Consumer Reports: Kia Sedan Tops Honda Accord
Consumer Reports ranks the Kia Optima midsize sedan ahead of big seller Honda Accord.
By Jerry Edgerton | CBS MoneyWatch - Wed, May 11, 2011 5:25 PM EDT

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    * 2011 Kia Optima

      2011 Kia Optima

Until recently, Kia was known chiefly as the automaker with the funny commercials featuring hip-hop hamsters.


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But now, with its sales surging (up 56% in April), Kia has taken another step toward serious consideration by shoppers: Consumer Reports, after a comparison test, ranks the Kia Optima midsize sedan ahead of big seller Honda Accord.

Consumer Reports test drivers gave the Optima the edge over the Accord for its superior handling, although the magazine kept Accord on its Recommended list. They cited these additional attributes for the 2011 Optima (list price $21,885 in the test model), which has had a complete redesign:

    * The 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine, which delivers strong performance
    * Good fuel economy, with an EPA ratings of 24 mpg in city driving, 35 mpg highway
    * Smooth shifting by the six-speed automatic transmission
    * An attractive interior and plenty of trunk space
    * Crash test performance - the Optima garnered a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

But it was the quick steering and crisp handling that gave Optima the edge over the Accord, long among the top-selling midsize sedans. CR test drivers said the Accord handling was "sloppy with notable body lean" when it was pushed on the magazine's test track.

Optima ranks sixth overall among four-cylinder family sedans. The top five are Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy and Suzuki Kizashi. The Accord came in at No. 7. The review is in the June issue or available on the CR website if you are a subscriber.

Both Kia and its Korean corporate stablemate, Hyundai,  already sell well,  but the two have benefited further  from tight supplies of Japanese cars and parts after the recent earthquake and tsunami.

In addition to the Optima, sales have been strong for Kia vehicles like the midsize Sorento SUV and the small, boxy Soul (promoted by the hip-hop hamsters). At the recent New York Auto Show, Kia introduced the 2012 subcompact Rio, which is rated for 40 mpg in highway driving.

In a separate  round of testing, Consumer Reports looked at midsize SUVs and gave mediocre ratings to Ford's redesigned Explorer, which has been a strong seller so far. Here's a closer look at those ratings:

Ford Explorer: Test drivers found the 2011 Explorer improved over the previous generation. They gave the Explorer credit for a comfortable ride and decent fuel economy (rated 17 mpg city, 25 highway). But they found the engine noisy and handling sluggish. The six-speed automatic transmissions is sometimes slow to downshift, they said. And they reiterated their distaste for the latest version of the SYNC system called MyFord Touch as too complicated and distracting. (The test vehicle was priced at $39,725.) Other reviewers have ranked  the Explorer more favorably.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid: CR's favorite among the three SUVs tested in this round, this hybrid SUV boasts faster acceleration than the standard gas model. It has a 280-horsepower V-6 engine combined with three electric motors and a smooth continuously variable transmission. The combination is rated 28 mpg city and 28 highway; in CR's own test, the Highlander Hybrid (limited-run test model listed at $47,255) got a combined 27 mpg - closer than usual to the EPA ratings.

Volkswagen Touareg: Test drivers also liked the Touareg as a luxurious SUV with a comfortable and roomy cabin. The TDI Sport model ($47,255 list price as tested) is powered by a 225-horsepower V-6 diesel that delivers smooth power. The turbocharged engine is rated at 19 mpg city, 28 highway.

Of the vehicles reviewed in the June issue, only the slightly updated Honda Accord and Toyota Highlander Hybrid appear on Consumer Reports' Recommended list. That, CR says, is because the totally redesigned Kia Optima, Ford Explorer and VW Touareg are too new in the current version to have sufficient reliability data in its reader surveys.

Written by himi on January 31st, 2011 in General News.

The U.S News and World report has named 2011 Kia Sedona the Best Minivan for the Money for 2011. Earlier, the popular minivan from Kia has bagged awards like ?Top Safety Pick? and ?Safest minivan ever tested?. By providing its customers with an outstanding value and for attaining critical acclaim, Sedona has claimed the top honors. Michael Sprague, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kia Motors America (KMA) says that the Sedona minivan is continuously recognized for offering a complete package of standard technology, convenience and safety features at a fantastic value and is one of the best cars available from Kia Motors.

The complete cost of ownership is really important to consumers in the current economic situation. Sedona?s position as a segment leader in value is strengthened due to the unique formula employed by U.S News & World Report that combines their rankings with overall costs. The ?Best Car for the money? award recognizes a vehicle that garnered the most marks for overall value and appeal within its established class and this is where the Sedona ranks really well. To help shoppers identify the best cars in every category, the U.S News car rankings offer an unbiased comparison of each vehicle to its competitors.
In order to create the consensus about each car, rankings that are based on the balanced, diverse opinions of hundreds of professional auto critics are amalgamated together. By offering average transaction prices over the last 30 days and the five year total cost of ownership that includes depreciation, maintenance and insurance, TrueCar data is one of the most timely and complete in the market. Each model can be compared by its overall appeal for the money when the data is combined with U.S News car rankings.

The 2011 Kia Sedona minivan is available in LX and EX trims, with prices starting at $24.595 for the LX model and $29.195 for the EX trim. The 2011 Sedona provides consumers with great protection that is facilitated by a wide range of safety features like six standard airbags, active front headrests, a four channel, four sensor antilock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force distribution (EBD) that makes this car a segment leader in terms of value and safety features. To ensure that the appropriate stopping force is used in EBD, the vehicle load and weight distribution is also taken into account.

November 25, 2010

You know you like a car when the only thing you would change is the hard, uncomfortable seats.

European Automobile Manufacturers' Association reported recently that Kia, together with its parent Hyundai Motor Company, outsold Toyota in Europe in the first half of the year. In addition to that, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group also beat its main Japanese rival in the fast growing China market!

According to the report, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group was the best-selling Asian automaker in Europe during the first six months of the fiscal year. The South Korean auto giant sold nearly 3,000 automobiles more than Toyota, which saw its sales plummeting 11 percent, compared to a year ago. Speaking of decreasing Toyota sales,  sales of other Japanese carmakers, such as Honda and Suzuki, also fell sharply. Their sales plunged by 21 and 20 percent, respectively.

During the first six months, Kia Motors sold 138,357 vehicles, while Hyundai Motor Company sold 191,338 vehicles in the European market. According to European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, the combined total of 329,695 units is 2,904 more than Toyota's sales of 326,791.

Both South Korean carmakers also managed to increase their market shares. Hyundai's market share rose 0,3 percent to 2,6 percent, while Kia's market share soared 0,2 percent to 1,8 percent.

Hyundai-Kia sales in China

As mentioned above, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group -HKAG also beat Toyota in China. During the first six months of 2010, HKAG sold a total of 489,500 vehicles in China, where sales have grown 39 percent compared to a year ago! In June alone, combined sales of Hyundai-Kia cars soared 16.2 percent year on year to 79.086 units.

Combined sales of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in China are expected to top 1 million units this year. To achieve the 1 million sales, both automakers plan to introduce several new models to Chinese consumers. According to some automobile media reports, Kia is going to introduce a modified Cerato model, slightly updated Forte sedan and new Sportage crossover by the year's end in China, while Hyundai is all set to roll-out new Sonata sedan and Accent sub-compact sedan

The crossover is the high-fructose corn syrup of the automotive world. Think about it: Rather than using real sugar, Pepsi opts for a cheaper, highly refined and processed sweetener. Which, according to lots of studies, is pretty bad for us. Why would they do that? Higher profits, pure and simple. Likewise, CUVs offer all of the space of a comparably long station wagon or hatchback, get inferior mileage, don't handle as well, take longer to stop and in most cases offer none of the utility of a true off-roader. But guess what? They pull in fistfuls of greenbacks for auto companies.

Like high-fructose corn syrup then, car experts ("Hi, Mom!") can scream out their lungs until they're blue about the benefits of a more sensible, safer, smarter product (again, wagons). Yet consumers simply don't listen. The fastest growing automotive segment is - of course - the small CUV. Like the Snickers bar, the Twinkie and a twenty-piece Chicken McNuggets meal with BBQ sauce (all of which is mostly corn syrup), they are here to stay, forever. Buyers just seem to like the looks and the perceived safety that a high-riding vehicle affords them. Plus, for those with infant children, not having to stoop down to strap Junior into his car seat is the most luxurious feature on earth. With all that in mind, some CUVs are better than others - and not only in terms of looks, but also handling, packaging, content and value. Is the new 2011 Kia Sportage one of them? Read on to find out.The Sportage is arguably the Granddaddy of the CUV craze, as it was initially launched in 1996. That may not seem like a long time ago, but consider that the little Kia trucklet showed up before the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V or Ford Escape. Of course, when the Sportage initially arrived, the diminutive softroader packed a puny, 92-horsepower engine along with an archaic body-on-frame construction. In reality, the Sportage was actually an SUV, but it was one that wasn't terribly good at the roly-poly stuff. It looked a little funny, too. However, the Sportage proved to be a huge success for Kia, allowing them to offer customers a very inexpensive entry into the late-90s SUV-craze. In fact, the Sportage remains so integral to Kia's U.S. efforts that it's the only nameplate in the company's stockpile from the 1990s that's still on sale.

But while the Kia Sportage has always been cheap, it hasn't been particularly good - especially in the aesthetics department. But as you've no doubt noticed, there's a new design sheriff in Kia-town - Peter Schreyer, the man behind the Audi TT and Volkswagen New Beetle - and he's already made taken some big strides at Kia. Specifically with the Forte, Koup and Sorento. Now comes the 2011 Sportage and it's easily the best looking of the bunch. Designed in California and featuring Kia's signature bowtie grille (no, not that one), the Sportage is instantly recognizable as a Kia - to those who know what one looks like. Obviously, the reason for such strong design language (and to hire a superstar like Schreyer) is to make the brand more recognizable. We think Kia is well on their way, and like the Forte and Koup before it, this newest vehicle is leading the way.

Kia wants consumers to think of the Sportage as "a sports car wearing a backpack." A bridge too far, perhaps, but not entirely left field. The Sportage's target demographic is young, single men, the same sort of folks that purchase sports cars. Kia figures the Sportage will slot in between the smaller, cheaper Soul and the larger, seven-passenger, more family oriented Sorento. Even though the Sportage is clearly not a sports car (backpack or not), it does offer a number of sporting and even upscale touches that might just tickle a young man's fancy. For instance, it has LED running lights below the headlamps, exactly like an Audi R8 (a fact which no doubt has Ingolstadt's brand managers spitting nails in anger). Kia's also seen fit to include LED turn-signal repeaters in the side mirrors, another cue taken from pricier machines. Other thoughtful touches abound, including rear-parking assist, back-up camera, dual-zone climate control, ionized filtration A/C, a cooled glove box, a giant panoramic sunroof and a bottom-hinged throttle pedal, just like a Porsche. That last item is particularly appreciated by us.

The interior is about on par with the rest of the segment. Plasticy but fine, though people who really care about a finely finished interior will have to save their nickels for an Acura RDX. That said, the Kia's plastics are at least the non-greasy kind and our test vehicle had the bright orange accents and door panels that greatly helped break up an otherwise totally black cockpit. And the cross-stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel is quite excellent, CUV or otherwise.

Electronically speaking, top end Sportage models get either the nav-stereo system Hyundai uses for cars like the Genesis Coupe or Kia's brand-new UVO connectivity system. Think of UVO as Kia's version of Ford's SYNC. Both systems ride atop Microsoft's Windows Embedded Automotive operating system, or WEA for short. Like Sync, UVO (which stands for "Your Voice" and is pronounced, "You-Voh") lets you connect your Bluetooth capable phone to the car's infotainment system. Then, using just "your voice" you can place calls and even respond to text messages. Sadly, like SYNC, you're forced to use canned replies - though with UVO, at least you can customize those replies

In theory, totally. Sadly, all the UVO-equipped cars we drove were pre-production - both the Sportages themselves and the UVO units. Out of about fifty attempts to get UVO to work using our voices, two were successful. Are we panning it? We should, but we're not - but only for one reason: As UVO shares the same operating system as SYNC, it has the potential to be an industry leader. Not only that, but the head of Kia's Connected Car unit is Henry Bzeih, a former SYNC engineer at Ford. We're therefore confident that Kia will get UVO working properly before it reaches consumers. For now, however, the jury remains unhappy - and they had better get it working, as going forward, all future Kias will have UVO as an option.

But enough gizmology. How's the Sportage drive? Solidly, like a sportier version of the Hyundai Tucson, a vehicle that impressed us with its firmly tuned suspension and near-athletic moves. This should come as no shock: The Sportage and the Tucson share the same basic architecture. Compared to the previous Sportage, however, the difference is night and day. The new model is three inches longer, two inches wider, but just over two inches closer to the ground. Amazingly, it's also 200 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, though we suspect that figure is compared to the outgoing V6, and the 2011 Sportage can only be had with a four-banger. But here's the good news: the new 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four (shared with the Sorento, Tucson and Hyundai Sonata, so far) produces more horsepower than the old 2.7-liter V6 - 176 hp compared to 173 ponies. Torque is down a bit, however, from 178 pound-feet in the V6 to just 168 lb-ft from the 2.4-liter. And to hear Kia officials tell it, the Sportage will never be available with a V6. It will, however, be offered with Hyundai's 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo motor, which should produce somewhere around 270 hp and 270 lb-ft of twisting force. Who needs those extra cylinders.

Back to the powertrain we actually drove. The grunt is enough to move the Sportage about in a quick - if not genuinely brisk - manner. Sports car? Again, not really. But definitely quick enough to easily merge onto highways and provide good entertainment when the going gets twisty. Just don't concern yourself with top speed. Speaking of which, the Sportage's suspension is set up unusually well for curving road duties. Up front, you'll find MacPherson struts and out back there's a multi-link configuration. For reference, the much-lauded BMW 3 Series is set up much the same way. The Sportage, then, can actually live up to its name. And there's more handling to come.

Remember the turbocharged engine we mentioned? It will ship with firmer, sportier shocks called HPD (high performance dampers). As it happens, the prototypes we drove around Washington state actually had the HPD shocks installed, so like UVO we'll have to wait for a production version to get the entire story. You can also opt for an on-demand all-wheel drive system that features a center-locking differential as well as the ability to "predict" conditions (i.e. use the traction control system to notice slip) and route torque front-to-back appropriately. We drove one AWD Sportage on smooth, dry roads from Redmond to Seattle, WA and noticed no handling difference between it and its front-drive counterpart.

On the negative side of things, the examples we drove felt pretty twitchy, with a ride quality that was sometimes jarring on bumpy, truck-worn freeways. It was also hard to keep one of them pointed straight. Again, these were pre-production vehicles. Moreover, the CUVs we drove were late coming in from Korea. So not only did the cars feature the wrong dampers, but Kia wrenches were actually changing out engine mounts the night before we arrived. As a result, all three of the Sportages we drove had different behaviors. This was most noticeable in each CUV's various steering feel. One was a bit slack on center, another felt under-boosted, and still the third had even more slack on center - until we ran into/over a curb while trying to negotiate a traffic circle. Oddly, that jarring bump seemed to clear the problems up. Like the Tucson and most Kia/Hyundai products going forward, the Sportage features electronic assist power-steering, which is one reason why it manages 22 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 31 mpg highway. However, electronic power-steering needs to be tuned to the tastes of the target market and again, we don't feel these pre-production vehicles were adequately tuned at all. Like UVO, we have faith that Kia will get everything sorted out by the time the Sportage goes on sale later this summer.

We know that a review of a not-ready-for-prime-time player isn't the most useful piece of consumer information ever written. Trust us, Kia knows this, too. However, assuming that the kinks get worked out of the production cars - and they've pledged to do just that - what we've got here is a pretty compelling, good-looking, sporty handling, inexpensive crossover. Kia isn't set on the numbers just yet, but they say that pricing should fall in line with the current Sportage. Figure a stripped-out base price of just under $17,000 with a fully-loaded AWD and UVO example going for around $25,000. Like its cousin the Hyundai Tucson, this represents great value when compared to competition like the RAV4, CR-V and Escape, especially as the Sportage looks remarkably better than all of them - including the Hyundai. While we still maintain our starting mantra against CUVs as a segment, Kia's new Sportage is pretty easy to swallow.

New Kia Picanto: Next-generation Picanto is scheduled to go on sale in Europe late next year. It will be available as a three door or five-door model. The model will grow in size and will be much safer than existing Picanto (note: the current model only got three stars at EuroNCAP crash tests).

Powertrain updates will include a brand-new three-cylinder turbocharged engine with up to 110 horsepower. An all-electric Kia Picanto is also set to debut within three years, according to latest rumors. Expect the new Picanto to look as stylish as other latest Kia vehicles!

Next-generation Kia Rio: Kia Rio is expected to debut in spring 2011. There are not much of information available at this point except of that Kia will call the model K2 in Korea.

All-new Kia cee'd: The most-popular Kia vehicle in Europe will undergo a major redesign within two years. It will feature new three- and four-cylinder engines, as well as a diesel-hybrid powertrain. Dual-clutch gearbox will also be available according to sources close to Kia.

Kia Forte 5-doo hatchback: Following the Forte four-door sedan and sporty two-door Koup is the five-door Kia Forte. Exhibited for the first time at the New York auto show in April, the Forte hatch brings the long-awaited 6-speed automatic transmission to the Forte range. Hopefully, the 6-speed automatic gearbox will soon appear in other two Kia Fortes.

2011 Kia Optima: Unveiled at New York auto show, the all-new Optima is scheduled to hit the US-market in the second half of the year. The all-new mid-size sedan from Kia Motors is set to take on hot-selling 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedan and other established nameplates, including the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Probably, the hottest-looking Kia sedan ever, the Optima features highly advanced powertrain technology such as brand-new 6-speed automatic gearbox and new 2.4L four-cyl. engines with gasoline-direct-injection technology for improved performance and fuel-efficiency. Turbo engine as well as hybrid powertrain will be available for the first time in a Kia vehicle sold on the US soil.

Possible variants of new Kia Optima include Optima Sporty Wagon and Optima Coupe.

2011 Kia Sportage: Another hot-looking Kia vehicle headed for its US sales debut. Coming to the showroom floor this fall, the new Sportage is another embodiment of Kia's whole new family-look pioneered by the brand's design guru Peter Schreyer and Kia's entire design team.

2011 Kia Soul: The multiple award-wining crossover will not receive any major styling updates for the 2011 model year. However, it is very likely the 2011 Kia Soul will receive vastly improved powertrain technology, including new 2.0L four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic tranny.

Let us not forget about Kia Soul'ster pick-up as we might see it debuting by the end of 2011 or early in 2012.

Kia K9: The Hyundai Genesis sedan based Kia luxury car. Its only a rumor for now, but some people say there's a market for a luxury Kia vehicle. What do you think?

Kia coupe: It will most probably happen after-all. According to British magazine Autocar, Peter Schreyer's been pushing Kia to add such vehicle to its vehicle line-up: sources say the coupe would be based on the Kee concept revealed in 2007 and built on the platform used by the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. A perfect combination!! Add a cabrio variant and we have a new dream sports car.

The all-new 2011 Kia Forte 5 door hatchback joins Kia Forte sedan and two-door Kia Koup.

Kia Motors America plans to expand its Forte range by introducing the 5-door Forte with hatchback body style.

The 2011 Kia Forte 5 door has been one of four exciting Kia cars that made their inaugural public premieres at the New York International Auto Show. It has been put on display alongside hot-looking Kia Sorento SX, new Optima sedan and completely redesigned Sportage crossover.

The all-new Forte 5-door follows the design lines of the Forte sedan and the two-door Koup. It incorporates similar front-end styling as the four-door sibling with minor changes made to the front grille. Major styling changes have been done to the car's rear-end, which received the fifth-door for sportier look and added practicality.

The 5-door Kia Forte will ba available with three efficient four-cylinder engines coupled with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. According to Kia, North American customers will be able to choose from 2.0L and 2.4L engines, while consumers outside of the USA and Canada will be able to choose between 1.6L and 2.0L engines.

Kia revealed the 2011 Forte 5-door has been scheduled to go on sale in the NA market in October, so we will have to wait until then to hear more information about available trim levels and detailed pricing.

2011 Kia Forte 5-door images:

 

ORLANDO'S DWIGHT HOWARD WINS 2009-10 NBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD, DONATES KIA SORENTO CUV TO NAP FORD COMMUNITY SCHOOL

The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard was named the 2009-10 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, presented by Kia Motors, as part of its support of the Defensive Player of the Year Award, Kia Motors America donated a new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV on behalf of Howard toNap Ford Community School.  Nap Ford's vision is to empower students to maximize their potential to be contributing members of society.  This is the third car awarded to a non-profit organization by a Magic player in Central Florida's Parramore community through the NBA's annual awards.  The Orlando Magic has made a social and financial commitment to the revitalization of the Parramore area. 

About.com names the 2010 Kia Forte sedan to "Best New Cars of 2010" list.

Recently named "Car of the Year" for 2010 by NADAguides.com, the 2010 Kia Forte sedan has now been named to the "Best New Cars of 2010? list by popular online resource About.com.

The 2010 Kia Forte was one of 12 vehicles selected by About.com for its attractive combination of high quality, extensive standard safety features and overall value.

Taking all new and redesigned vehicles for 2010 into consideration, About.com reviewed and selected the top 12 vehicles they felt best offered consumers an exceptional combination of value, style, quality, safety features and amenities.

"In today's economy consumers are looking for an attractive, well-equipped vehicle at a great price point, and the stylish Forte sedan offers exactly that and more," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA).

"Recognition from a widely referenced consumer site like About.com brings more attention and credibility to the progress of the Kia brand and consumers can expect to see more of our new signature design direction in the near future as we continue the largest product rollout in company history."

Available in LX, EX and SX trims, pricing for the Forte sedan starts at $13.695 for the LX trim, while the EX begins at $15.995 and the SX starts at $17.495.  In addition to competitive pricing, Forte comes well-stocked with a long list of standard amenities, starting with a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service.

Also standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players as well as Bluetooth wireless technology and connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, which enables hands-free operation for all compatible mobile phones.

In addition to offering affordability and standard amenities, Forte also showcases a class-leading combination of standard safety features with active front headrests, advanced two-stage airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), brake assist (BAS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), a traction control system (TCS) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

FAMA Magazine names Kia Soul the "Small car of the year"?

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.

The motto of the all-new 2010 Kia Forte Koup - "One Hot Ride" - took on a new meaning today as Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled its U.S. motorsports program at the 2009 SEMA Show.  KMA has teamed with the Kinetic Group to build and campaign two Forte Koups in the 2010 GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge Series in the Street Tuner (ST) class.

"The Forte Koup is the latest chapter in the dramatic Kia brand transformation story, and the decision to enter into the motorsports arena was an easy one to make," said Michael Sprague, Vice President of Marketing, KMA.  "The Forte Koup's performance-inspired styling and outstanding driving dynamics make it a natural fit for road racing, and competing in GRAND-AM's KONI Challenge Series enables us to reach an entirely new and passionate base of automotive enthusiasts."

The GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class utilizes production-based race cars and has a wide variety of vehicles from the U.S., Europe and Asia, using weight and intake restrictions to maintain a level playing field for all entrants.

"We researched every form of auto racing in the U.S. to find a fan base that was aligned with our target demographics, and found GRAND-AM to be the perfect fit," said Sprague.  "In addition to working with the Kinetic Group, we are also proud that Infinity Audio, whose high-end audio systems are offered in several Kia vehicles, will join us as the Official Sponsor of the #10 Infinity Kia Forte Koup Race Car during our inaugural motorsports season."

As part of its motorsports team development, KMA identified and partnered with the Kinetic Group to develop, build and campaign two Forte Koup KONI Challenge spec cars.  Based outside of Atlanta, Kinetic provides a comprehensive array of in-house services, including fabrication, composites, paint and body, engine and electronics departments.  Kinetic's staff of engineers, mechanics and crew have extensive race experience in many series, including NASCAR, Indy Racing League, the American Le Mans Series and the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series.

Completing the team, decorated drivers Nic Jönsson and Andy Lally have been secured to drive the #10 Infinity Kia Forte Koup entry in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series in 2010.  Joining Jönsson and Lally are Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood, past KONI ST champions to pilot the second team race car.

"We expect the Forte Koup to be a strong competitor in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series starting with the first race in Daytona, and the fact that drivers of Nic and Andy's caliber along with Adam and Trevor have joined the team reinforces that expectation," said Sprague.  "Building on our involvement in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series and in an effort to introduce the Kia brand to even more racing fans, apparel maker GoGoGear.com has created a highly modified version of the popular Soul urban passenger vehicle which will serve as the official pace car at several races throughout the 2010 US Touring Car Championship (USTCC) season."

              

             

Kia Forte Koup drivers:

Nic Jönsson made his first professional start in 1989 and was the Scandinavian Formula 3 champion in 1990 and 1991. In 1992 he won the Scandinavian Touring Car title and finished second in the European Formula 3 cup. Jönsson has raced touring cars, sports cars and Indy cars all over the world and has competed in the American Le Mans series as well as the SPEED World Challenge Touring car series.  Jönsson, who is a highly sought-after test and development driver, scored his first GRAND-AM victory in 2005 at the Six Hours at The Glen.  Outside of sports car racing, Jönsson has trained the Swedish royal family and secret-service agents in high-performance and self-defense driving.  A native of Sweden, Jönsson is the co-founder and owner of Kinetic Speed Shop.

In the last seven years, driver Andy Lally has three professional championships - 2006, 2004 and 2001 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series - and recently won the 2009 Rolex 24 At  Daytona in the GT class.  In addition to three Championships and two Rolex 24 wins, Lally currently holds the record for most top 3 and top 5 finishes in GRAND-AM Rolex Series history as well as the record for most podium finishes in a single season. He is third on the all time win list and the only three-time Rolex Series Champion.  Lally also has stock car racing experience, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Craftsman Trucks, ARCA and Goodies Dash.

A past KONI ST champion, Adam Burrows had years of Spec Racer competition under his belt before deciding to move up to the highly competitive Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge, winning the ST Class Championship in his rookie season.

Trevor Hopwood had racing in his blood after earning his stripes as a winner in Spec Racers. Hopwood moved up to run in GT-1 before taking on the endurance format of KONI Challenge. The New Hampshire resident won the championship in his rookie year, and backed that up with two wins and another strong result in the championship the next season, his first year of racing a front-wheel drive machine.

About Kinetic Group

Kinetic is an automotive group that includes Kinetic Motorsports, Kinetic-Sunbelt Engines, and Kinetic Speed Shop. Kinetic Motorsports taps into every aspect of professional and amateur racing, from car builds to prep and trackside support. Every resource needed to develop, manage and run a professional race team in any series is located on-site. Kinetic-Sunbelt Engines have powered amateur and professional racers to numerous championships in North America. Kinetic Speed Shop caters to aftermarket street performance. Kinetic's 42,000 square foot, state-of-the-art showroom and race complex is located in Buford, Georgia, just 15 minutes from Road Atlanta. More information can be found online at www.kssmotorsports.com.

Soul and Forte Listed Among Top 10 "Consumers' Favorite Cars for College Students"

Soul recommended for its consumer appeal, value and safety; Sedona for exceptional safety features and comfort

Forte's practicality and Soul's funky styling and enjoyable driving dynamics up the appeal for college students

Adding to an already extensive list of prestigious honors and recognitions, the Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle and Sedona minivan each were named as "Top Recommended" vehicles for 2010 while Soul and the Forte compact sedan were listed among the top 10 "Consumers' Favorite Cars for College Students" list by leading automotive research site Edmunds.com. Soul, Forte and Sedona each were highlighted for their individual abilities to aptly meet consumers' needs in their respective segments and still offer an outstanding value.

"Soul and Forte provide buyers youthful and dynamically styled vehicles with an impressive array of standard safety features, high-tech features and extensive personalization options while Sedona presents excellent safety features, convenience and comfort," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). "It is a testament to the Kia brand to have all three vehicles that embody Kia's core philosophies of quality, value, safety and style honored by a trusted online automotive resource like Edmunds.com."

Edmunds.com selected the Top Recommended vehicles as part of its 2010 New Car Buying Guide to assist consumers with the new car buying process. The final Top Recommended list was compiled from multiple categories, including Top Recommended Sedans, Trucks, SUVs, Wagons and Minivans, Diesels, Convertibles, Coupes and for Mobility Challenged Drivers.

The "Consumers' Favorite Cars for College Students" list is part of a monthly initiative where Edmunds.com invites consumers to participate in surveys to vote on their favorite vehicles in different categories, including favorite luxury sedans, midsize family sedans, hybrids, off-roaders, convertibles, family haulers and economy cars. Like the Top Recommended vehicles, the results are published online to help assist car buyers with future purchasing decisions.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors' affordable halo vehicle offers an attractive starting price below $14,000 . 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 personalize Soul, each special edition comes with its own unique exterior color and packaging.

The uniquely styled Soul 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.

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, pricing for the Forte sedan starts at $13,6951¹ for the LX trim, while the EX begins at $15,9951¹ and the SX starts at $17,4951¹. In addition to competitive pricing, Forte comes well-stocked with a long list of standard amenities, starting with a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service². Also standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players as well as Bluetooth®³ wireless technology and connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, which enables hands-free operation for all compatible mobile phones.

The 2010 Sedona is available in three trims, base, LX and EX. Pricing for the Sedona starts at $21,245⁴, while moving up to the LX trim starts at $22,2451⁴, and the EX models begin at $27,7451⁴. A segment leader in value and safety, Sedona, named the "safest minivan ever tested" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), offers consumers invaluable protection provided by a wide range of standard safety features, including six standard airbags (dual advanced front and front seat-mounted side air bags, and full-length side curtain air bags for all three seating rows), active front headrests, a four-channel, four-sensor, Antilock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which takes into account vehicle load and weight distribution and ensures the appropriate stopping force is used.

Limited-Edition Urban Passenger Vehicle Dons Popular Designs Requested by Internet Forums and Enthusiasts

Shadow Dragon Soul brings a new color scheme and adds leather-trimmed seating to the Soul lineup

Shadow Dragon Soul is the third special edition Soul to arrive in less than 12 months

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 $18,195 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.

Award-Winning Kia Urban Passenger Vehicle Honored by
Popular Online Automotive Site

Kia Soul outpaces competition in increasingly competitive segment

Soul offers unique styling and an abundance of personalization options, safety features and value

Hot on the heels of being named "Small Car of the Year" by FAMA Magazine, Kia Motors' popular five-door has been named "Best Hatchback of 2010" by online automotive authority Cars.com, visited by more than 10 million car buyers each month. Also recently given two "Top Safety Picks" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), named one of the "Most Exciting Cars of 2010" by TIME.com, one of "10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens" by AutoWeek magazine and named to the "Top 10 Back-to-School Cars" list by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com as well as the top ten "Consumers' Favorite Cars for College Students" list by Edmunds.com, Soul was honored by Cars.com for definitive styling, excellent safety features, agile handling and overall value.

"Designed for consumers looking for a new way to roll, Soul offers an unbeatable combination of style, personalization, safety features, and value," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). "Soul kicked off our largest brand transformation ever, followed closely by Forte compact sedan, Forte Koup and the all-new 2011 Sorento crossover, effectively raising our brand profile. The Cars.com honor shows Soul's perpetual appeal as it continues to receive consumer and media acclaim and attract new buyers to Kia showrooms."

Of nearly 70 all-new or redesigned cars for 2010, Cars.com reviewed and selected the top vehicles across six automotive categories, including Best New SUV of 2010, Best New Compact of 2010, Best New Hatchback of 2010, Best New Hybrid Hatchback of 2010, Best New Hybrid Sedan of 2010 and Best New Wagon of 2010. Each category winner presented outstanding value, safety features, interior comfort, handling and attractive styling.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors' affordable halo vehicle offers an attractive starting price below $14,000¹. 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.