient this engine has the latest generation common rail diesel injection system and is fitted with a Variable Geometry Turbocharger.

Maximum power of 90 ps is produced at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 235 Nm is available across a wide rev band, from 1,900 to 2,750 rpm, for excellent drivability. More than 90 per cent of the maximum torque is available from just 1,500 rpm, for strong and smooth acceleration almost from idle.

In the EcoDynamics cee’d, the engine features improved engine mapping and fuel injection strategy with new software and is fitted with a variable water pump which absorbs less power, a high efficiency alternator with power-saving management system and a Diesel Particulate Filter.

Top gear ratio in the six-speed manual transmission has been raised by 12 per cent from 3.941 to 3.471 to 1, reducing revolutions at high speeds. Both the engine and transmission are filled with low-viscosity lubricants.

In addition to using the latest engine technologies to enhance efficiency, the EcoDynamics cee’d is equipped with a range of fuel-saving features.

Kia’s fuel-stretching Intelligent Stop and Go system – that automatically switches off and then restarts the engine in congested city driving – now features optimised system logic. The electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering system requires just 2.69 turns of the wheel from lock-to-lock.

To encourage an economical driving style, an Eco Driving Guide – a gear-shift up/down indicator – is displayed in the cabin. To improve the 4.26-metre long car’s aerodynamics and lower its rolling resistance, a variety of measures have been adopted.

The suspension is lowered by 15 mm, a smooth under-floor is fitted together with airflow deflectors ahead of each tyre and a rear spoiler is positioned on top of the tailgate. Brake-pad drag on the discs is reduced and the 16-inch diameter alloy wheels are fitted with low rolling resistance 205/55 R16 Michelin tyres and are inflated to a higher pressure of 38 psi.

No on-sale date for the revised EcoDynamics cee’d has yet been confirmed.

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• 2011 Kia Sportage Hits the Streets of San Francisco
• KIA ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW SPORTAGE FIRST EDITION

With a new bodyshell, new engines and fresh, bold styling that introduces a new kind of dynamic aesthetics, the latest Kia Sportage is an urban-friendly compact SUV for today’s families – consuming less fuel and emitting less CO2.

Longer, wider and lower than the previous model – by 90 mm, 15 mm and 60 mm respectively – the all-new design successfully retains the key SUV features – a commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and powerful road presence – that made the second-generation Kia Sportage so popular.

The second-generation Sportage was introduced in 2004 and marked a huge step forward for Kia. Over the next six years, it attracted thousands of new customers to Kia, and achieved global sales of more than 860,000 units – including 150,000 units in Western Europe.

Now, under the direction of Kia’s Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, the Kia design teams have created a third-generation Sportage incorporating Kia’s new design DNA and many features from the 2007 Kia Kue concept car, to be immediately identifiable and to stand out from potential rivals in an increasingly crowded segment.

“With the all-new Sportage, we have created a five-seat compact SUV with maximized customer appeal. It is urban-friendly and fully in tune with changing consumer expectations and demands,” commented Hyoung-Keun Lee, President, Kia Motors Corporation.

“Despite the recent and ongoing global economic difficulties, Kia’s market research indicates that demand for C-segment SUVs in Europe will grow steadily over the next five years as customers down-size their vehicles and new models focus attention on the segment.

“Customer response to the new Sportage in Europe has been entirely positive and we are confident that our latest model will significantly increase Kia’s share of the compact SUV market,” concludes President Lee.

New Sportage has an aerodynamic drag figure of Cd 0.37 – down from 0.40 – and a reduction in weight of 91 kg compared with the previous model enhancing fuel economy and refinement.

Choice of engines with enhanced economy and lowered emissions
When the full range of new Sportage models is on sale later this year, it will be available with four engines – two petrol and two diesel, ranging between 115 ps to 163 ps – manual and automatic transmissions and two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The model range presented to customers will vary country-by-country across Europe to suit local requirements and preferences. Final decisions on the UK range are yet to be made but all the engine variants will be available and Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., plans to take all the transmission and drive options.

For new Sportage the 2-litre diesel and petrol engines available at launch will be joined by smaller capacity engines available with fuel-stretching ISG (Intelligent Stop & Go) technology and with CO2 emissions from as low as 138 g/km.

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• 2011 Kia Sportage Hits the Streets of San Francisco
• KIA ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW SPORTAGE FIRST EDITION

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) celebrated the official opening of Kia’s first-ever U.S. automobile manufacturing plant this weekend. The state-of-the-art plant in West Point, Georgia is capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets.

Mr Mong-Koo Chung, Chairman of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group was one of many VIPs from Korea and the US to attend the opening ceremony. Mr Byung-Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO of KMMG and Kia Motors America (KMA) commented “Kia is proud to call West Point, Georgia home and we look forward to many years of growing together.

“Continued diligence has helped elevate Kia to one of the fastest growing automobile brands around the globe. With the successful launch of the new Kia Sorento last month, and the opening of our first manufacturing plant in the United States, the Kia brand is well positioned for further growth and to become a worldwide leader in quality and innovation.”

Representing a $1 billion investment by Kia Motors Corporation, the sprawling, 2.2 million-square-foot (204,000 metre-squared) plant is situated on more than 2,200 acres of land.

The site has four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly plus a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track where every vehicle produced by KMMG will be thoroughly tested.

The general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favourable installation position for each employee and reduce physical fatigue. To create a more comfortable and forgiving work environment, wooden flooring is fitted throughout the assembly area.

KMMG’s cutting-edge technology ensures high productivity and high efficiency for each process. The stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure and an automatic panel loading system; the fully automated welding shop boasts 242 welding robots; the paint shop uses eco-friendly, water-soluble coatings; and various systems are in place to keep inventory to a minimum via timely parts delivery.

Another highlight is the real-time processing and control system (RPCS) which feeds parts to the production line. It includes a digital signboard enabling timely and appropriate supply of parts via connection to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which contains all production data. RPCS also minimises inventory in the parts warehouse by matching the flow on the production line.

KMMG also features a railway system within the grounds to facilitate transportation. Parts and finished cars are transported into and out of the site via roads and railway in the vicinity.

At the opening ceremony, Governor Perdue outlined his hopes for the continuation of a mutually beneficial partnership between the State of Georgia and Kia that will mean many great things for the State in years to come.

“This is a momentous event for Georgia as Kia Motors has brought thousands of new jobs to this area, and is truly delivering as a tremendous corporate citizen. We value our relationship with Kia and pledge to continue providing specialised training through the Kia Georgia Training Centre that will guarantee a quality workforce and the future success of this plant.”

The massive Kia automobile manufacturing plant and its supplier companies have already provided thousands of jobs. KMMG currently employs more than 1,200 people and is expected to nearly double that number by the end of the year, while onsite and nearby suppliers will create up to 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

Mass production of the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento began on November 16, 2009 with the product officially going on sale in the U.S. in January of this year. Selling 7,398 units in its first month, the 2011 Sorento was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in January.

“The outstanding early performance of the first vehicle produced from our new plant is a significant achievement for KMMG, KMA and the Kia brand as a whole.” said Ahn.

“As we grow we will continue to expand our line of vehicles here and abroad while staying true to the Kia brand tenets of value, quality, safety and technology; and KMMG will play a prominent role in achieving our goals” he concluded.

Despite the industry downturn amid the global recession, Kia Motors’ car sales in the US grew by 9.8% over the previous year to 300,063 units in 2009. Kia aims to increase sales by 15.6% to 347,000 vehicles in 2010.

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The next generation Kia Magentis will make its public world premiere at the New York International Auto Show on Friday 2 April 2010. 

A fresh design from the ground up, Kia’s all-new version of its popular mid-size saloon is completely transformed and embodies a bold, athletic and sporty visual energy.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous model, the new Magentis features a significantly longer wheelbase and will offer considerably more space for both people and luggage.

The new Magentis will go on sale in the USA and in non-European markets – where it is known as Optima – from autumn 2010, while sales in Europe are expected to begin in the Spring of 2011. No on-sale date for the UK has yet been announced – keep an eye on www.kia.co.uk for details in due course.

The world premiere of the next generation Magentis will take place at the Kia Stand on Level 1 of the ‘Jacob Javits Center’ located between 34-39 Streets on 11th Avenue in New York City.

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• NEXT GENERATION KIA MAGENTIS IS DESIGNED TO SURPRISE
• 2011 Kia Sportage Hits the Streets of San Francisco

Kia Motors has unveiled its “Ray” plug-in Hybrid concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, to highlight its innovative fuel-stretching and emissions-cutting technologies.

Following the Kia Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), the Forte LPI Hybrid, the petrol cee’d Hybrid and the twin-turbo diesel Sorento Hybrid the “Ray” concept is a bold new collaboration between design and engineering and inventively showcases a futuristic four-seat compact saloon based on the Kia Forte platform.

Designed with lightweight and recycled materials, as well as hexagonal solar cells embedded in the glass roof panel to power extra lighting or climate control systems, the Kia “Ray” boasts a range of up to 746 miles.

“It is important to imagine early in the design process what people will want in the future from a green perspective. People want to reduce their carbon footprint without driving carbon copies,” said Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer for the Kia Motors Corporation.

“Being green doesn’t have to be an obvious statement anymore and the Kia “Ray” exemplifies a viable blend of modern, eco-minded features for today’s environmentally conscious consumers,” he added.

The stylish, aerodynamic “Ray” combines design and engineering for maximum efficiency, incorporating clean, flush surfaces minimising unnecessary edges giving a flowing profile and a pronounced rear shoulder ending in a slightly higher deck for reduced drag.

The “Ray” also features touch-screen controls, drive-by-wire steering, “cool-glazing” solar glass and a lithium-polymer battery – all possible indicators of future technology from Kia. As a plug-in hybrid, “Ray” is designed to cover driving distances of more than 50 miles using just its electric motor on a single charge, and has a fuel economy rating of more than 202 miles per gallon for a total range of 746 miles.

Striking Aircraft-Inspired Exterior Design

A lowered mono-volume shape and a strong, curvaceous silhouette give the Kia “Ray” concept better aerodynamic properties than taller profile hybrid vehicles.

Strong, lightweight materials are used to support the EcoDynamics philosophy. The LED Kia badge is covered with a single piece of glass that extends over the hood and another piece of glass extends from the cowl of the windshield to the rear header to offer occupants a spacious, airy feeling.

A tapering greenhouse cabin and a longer “tail” improve aerodynamics while reduction of drag is attained through a one-piece integrated underbody panel, narrow tyre width and flush wheel design.

The front headlamps slide back to create openings for better air intake when the petrol engine is being used and a sliding U-shaped deck-lid extends from the rear of the vehicle at higher speeds for improved coefficient of drag.

Instead of side-view mirrors and door handles, motion-detector cameras are mounted flush with the body for safe lane changing procedures and opening of doors. The result is an airframe on wheels. The front door opening features a forward cutout design for the feet allowing ease of entry. The purposeful rear-hinged coach doors add a stylish touch and their height and shape improves entry and exit.

The “Ray” employs new “cool car” technology, including nano-laminate films and cool-glazing materials to dramatically reduce solar heat and demonstrate how keeping the interior cool will reduce air conditioning loads and greenhouse emissions. When the vehicle is parked in the sun, the solar cells provide a trickle charge that helps operate a cooling fan to reduce interior temperatures.

Light and Airy Interior

The “Ray” interior is comprised of eco-friendly recycled materials in cool white tones to create a sense of purity while also reflecting the heat of the sun, keeping the temperature down and reducing the use of air conditioner energy. Front and rear seats made of lightweight composites, mounted on the side sills, create a floating effect in the cabin and utilise elastomeric materials to support body weight.

Fresh and sustainable trim materials combine with a lightweight touch screen instrument layout incorporating the push-button start and gear shift toggle. The centre console features the all-new Kia UVO powered by Microsoft® providing voice- and touch-activated controls for simple management of music files and hands-free mobile phone operation.

Adding to the list of green technology features “Ray” also employs the all-new GreenEdge™ system by Infinity® Audio. The loudspeakers reduce power consumption and dissipation through lower self heating temperatures coupled with increased acoustic performance providing a better synergy between amplifier, speaker and vehicle. The amplifier used also reduces the idle power consumption by 50 percent of current Infinity speakers and employs a lower dissipation design for significant savings in overall weight.

To reduce overall weight through materials and design the hexagon/honeycomb shape can be found throughout the cabin, used as a repeated design element while tying the interior theme together. Used also in the door inserts and seats, this lightweight and breathable mesh serves to reduce overall kerb weight as well as being a unique design element.

Other materials found in the cabin are soft to the touch with a matt finish, including white leather, offering a more luxurious, but inviting and tranquil, atmosphere.

Hybrid Architecture

The “Ray” Concept is designed to be powered by an all-aluminum 153-horsepower Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 1.4-litre engine mated to a permanently-engaged fixed ratio Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), used in combination with a 78kw electric motor.

Depending on driving conditions, power is sent to the front wheels from the petrol engine, the electric motor, or both together.

The “Ray” is equipped with an engine-power saving alternator management system and a toggle gear-shift indicator to encourage economical driving. Custom-designed low-rolling resistance tyres featuring a hexagon pattern in narrow 20-inch (195/50R20) construction also improve efficiency.

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• KIA LOOKS TO THE PLUG-IN FUTURE WITH “RAY” CONCEPT AT CHICAGO SHOW
• 2011 Kia Sportage Hits the Streets of San Francisco

Global recession, rising fuel prices, CO2-related motoring taxes – it’s hardly surprising that many car buyers are running for cover from large, thirsty models and opting for something smaller and easier on the pocket.  The trouble is, small cars often have small interiors that are just not suitable for families or those with an active lifestyle.

Not the new Kia Venga.  Despite occupying only a fraction over four metres of road, this stylish and different kind of small car has all the space, versatility and practicality a family could ask for.

Venga is the first car designed from scratch by Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, and carries many of the striking design elements and detail touches of his No3 concept car that was one of the hits of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.  Proving that small can be beautiful, it brings sensational good looks to the B segment of the market – a class characterised by many cars that are worthy but dull. And all for a price that starts at just £11,495.

Venga is based on the new small-car platform first used on the Kia Soul and that will also underpin the replacement for the Kia Rio when that becomes due.  Despite being 37mm shorter than Soul, Venga has a 65mm longer wheelbase, an important contribution to its outstanding interior space and versatility.

Venga is not a conventional mini-MPV but a B-segment car with genuine space.  It avoids the boxy  profile typical of other tall, passenger-friendly small cars and instead presents a sleeker, racier profile that gives it a class-best Cd figure of just 0.31 – reducing fuel consumption, emissions and wind noise when travelling at speed.

Short overhangs, concave swage lines along the flanks and pronounced, muscular wheel arches attest to Venga’s agility and fun-to-drive character, while the extended, four-panel glasshouse ensures excellent driver visibility and creates an airy and spacious feel in the cabin.  This is even more pronounced on the range-topping Venga 3, which has an all-glass, two-piece sliding panoramic sunroof covering almost the entire roof area.

The style and attention to detail obvious from the exterior is carried through to the cabin. Venga is the greatest expression yet of the depth of quality Kia is now bringing to its entire range.

The 4068mm long Venga has an unusually long 2615mm wheelbase, a high roofline and class-best width so that it is able to offer interior space comparable to that found in C-segment cars – but within a footprint typical of a B-segment vehicle.

Clever packaging – the art of turning every possible millimetre into passenger and luggage space – ensures Venga has class-best interior measurements in many key areas, including front and rear leg and hip room, as well as luggage space.

Numbers alone tell only half the story, however. To fully appreciate the spaciousness of Kia’s new B-segment family car you need only settle into one of its five seats – it doesn’t matter which – and feel how roomy it is.  Split rear seats that slide fore and aft by up to 130mm allow the passenger accommodation to be further stretched when maximum luggage capacity is not needed.

Alternatively, a two-tier boot means that owners who occasionally need more than the standard 444 litres of cargo space can expand the luggage area simply by moving the floor.  The luggage compartment thus becomes 163mm taller, extending total volume to 570 litres.  If more space is required, the rear seats have ‘Fold & Dive’ functionality which makes them seem to disappear into the floor, creates a completely flat deck in the load area and expands the total space to a cavernous 1486 litres.

Venga goes on sale in the UK with a choice of three torquey and fuel-efficient engines and the option of manual or automatic transmissions.  Diesel versions feature EcoDynamics, Kia’s fuel-saving, CO2-cutting technologies that include Intelligent Stop and Go (ISG). This switches off the engine when the car comes to rest and the gearlever is put into neutral, and restarts it the instant the clutch pedal is depressed.

All three engines meet EU5 emissions standards not due to come into force until 2011.  The two petrol engines in Venga are 1.4-litre 89bhp (90PS) and 1.6-litre 124bhp (125PS) units from Kia’s Gamma family.  The 1.4 is familiar from the Kia cee’d. In Venga it is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The 1.6 is the same engine used in the Kia Soul, but in Venga it comes with a four-speed automatic transmission.

A new 1.4-litre 89bhp U2 diesel engine, related to the 1.6 in the Kia Soul, makes its debut in Venga.  It has been designed and engineered in Germany and will be manufactured at Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia.

It is cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient than the engine it succeeds, while ensuring no loss of response or performance.  Thanks to a standard six-speed manual gearbox and EcoDynamics technologies, it can cover 62.8 miles on a single gallon of diesel in the official combined cycle, and emits just 117g/km of CO2.  This is sufficient to give it significant tax advantages for both private and fleet users.  Benefit-in-kind taxation for company drivers is only 13 per cent, while the annual Vehicle Excise Duty is a mere £35.

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• 2011 Kia Sportage Hits the Streets of San Francisco
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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.

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Following six months of round-the-clock vehicle build-up and testing in preparation for the 2010 GRAND-AM Continental Tyre Sports Car Challenge season, Kia Motors’ first-ever U.S. motorsports program reaches the track later this week with two Forte Koups competing in the ‘Fresh From Florida 200’ at Daytona International Speedway on January 29.  Kia Motors America and racing partner Kinetic Group have built the No. 10 and No. 12 Kia Forte Koups, to campaign in the Street Tuner (ST) class.

The No. 10 car will be co-driven by Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson, while the No. 12 car will be piloted by the 2007 GRAND-AM ST champions Trevor Hopwood and Adam Burrows.

“From the moment we announced KMA was getting into racing we believed the Forte Koup would be a strong competitor in GRAND-AM, and the feedback we’ve received from Kinetic and Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson after their initial testing reinforces that belief,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA.

“Consumers have come to recognise the Kia brand for attractively designed and priced vehicles that are fuel efficient and have a long list of standard features, and we are looking forward to introducing Forte Koup and the Kia brand to a new audience of auto racing fans throughout the Continental Tyre Sports Car Challenge season” he added.

The Forte Koup’s performance-inspired styling and outstanding driving dynamics are a perfect fit for road racing, making Kia Motors’ first two-door coupe the logical choice for KMA’s initial motorsports efforts. KMA selected the GRAND-AM Continental Tyre Challenge Sports Car Challenge series, which utilises production-based race cars from the U.S., Europe and Asia, for its competitive nature and use of weight and intake restrictions to maintain a level playing field for all entrants.

As part of the motorsports program development, KMA partnered with the Kinetic Group to develop, build and campaign the two Forte Koup race cars. Headquartered outside of Atlanta, Kinetic has competed in GRAND-AM racing since 2006 and added several specialists to its team of engineers, mechanics and crew for the Kia Motors racing program while also working closely with GRAND-AM to build the cars within strict series guidelines.  The two-door, front-wheel-drive race cars utilise the Forte Koup production car’s 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine.

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As Governments and motorists keep up the interest levels in an electric-car future Kia Motors Corporation has revealed the first preview rendering of its latest concept car – called Ray – which will make its global debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next month.

Styled by the team at Kia Design Centre America, the Kia Ray project was undertaken to demonstrate how Kia’s evolving design direction would be applied in the packaging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The actual car will form the centre-piece of the Kia Motors America display at Chicago and the vehicle will contribute to Kia’s on-going development of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Already Kia has pioneered potentially real-life fuel cell vehicles and has working prototypes operating in California and Korea. Additionally Kia has various hybrid-engined vehicles providing real-world data in various locations and plans to commercialise Liquefied Petroleum Gas hybrid vehicles in Korea within the next 12 months.

Currently no date has been set for hybrid Kia models to be put on sale in the UK but on-road testing of petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles is due to start in Britain this year.

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• KIA “RAY”
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The original Kia Sorento was a ‘landmark’ vehicle which took the Korean brand into a whole new section of the automotive market all around the world.  Introduced in 2002, it marked a huge step for Kia, challenging many established brands and starting the process of changing public perception of Kia as a ‘maker of small cars’.

Sorento earned widespread media and public acclaim for its innovative styling, durability, off-road abilities and value-for-money.  Over the next seven years, it attracted thousands of customers who had not previously considered buying a Kia, and achieved global sales of almost 900,000 units.  It also paved the way for the successful introduction of the smaller Kia Sportage.

At its launch, the original Kia Sorento injected fresh visual excitement into the SUV segment with its ‘stand-out’ looks.  Now under the direction of Kia’s Chief Design Officer (CDO), Peter Schreyer, the Kia design team aimed to deliver futuristic styling with a bold sense of power and dynamism, to once again differentiate Kia’s larger SUV from potential rivals by incorporating Kia’s new design DNA into the all-new Sorento.

New Sorento is also significantly sleeker than the previous model with an aerodynamic drag figure of Cd 0.38 – down from 0.425 – enhancing fuel economy and refinement.

New Sorento is a ‘Highline Cruiser’ with up to seven seats – a longer, lower, sleeker SUV with a host of new attributes that deliver genuine customer benefits.  Ride and handling are more supple and more responsive.  The cabin is more spacious and more luxurious.  The vehicle delivers enhanced performance while consuming less fuel.  The broader line-up offers a wider choice of engine, transmission and drivetrain.  New Sorento presents a stronger, more distinctive character that embodies Kia’s new design language while communicating athleticism, precision and modernity.

During development of the new Sorento, Kia engineers ditched the old body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell with room for up to seven occupants.  The different construction method helped the new Sorento to achieve a weight loss of up to 215 kg, depending on model, compared with the previous Sorento – even though the new model incorporates numerous additional technical, safety and comfort features.

Building on those new foundations, engineers concentrated on eight key development areas – class-leading performance, increased fuel economy, reduced emissions, improved on-road handling, more fun-to-drive responsiveness, greater cabin space and comfort, enhanced overall safety – resulting in the new model being awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP crash test rating – and the introduction of new technologies.

“With the new Sorento, we have created an all-new, seven-seater SUV that will soon be recognised as an ‘exciting all-rounder’ with a much broader customer appeal,” commented Hyoung-Keun Lee, President, Kia Motors Corporation.  “Despite the current economic uncertainties, we are confident that new Sorento, with its expanded market coverage, will significantly increase Kia’s share of the utility vehicle market, achieving annual global export sales of 140,000 units from 2010.”

The new, longer bodyshell created for new Sorento, with its repositioned A-pillars and dashboard (moved forwards) and extended tailgate (moved rearwards), ensures that the cabin is much more spacious than the current model.  The real and perceived quality of the cabin is greatly enhanced and available high-tech features will include: keyless entry, engine start button, reversing safety camera, built-in sat-nav and panoramic glass sunroof.

As part of Kia’s drive to expand market coverage with its latest SUV, the new Sorento will eventually be manufactured with a total of five engines to best suit local customer preferences and legal requirements in different regions around the world.  Reacting to market forces and consumer trends, Kia has downsized some of the engines available for new Sorento – the gasoline V6 shrinks from 3.8 to 3.5-litres and the 2.5-litre diesel is replaced by an all-new, class leading 2.2-litre unit – while improving the efficiency of all the powertrains. 

In Western Europe, three engines will be offered to customers – from launch, a 2.4-litre gasoline unit and the new R2.2 diesel, with a R2.0 diesel to follow later next year.  The launch engines will deliver a 174 ps-to-197 ps power spread, with CO2 emissions from just 171 g/km.

New Sorento’s ride/handling balance has been biased more towards on-road driving, without diminishing the original model’s renowned off-road talents. 

Kia’s latest SUV, which will benefit from a special 5-Year Kia Warranty in Europe, will be available with 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive and manual or automatic transmissions, in a selection of 11 exterior colours and two interior colours (Black & Beige), with a broad choice of equipment levels and a vast range of factory-fitted optional extras.

Manufacturing of the new Sorento SUV in Korea , in both left- and right-hand drive versions, for the European markets started at the Hwasung facility in July 2009.  Next year, the new Sorento will also be built at Kia’s all-new plant in the USA , at West Point, Georgia , to supply demand for this vehicle across the North American continent.

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Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the arrival of the special edition Shadow Dragon Soul, the third of four planned special edition Soul models.  Proudly showing design themes similar in nature to the Soul ‘Burner’ concept that debuted in 2008 at the Geneva International Motor Show resulting in a slew of positive feedback from Soul forums and Internet chats, Shadow Dragon Soul wears black dragon graphics over its sinister black-on-black color scheme.  Shadow Dragon Soul is the latest example the urban passenger vehicle’s unique ability to morph and transform, and joins all other Soul models as a 2010 ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

‘Soul is a unique vehicle in that it lends itself perfectly to personalization based on consumer needs and desires,’ said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA.  ‘With its one-of-a-kind paint and graphic treatments, the Shadow Dragon Soul could be the most distinctive special-edition Soul we’ve released so far, but still maintains the same value, convenience and safety features that consumers have come to know and expect from all Soul trim levels.’

From afar, Shadow Dragon Soul’s deep shadow black exterior color and matte black dragon graphics on the hood and tailgate give off a dark and menacing persona.  Looking closer, the black-on-black theme continues with black 18-inch wheels and machined accents, a body-color wing-type spoiler and high-gloss black accents found on the front and rear bumper inserts.  Inside, Shadow Dragon Soul features black leather-trimmed seats – the first leather seating available on any Soul model – and seat warmers for additional luxury and comfort.  Like both previous special-edition Souls, Shadow Dragon Soul is based on the Soul+ model and is fully loaded with the 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 and fender vents with side marker repeaters.  Shadow Dragon Soul starts at $18,1951 with a five-speed manual transmission.

Building from the Soul+ model, Shadow Dragon Soul adds standard keyless remote entry, privacy glass on the rear and rear side windows, body-color door handles and dual body-color power side mirrors.   Additional standard features such as cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth®2  wireless technology with hands-free connectivity, dual 12-volt power outlets and tweeter speakers enhance creature comforts on the road, as do the covered upper storage bin, dual visor vanity mirrors with covers and dual map lights.

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• Kia Soul Named ‘Small Car of the Year’ by FAMA Magazine
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Adding even more recognition to its growing list of accolades, the 2010 Kia Soul was named “Small Car of the Year” by FAMA Magazine during an award presentation at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

Also named one of “10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens” by AutoWeek magazine, one of the “Most Exciting Cars of 2010″ by TIME.com, given two “Top Safety Picks” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and named to the “Top 10 Back-to-School Cars” list by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, Soul was selected by FAMA for its extensive list of safety features, dynamic styling, impressive interior room and value.

“Soul offers today’s consumer a practical and attractive option with a more than impressive package of vibrant styling, extensive safety features and standard amenities,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “In today’s economy we feel it’s important that buyer’s don’t have to sacrifice these necessities for overall value, and Soul delivers.”

Editors from FAMA selected the top vehicles across six categories, including Editor’s Choice Award, Green Car/Hybrid of the Year, Best Luxury Sport Utility, Sport Car of the Year, Small Car of the Year and Car of the Year for Women. Each vehicle considered possessed a long list of safety features, impressive styling, interior space and value.
Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors’ affordable halo vehicle offers an attractive starting price below $14,000(1). Four special edition Souls, based on the Soul+ trim, also are being released throughout the year, including Denim Soul, Ignition Soul and most recently Shadow Dragon Soul. Offering consumers even more ways to customize the Soul, each special edition comes with its own unique exterior color and packaging.

In addition to presenting an immense amount of style and value, Soul also offers an extensive list of standard safety features, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.

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Short for “Your Voice,” Kia UVO powered by Microsoft® is an innovative and intelligent in-vehicle infotainment system that features a breakthrough user interface, providing simple and quick access to vehicle audio systems, music media in various formats and mobile phone content.

UVO is the first in-vehicle solution to integrate full Microsoft® intelligent speech engine technology.

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With sales of 50,636 vehicles in 2009 Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., has smashed records for the brand both in Britain and across Europe.

This is the first time any Kia subsidiary has broken the 50,000 sales mark in any European country and in the UK it represents a massive boost for the brand’s recognition and popularity amongst new car buyers.

Kia’s overall market share was 2.5 per cent including scrappage. The non-scrappage market share was 2.2 per cent.

The brand’s previous best sales performance was in 2004 when 33,149 vehicles were sold and in 2008 Kia sold 31,323 units and recorded a best-ever retail market share of 1.8 per cent.

Michael Cole, managing Director said: “2009 has been a phenomenal year for Kia and we are extremely proud to be the first market in Europe to break such an important psychological barrier.

“Undoubtedly we have benefited from the Government’s scrappage scheme but the retail non-scrappage performance was up – and that comes on top of an improved performance in 2008 when Kia was one of very few brands to end a year that saw the start of the recession in positive territory.

“The scrappage scheme has helped our dealers and their employees to keep going in the face of considerable difficulties but no-one should underestimate the appeal of our high quality, good-value range of cars for retail customers. Our increased retail share of 3.7 per cent shows that the Kia brand has attracted more private buyers than ever before,” he added.

Kia’s best selling vehicle was Picanto with 16,803 customers choosing the brand’s cheeky city car. The European designed and built cee’d was the marque’s next best seller, hitting a total of 12,900 in 2009. The Soul – launched in March 2009 – reached expectations with 2,938 sold and the revised and now European-built Sportage recording 3,939 sales.

ole added: “2010 will clearly be more difficult in overall terms because of the end of the scrappage scheme, but in response to that Kia has announced that all its products sold in Europe will now be covered by the seven year warranty previously only applied to cee’d and Sportage.

“Plus in February we launch our stylish yet capacious and flexible Venga and an all-new replacement for the ever-popular Sorento. So whilst we do expect the overall market to fall back in 2010 we are confident of holding our improved market share and we shall be expecting year-end sales in excess of 40,000. Based on the interest and demand from retail customers this year I believe that figure might be conservative,” he concluded.

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Kia is kicking off 2010 by extending its unique seven-year warranty to all its cars – delivering Europe’s best manufacturer-backed protection for new car buyers.

Previously available on Kia’s European-built products such as cee’d and Sportage, the seven-year warranty will now apply to every vehicle in the Kia range from the Picanto city car to the range-topping Sorento.

‘We have already declared our intention to become the world’s No1 car maker for customer satisfaction and our new 7-Year Kia Warranty on all models is a major step towards achieving that goal,’ commented Paul Philpott, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe.

The new ‘7-Year Kia Warranty’ will apply to all vehicles sold and registered in more than 20 European countries after 1 January 2010.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., explained: ‘The warranty covers every vehicle in our line-up for up to seven years – and no-one in the business can boast that. Even better, the warranty is transferable to subsequent owners bringing a big boost for used values.’

‘The new 7-Year Kia Warranty is simply the ‘longest and best’ warranty available on any car, anywhere in Europe.  Clearly, a longer warranty is a better warranty and this move will give every Kia owner not just enjoyable motoring but genuine long-term peace of mind.’

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Not yet on sale, but already new Kia Venga has won one of the most prestigious international design awards.

The stylish new B-segment MPV, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 has been awarded the prestigious iF product design award that recognises design quality, as well as a number of other criteria, including workmanship, level of innovativeness and eco-friendliness.

Judged by an international jury of experts, the German-based iF Design Award recognised that the Kia Venga completely redefines the conventional mini-van profile of traditional MPVs.

‘B-segment MPVs have traditionally been the type of vehicles purchased out of necessity – they are cars of function and practicality,’ explains Kia Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. ‘Now all that is about to change. With the new Venga we have designed a car that will fulfil European consumers’ practical requirements, while also being genuinely desirable and fun to drive.

‘Venga is going to re-ignite interest among consumers in B-segment MPVs, by setting new standards for the class! The prestigious iF product design award is a welcome recognition of the success of our design strategy,’ added Schreyer, who led Kia’s Venga design team.

Launched in 1953, the iF product design prize is awarded annually and has been recognised as one of the world’s most important prizes for excellence in design.

The award has its origins in the product shows ‘Die gute Industrieform’ (Good Industrial Design) initiated by Hanover Messe and is now one of the world’s largest design competitions. For the 2010 award, a total of 2,486 products were entered in 16 different categories.

The Kia Venga won the ‘Transportation Design’ category, which includes cars, ships, trains and planes.

The official presentation ceremony for the iF product design awards traditionally takes place on the first day of CeBIT, the world’s largest trade fair showcasing digital IT.

The Kia Venga will receive its award on 2 March 2010, the opening day of CeBIT, when the Hanover Exhibition Centre´s special feature will display all the iF award-winning products.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the Kia Venga will be available across Europe with a choice of seven engines: two petrol and up to five diesels, generating between 128 and 75 ps. The most economical version, the Venga 1.4 CRDi equipped with Kia’s ISG (Idle Stop & Go) system, will have a CO2 rating of just 117 g/km and will use only 4.5 litres fuel per 100km.

The 4,068 mm long, five-door car has an exceptionally spacious cargo bay thanks to the two-tier boot space floor and sliding rear seats, giving a total volume of 1,253 litres.

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Posh and Becks famously named one of their offspring after Brooklyn, and now Tony and Sam have done it… with Kia.

When mum-to-be Sam Smyth felt the beginnings of labour at 02:00am on Sunday morning, she called her mother who came to the rescue in her Kia Carens.

Installed in the Carens, alongside expectant father Tony Richardson, a swift trip to Poole Hospital followed.

However, baby didn’t want to wait and at 04:30am things had progressed somewhat with Samantha giving birth to a healthy baby girl weighing in at 6lbs 7ozs in the back of the Carens.

“It all happened so quickly” said proud mum Sam, mum of three.

The couple originally planned to call the new arrival Tilley, but to celebrate her unusual arrival into the world they decided that Kia was more appropriate.

Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. couldn’t ignore the chance to give a youngster a helping hand in life and immediately stepped in with an unusual gift – a newly registered 2009 top-of-the-range seven-seat Kia Carens, valued at £17,995.

But that’s not all… to help keep their new car and Kia’s birthplace in tip top condition, they’re also going to throw in two sets of waterproof seat covers, well accidents do happen with little ‘uns, and two car-car bags to keep their new Carens, and Grannie’s, nice and shiny.

Happy mum of Kia, Sam, said; “I’m just so chuffed. I can’t believe it. At the moment we only have a four seat car so this will mean we can get the family about in comfort. Thank you to Kia for arriving and to Kia for the car!”

Michael Cole, Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said ‘All of us at Kia are delighted for Tony and Sam and flattered that they have called their new baby Kia after she was born in Grannie’s Carens. We know how good the Carens is for families – especially growing ones – so we thought we should help them out by giving them a Carens of their own! We would like to welcome Kia to the Kia family and wish her a wonderful life.”

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Kia launched the funky new Soul earlier this year to include a range of ‘Originals’ – limited edition versions of the car – and with the change in season comes a change to the Originals collection.  These ‘character’ models are designed to showcase equipment features and styles available on Soul which customers can match to their lifestyles and personalities.

The beginning of the month saw the launch of the all-new ‘Tempest’ Original, which replaces the outgoing ‘Samba’ model. The Tempest features standard metallic paintwork in Titanium Silver with black high-gloss bumper inserts and door mirrors, and is fitted with unique black 18-inch alloy wheels. Completing the look inside is the modern ‘Soul-Shine’ black seat trim with metallic centre fascia and chrome accents on the dashboard and instrument clusters.

Other key features include Kia’s Advanced Reversing Camera system with Electrochromic Rearview Mirror, as available on its sister model Shaker, and an upgraded audio system which features a dash-top centre speaker, rear sub-woofer and external amplifier.

Tempest is available in 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines with a four-speed automatic transmission available on the latter – the first time automatic has been offered on any Original model. And with the price of Tempest starting from just £12,845, it’s certainly a tempting offer.

There are other minor model year changes to the rest of the Soul range being introduced as running changes. The entry grade ‘1’ trim now gains driver’s seat height adjust as standard.
Metallic centre fascia highlights and chrome accents have been improved and made brighter and are now offered as standard on the Soul 2 grade as well as all Originals. Also, the lidded storage tray in the upper dash has been redesigned for improved functionality and usage.

Colour availability has been revised on the Soul ‘2’ mid-grade. With the deletion of Samba from the line-up, the vivid Tornado Red paintwork is now made available on all ‘2’ models, while the vibrant metallic Cocktail Orange is no longer offered.  This quickly changing line-up ensures that all Soul customers feel special knowing theirs is one of a limited number.

The beginning of October also saw a small increase in pricing to the Soul range, with prices now starting from £10,775 OTR.”

(Via .)

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Kia Motors Corporation has taken the wraps off its new Cadenza, the production version of its VG concept car – an all-new saloon car designed to deliver refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction in an ‘ideal’ driving package.

The stylish luxury sedan, which is to be called ‘Cadenza’ in markets outside of Korea, will make its overseas premiere at motor shows in the Middle East, towards the end of the year.

The Cadenza name is derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. It perfectly symbolises the dynamic saloon’s striking design philosophy and premium image.

Sporty and sleek in appearance, Cadenza features a bold headlamp design with attention-grabbing LED surrounds and a purposeful, athletic character line. The prominent front grille and stylish tail-lights emphasise the car’s high-tech feel and are a continuing expression of Kia’s dramatic design DNA.

On the inside, there is a futuristic ‘floating’ dashboard that highlights Kia’s uniquely innovative design approach. The welcome system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet’ the driver, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs along the dashboard to the door trim, creates a warm atmosphere within the vehicle.

The Kia Cadenza’s dynamic design and driving performance, allied with a raft of competitive passenger-friendly high-tech features, will make it a leader in the large, luxury sedan market segment.

Luxury features will include a heated steering wheel for winter driving in cold countries, powered extendable seat cushions to give extra thigh support, automatic defogging of the windscreen and ventilated front seats providing cool comfort in hot countries.

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corporation, said, ‘The new Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language through the harmonious blend of light and lines. It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology.’

Cadenza is positioned above the existing Magentis model in Kia’s global line-up but currently there are no plans to bring to vehicle to the UK.

Kia Motors (UK) Limited Managing Director Michael Cole commented: ‘Despite its striking appearance and high-tech engineering I do not believe this is the right time to try and extend our range into a sector of the market that is dominated by German brands. But Cadenza shows clearly how Kia’s design-led philosophy under Peter Schreyer is producing startling new products and it is clear from this car that our future new model programme – which starts next year with Venga and the all-new Sorento – is going to continue the dramatic development of our brand in the UK.’

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Viewed through the lens of the past, modern SUVs are simply station wagons in drag. And it turns out that station wagons serve the majority of the modern driving public’s needs better than the original, old-school truck-based SUVs.

Kia has been paying attention. While the Kia Sorento is currently a trucky body-on-frame SUV with a low-range transfer case, the Sorento’s trajectory as we know it today changes for 2011. It finds itself trading in the rough-and-tumble credentials for a more carlike experience.

According to Kia, the only thing carried over in the 2011 Kia Sorento is the name.

A New Mission
That’s because the 2011 Kia Sorento is not only all-new but also underpinned by a unibody platform, suggesting that Kia is taking aim at the meat of the crowded compact SUV segment.

The 2011 Kia Sorento — which will occupy showrooms in early January 2010 — is the first vehicle that will roll out of Kia’s brand-new manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. Called Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), the plant lies on a sprawling 2,200-acre plot in the rural rolling hills near the Alabama border, and it has been built to support the production of up to 300,000 vehicles per year.

KMMG takes the concept of ‘just in time’ manufacturing one step further. Some 90 percent of the Sorento’s parts suppliers are situated within 20 miles, and its Kia-designed six-speed automatic transmission is assembled on-site. In other words, it isn’t your ordinary $1-billion auto plant.

Longer and Leaner
Riding on a new platform that will be shared with the next Hyundai Santa Fe, the 2011 Kia Sorento’s height, wheelbase and ground clearance are fractionally smaller than the outgoing Sorento.

However, the 2011 Sorento is a full 3.7 inches longer and about an inch wider. This hasn’t paid dividends in interior space for front- and middle-seat occupants, but it has allowed the inclusion of an optional third row of seating for seven-passenger capability (the outgoing Sorento was strictly a five-place affair). A 2-inch drop in the center of gravity compared to the outgoing Sorento further enhances carlike dynamics.

The 2011 Kia Sorento is still sized like a compact SUV, and the switch to a unibody has exorcised a couple hundred pounds from the curb weight. Interior space is satisfactory, and although the stowable third row is more of a jump seat, it isn’t a complete joke like the one in, say, the Mitsubishi Outlander. Opting for the five-passenger variant nets you a large bin in the cargo area where the third row would reside.

Cues from the KND-4 Concept shown at the 2007 L.A. Auto Show appear on the 2011 Kia Sorento, which now sports the familial ‘Schreyer Line’ grille and handsomely chiseled sheet metal. Though vaguely reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Outlander, it’s nonetheless a creased, well-proportioned and confident step away from the anonymity of the outgoing Sorento. The new shape’s 0.38 drag coefficient cheats the wind better, too — 11 percent better, to be exact.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but Kia representatives tell us that the 2011 Kia Sorento will be priced ‘within $100-$200 of the current model, and with more content.’

A Smorgasbord of Choices
You’ll have a broader selection of powertrains from which to choose in the new Sorento. A new 3.5-liter V6 that turns out 273 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque replaces the current Sorento’s 3.3- and 3.6-liter V6s. Said to be up to 30 percent more efficient than the old V6 in certain driving circumstances, the new V6 will be offered only with a six-speed automatic transmission.

A new 172-hp 2.4-liter inline-4 is also available, and it can be married to said autobox or a six-speed manual. Both engine choices are available in front wheel- or all-wheel-drive configurations.

The four-cylinder base version brings the 2011 Sorento’s base price under $20,000, but doesn’t produce fuel economy that’s hugely superior to the V6 models. At 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway, the FWD four-cylinder with the automatic — the most fuel-efficient pairing — beats out the AWD V6 automatic — by just 2 mpg.

Behind the Wheel
We didn’t drive the four-cylinder version, but you can expect that pushing more than 3,600 pounds of tall Kia through the atmosphere with 173 hp will undoubtedly involve a degree of patience similar to that required when piloting the Honda CR-V.

With the V6, though, the Sorento feels punchy enough, and the new autobox summons gearchanges readily if you dip into the throttle. Gears are changed with a slickness that delivers minimal shock to occupants, even if the gear-swapping process itself isn’t particularly hurried.

Four trim levels will be available for the Sorento, and the range-topping EX V6 model we drove — albeit only on the freeway and in the worst traffic in that region’s history thanks to 20 inches of rainfall — was amply equipped. Standard equipment for the EX includes hill start assist and hill descent control, Bluetooth, keyless ignition and back-up alerts, and you can opt for navigation, a back-up camera, leather upholstery, heated seats and a gigantic panoramic sunroof.

Cutting and thrusting through hordes of dumbstruck Georgia drivers (many of whom are apparently always dumbstruck), we found that the new Sorento lives up to its promise of more carlike driving dynamics. The preproduction example we drove steered crisply, rode well and transmitted little road noise to the cabin. Cabin controls are laid out logically and outward visibility is reasonably good despite a thick D-pillar. The drive-by-wire throttle isn’t the best example of its kind, but the delay in its action is not offensive.

The Right Stuff
Abandoning the truck-based SUV has proven a logical move for any automaker seeking sales volume. There’s more competition than ever, but the potential for success is much greater.

Kia is doing more than simply moving in the right direction with the 2011 Kia Sorento. The sheer variety of available configurations alone — I4 or V6, FWD or AWD, five-passenger or seven-passenger, plus various trim levels — represents a full frontal assault on the compact SUV class. Refinement, styling and equipment are all there, too.

The Sorento has stepped up its game in a big way for 2011, but so have many of its peers. We’re looking forward to testing the Sorento’s mettle against the stalwarts of the class.”

(Via Inside LineInside Line.)

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Kia Motors (UK) Limited has been named UK Automotive Company for 2010 by the Institute of Transport Management in recognition of “its innovative and dynamic efforts to lead the way towards a healthier industry, in both financial and environmental terms”.

Announcing the award immediately prior to the Frankfurt Motor Show where Kia will unveil a raft of new products, including diesel hybrids, the Institute’s Awards Committee said it was highly impressed by its research team’s data on Kia’s development of cost-efficient vehicles and environmentally sound manufacturing processes.

The ITM was founded in 1977 to increase the profile of the various industry sectors it encompasses and in 1980 embarked upon its first Awards programme. Since then the awards have sought to benefit its membership of more than 18,000 in a variety of ways, and ensure that the providers of excellent products and services are officially recognised and rewarded.

Mr Patrick Sheedy, Media & PR Director at the Institute said “The ‘UK Automotive Company 2010’ Award is one of the Institute’s major accolades, reflecting as it does the importance of this sector to the economy and the volume of our members who are involved in automotive trade”.

He added: “This is the second time the Institute has awarded this accolade to Kia and this success is indicative of the outstanding progress made by the company in the UK marketplace in such trying economic times.”

Kia Motor’s UK Managing Director, Michael Cole, commented: “We were delighted to receive such recognition from the Institute two years ago – but for that praise to be repeated so soon is overwhelming and clearly shows that the efforts of everyone within the Kia organisation are paying off as we seek to deliver excellent products at excellent prices with the minimum impact on the environment.

“I am convinced that we have been putting the right products in front of the public during a tough period and this is being widely recognised – so my sincere thanks to the Institute of Transport Management for endorsing that strategy!” he added.

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Kia’s stylish and uniquely spacious new premium B-segment contender will be named ‘Venga’ when it goes on sale across Europe later this year and in the UK early in 2010.

Due for its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the Venga is based on the ‘No 3’ concept shown at Geneva in March.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the 4,068 mm long Kia Venga features an unusually long wheelbase for its class of 2,615 mm – and a 1600 mm high roofline to maximise cabin space.

Skilful packaging will ensure that the Venga redefines the category by offering levels of interior space typical of a larger C-segment vehicle, but within a B-segment footprint.

Every engine in the Venga line-up will be available with Kia’s fuel-stretching Intelligent Stop and Go technology and will comply with Euro 5 emission standards. Venga will be marketed exclusively in Europe where consumers will be offered a choice of two 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, generating between 75 and 115 ps.

The Venga will be equipped with a sliding 60/40 split rear seat that also folds flat into the floor to create a spacious cargo bay and, a twin-level boot floor and depending on model a tilt-and-slide all-glass panoramic roof.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: ‘The ‘No 3’ was one of the stars of Geneva and I am certain Venga will attract similar attention in Frankfurt.

‘This is exactly the kind of vehicle UK motorists are looking for as we emerge from the recent economic turmoil – a fantastically flexible package providing big-car comfort and space within a compact package. It will offer our customers style, sophistication and refinement coupled with environmental economy,’ he added.

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