Kia Hooks its Belgium CEO up to a Lie Detector to Dispel Doubts About 7 Year Warranty

If there’s one thing South Korea’s Kia does better than any other automaker, it is offering especially long warranties. In Belgium, for instance, the warranties across their entire range of vehicles extend to seven years.

That’s no mean feat, though intriguingly Kia Belgium have found that a lot of new car buyers believe the seven year warranty scheme is too good to be true. Either there’s a catch, or it doesn’t cover all Kia models, or there’s some extra charges that need to be paid first.

To counteract these rumours, and gain some additional customers, Kia Belgium hooked its General Manager Benoit Morrene up to a polygraph (lie detector) and let the general public ask him questions in an online, streamlining environment.

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Kia Celebrates 20 Years in the UK

Today, June 30, Kia celebrates the 20th anniversary since it sold its first ever car in the UK. In 1991, the small hatchback Pride was the only Kia model on sale in Britain and in that year, the company managed to sell just only 1,786 cars.

However, two decades is a very long time in the automotive industry. Since then Kia has changed remarkably on its way to become an important player on a global scale. In 2010, Kia sold a record 56,114 cars in the UK and, for the first time ever, more than 2 million units worldwide.

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Argentina Agrees to Allow Hyundai and Kia Imports for Peanuts – Literally…

Argentina’s exports for imports saga continues, with South Korean carmaker Hyundai agreeing to export peanuts, wine, biodiesel and soy flour to offset the US$91 million (€64 million) it added to Argentina’s growing trade deficit in 2010. Partner company / subsidiary Kia has agreed export white goods and plastics for their contribution.

The South American nation’s US$6 billion (€4.19 billion) trade deficit has already led to one Porsche distributor agreeing to export wine and olive products, while similar deals have been struck with carmakers Chery, GM, Peugeot-Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Fiat and Ford.

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Kia Reunites Joyride Characters for New 2012 Sorento Ad

Though not as successful as their music-loving hamster counterparts, Kia’s oddball cast of life-size children's characters from last year’s Joyride commercials are back for a new advertising campaign.

Muno, Sock Monkey, MR. X, the vintage robot and teddy bear will star in two new 30-second TV spots for the 2012 Sorento CUV. As with the original campaign, "Joyride 2" was created by David&Goliath, KMA's advertising agency of choice. The first commercial begins airing today and will be followed up by the second spot next month.

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Toyota Sales Plunge More than 33% in May, Chrysler Group up by 10%

The numbers for U.S. auto sales for the month of May are out and as expected, Japanese automakers continue to be hit hard by the ongoing production disruptions caused by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in their home market. As a result, Toyota’s sales plunged 33.4% over the year-ago month to 108,387 units, while rivaling Honda saw its sales fall 22.5% to 90,773 vehicles, Nissan recorded a 9.1% drop to 76,148 units and Mazda 17,875 vehicles, down 20.9%.

General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 221,192 vehicles in May posting a decline of 1%, while the Ford Motor Co. said its sales decreased by 0.1% to 192,253 cars, trucks and SUVs.

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Kia Launches Soul Hamstar Special Edition in the U.S.

The success of the popular Hamster advertising campaign that promoted the Soul in the U.S. in 2010 inspired Kia to launch a new special edition model of its boxy crossover model. Previewed by the Hamstar concept at the 2011 SEMA show, the red and black 2011 Hamstar is the sixth special edition Soul. The car sports unique exterior graphics and interior refinements, including a 315-watt audio system with pulsing speaker lights. Read more »

Hyundai Set to Become Sixth Biggest Automaker in the U.S. In 2011

In the realm of U.S. automotive sales, 8% is a magic number. When an automaker hits 8%, they know they’ve become one of the big guns. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year.

So sayeth market research firm Polk, and I’m tempted to agree. Hyundai and its partner-brand / internal rival Kia have steadily been evolving into truly world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, inoffensive to look at and comprehensively covered quality-wise – everything the vast majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.

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Top Kia Soul Pictures

Top Kia Soul Pictures

Kia’s New Signature Grille And Sports

These images are of the 2011 Kia Sportage SUV, revealed via Kia’s patent filing with the EU Patent Office. It shows either the production version or as some suggest, the near production concept that could be paraded at the upcoming Geneva or Seoul motor shows. The Sportage is scheduled to hit domestic showrooms towards the end of 2010 or by the first quarter of 2011.

Penned by former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the mid-sized SUV features Kia’s new signature grille and sports a cleaner, less severe look than the Hyundai Tucson/ix35, which it shares underpinnings with. The Hyundai was introduced in Singapore last November with a 166 bhp/197 Nm 2.0-litre Theta II engine paired with a newly developed six-speed automatic, so we presume that the Sportage could carry the same drivetrain when it reaches our region.

2010 Kia Cadenza Pictures

2010 Kia Cadenza Front View

2010 Kia Cadenza First Drive

2010 Kia Cadenza Side Angle View

2010 Kia Cadenza Interior

2010 Kia Cadenza Photo

2010 Kia Cadenza Rear Angle View

2010 Kia Cadenza Luxury Sporty Sedan

2010 Kia Forte Car Pictures

 

 

 

The Kia Forte is a compact car manufactured by Kia Motors. In 2009, it replaced the Spectra in North America.

2010 Kia Sorento SUV Officially Revealed in Korea - First Photos

These are the first official pictures of the second-generation Kia Sorento SUV that was revealed today in Korea ahead of its public debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12. While Kia has yet to disclose information on the European or North American-spec model, the company did release initial details on the Korean-market Sorento that will be initially offered with Hyundai's new 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine that produces 200HP and returns 39.8mpg US (7.1 lt/100km) on the combined cycle (automatic transmission).

Depending on the market, the new Sorento will also be available with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline unit, a 2.7-liter LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine as well as a V6 gasoline unit.

The 2010 Sorento is longer than its predecessor measuring at 4,685mm (+95mm) but has retained the same width at 1,885mm while the SUV's height has been reduced by 15mm to 1,710mm. In its official Korean market press release, Kia did reveal whether or not the new Sorento will be offered with the option of 7-seats.

2010 Kia Sorento SUV: Official Sketches, Debut set for April

In addition to the teaser photo released earlier in February, Kia has issued two new renderings along with initial details of its forthcoming 2010 Sorento SUV. The Korean automaker said that the second-generation Sorento, codenamed XM, is set for launch in April, meaning that it will most likely make its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show. The teaser sketches reveal that the new model will follow the 2007 Kue concept car's edgy and chiseled lines while it will also feature Kia's new corporate grille.

Kia Motors Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer said, "The dynamic design of XM adopts simple linear lines to lend a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, XM represents a new breed of SUV."

The 2010 Sorento will most likely offer buyers the option of adding a third row of seats, increasing passenger capacity to seven.

The new Sorento will become the first Hyundai-Kia vehicle to come equipped with the firm's all-new environmentally-friendly passenger diesel R-engine. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder unit produces an output of 200-horsepower. According to Kia, when hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Sorento 2.2R will have a combined fuel consumption of 7.1lt / 100km or 33.2mpg US.

Kia also plans to satisfy diverse consumer tastes by offering the model with a 2.4 gasoline and a 2.7 LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine. The Korean carmaker claims that this makes Kia XM the first vehicle in the world to run on all three fuel types.

Sales of the new Sorento are expected to commence in Korea this spring, with the rest of the world following in late 2009 and early 2010.

Source: Kia , Via: Kia-World

Kia No 3 Concept: First Photos of Mini-MPV that will enter Production in 2010

When the curtain rises on the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next week, Kia will reveal its strangely named 'No 3' concept car that will lead to a production model (see scoop photos here) in the beginning of 2010. Designed by Kia's European design team, led by Peter Schreyer, the No 3 is a Ford Fiesta-sized mini MPV developed to rival cars such as the Opel / Vauxhall Meriva and Citroen C3 Picasso. Finished in a matt Titanium Grey, the 4045 mm long concept features the new 'face of Kia' with the front grille, head lamps and brand logo in a new constellation arrangement.

Even though we see a bit of the new Fiesta in the mini-MPV's front-end design, overall, we must say that the No 3 looks the part. One of the most prominent features of the car, but one that we doubt will find its way into production, is the diagonal supporting bar on the roof that joins the extended windscreen and panoramic glass top.

The production version of the No 3 will be based on the underpinnings of the Kia Soul and Hyundai i20, meaning that powertrain options will most likely include 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engines, both producing an output of 126HP, while some markets will also get a 115HP 1.6-liter diesel and a 142HP 2.0-liter gasoline engine.

2010 Kia Sorento Crossover Teaser Photo

This is the first official teaser picture of Kia's second generation Sorento crossover that's set to go on sale by the end of the year in some markets and early 2010 in others. The 'smoked' photo outlines the new Sorento's boxy looks which are partially inspired from the KND-4 concept that was penned under the guidance of Kia´s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

The 2010 Sorento will most likely offer buyers the option of adding a third row of seats, increasing passenger capacity to seven.

Depending on the market, the Korean crossover will be available with three gasoline engines - a 2.4-liter four-pot, a 3.0-liter V6 with 240HP and a larger 3.8-liter V6 delivering 260HP.

In Europe and other selected international markets, the Sorento will also be offered with Hyundai's newly developed 2.0 and 2.2-liter turbo diesel engines with outputs of 184HP / 392Nm and 200HP respectively and a new 3.0-litre V6 CRDi turbo diesel producing 240HP.

It has yet to be confirmed if the 2010 Sorento will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show or if Kia will prefer to take the covers off the crossover at the Seoul Auto Show in April.

Via: Kia-World

U.S. Spec 2010 Kia Forte Sedan Introduced in Chicago: 37 High-Res Photos

Following its introduction in the Korean market last August, Kia unveiled the U.S. spec Forte at the at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Due to go on sale in the States in late spring or early summer of 2009, the Forte sedan will replace the (very) forgettable Spectra in Kia's North American lineup. Available in three trim levels, the Forte LX and EX are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 156HP and 144 pound-feet of torque, while the range-topping SX features an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine delivering an output of 173HP.

The Forte LX and EX 2.0 are offered with two transmission options, a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The more powerful SX 2.4 comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic.

While pricing and detailed information on the standard equipment will be announced closer to the launch date, Kia said that all Forte sedans will come with a standard four speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service, an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players and Bluetooth connectivity. The EX and SX packages also add a standard six speaker surround audio system and steering wheel controls.

In terms of safety features, Kia has equipped all Forte sedans with two-stage airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control (TCS), and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as standard.