Monday, June 30, 2008

Forbes lists Kia Rio as one of 10 least expensive vehicles to own



According to Forbes recent data, the Kia Rio is one of the least expensive vehicles to own in America.

Rio is the 7th least expensive vehicles to own in the U.S.

In compiling the latest list of ownership data for vehicles in America, the auto editors of Forbes magazine compared a number of different factors. In addition to initial cost, Forbes also took into consideration estimates for interest costs as well as maintenance and repair histories.

Low initial cost and maintenance overcomes depreciation

Many of us at LotPro.com are always looking for a good deal, and while depreciation on the Rio is a bit higher than average, the Kia more than made up for that with a lower initial cost. Deduct from that the availability of rebates and special programs, and the Rio is a bargain compared to many of the vehicles on the list. Moderate maintenance and repair costs also added to the Kia's economy of ownership.

Kia Rio
Base MSRP: $10,890
Five-year cost of ownership: $32,750*
Depreciation: $8,460 (78 percent)
Interest and opportunity cost: $4,454
Fuel: $8,900
Maintenance and repairs: $2,958
Insurance: $7,092
Taxes and fees: $886

June 26th, 2008 by Steve Cypher
Source: LotPro.com

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Kia Celebrates Grand Opening of U.S. Corporate Headquarters and State-of-the-Art Design Center



Ceremony Marks Completion of the Kia U.S. Corporate Campus

# Elected Officials Join Kia Motors in Celebration
# First Kia-exclusive U.S. Design Center in Company History

IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2008 - Today, Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), was joined by local and state representatives for the grand opening ceremony of the new 21.7-acre Kia U.S. corporate campus in Irvine, Calif. The $130-million investment includes the Kia Motors America Corporate Headquarters and state-of-the-art Kia Design Center America (KDCA).

"The investment in our new corporate campus reaffirms our commitment to the United States market and California," said Ahn. "Our new U.S. Corporate Headquarters and Design Center enables us to develop products specifically for Kia that are designed and tuned for North American consumers."

Now fully operational, the Irvine campus currently employs approximately 400 permanent full-time employees and has the potential to house approximately 600 employees at full capacity. The corporate headquarters is a custom-built facility that is home to the KMA U.S. sales division, as well as its marketing, public relations, consumer affairs, technical service, research and development, product planning and administration departments. The new facility also houses the KMA western region office and IT services.

"We established our operations in Orange County 15 years ago, and as the company has grown, so has our presence in California," added Ahn. "This is a special day as we celebrate our permanent home in Irvine and look forward to our continued success in the U.S. market."

The state-of-the-art, 100,700-square-foot design center was developed with tremendous input from the Kia Motors U.S. design team to ensure an aesthetically pleasing and physically functional layout that encourages creativity. It consists of a design studio, a modeling studio that allows up to eight vehicle models to be worked on simultaneously, a milling shop that features a Zimmerman computerized milling machine, a 2-D presentation room, a color and trim room, a wood/metal shop, a 3-D presentation room that features clearstory windows to allow for viewing indoors under natural light, a paint booth, a private outdoor viewing courtyard, a recreation room, a research library, four conference rooms and a secure, underground garage.

"By establishing the first Kia-exclusive U.S. design center in Irvine, we can take advantage of the tremendous design talent and inspiration provided by the Southern California car culture in a functional environment set up to maximize our designers' abilities and creativity," said Tom Kearns, Kia Motors U.S. chief designer. "KDCA will produce stylish, new vehicles that will impact the new design direction for Kia Motors worldwide."

The Irvine corporate campus was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in partnership with the City of Irvine to serve as a distinctive architectural gateway to the city and an example of eco-friendly features. The 239,000-square-foot modern glass and steel main structure features a 36,000-square-foot reflecting pool visible to drivers on Interstate 5. Kia was one of the first companies in Irvine to voluntarily install a bioswale system in its parking lot to remove silt and pollution from surface water runoff. The landscaping features drought-resistant plants, and reclaimed water is used for landscaping irrigation and toilets. The exterior glass of the building meets the California Energy Commission's requirements for energy efficiency standards.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Monday, June 23, 2008

Kia SOUL Goes Undercover at the 2008 Vans Warped Tour



Sneak Peek of Unreleased Preproduction Kia at all 46 Tour Stops

IRVINE, Calif., June 19, 2008 -- The eagerly awaited Kia Soul will tease concertgoers this summer with a sneak-peek appearance during the 2008 Vans Warped Tour®. As part of Kia Motors' exclusive vehicle sponsorship of the tour, a specially-designed lightly camouflaged preproduction Soul will be on display at the Kia Soul Lounge at every Vans Warped Tour stop. This will be the public's first opportunity to see the Soul up close before the production vehicle makes its world debut later this year at the Paris Motor Show. The Soul will go on sale in the United States spring 2009.

The Kia Soul is not ready to bare all just quite yet. While much of the car will be on display for all to see, its dress leaves much to the imagination. The Soul will feature a "pair of Vans" in the form of partial front and rear masks bearing Vans’ signature checkerboard pattern. Red wheel spokes and side mirrors tease out its fun and naughty side, while darkened windows help Soul maintain its mysterious allure until its Parisian debut. Kia and Vans Warped Tour badges on the front and rear with Vans logos running down each side scream that this vehicle is ready for action.

Prior to the tour launch, Kia is offering fans the opportunity to enter the "Experience Warped" online sweepstakes to win a "Fly Away" trip to the grand finale tour stop in Los Angeles on August 17.

During each stop, concertgoers will have the opportunity to visit the Kia "Soul Lounge," an interactive, air conditioned tent featuring information displays about the new Kia Soul and other Kia vehicles, a DJ, an airbrush tattoo artist and the chance to enter to win either a new Kia Sportage or Kia Spectra SX in the "Keys to the Ride" sweepstakes. The Soul Lounge offers concertgoers photo opportunities and a poster to be signed during Kia's exclusive artist autograph sessions. Each tour venue will have a Kia VIP section, a raised area near the main stage accessible only to those wearing customized Kia VIP wristbands. Online, fans can view Kia Vans Warped Tour content at fuse.tv/kiawarped, including the Warped Word of Steve concert blog, which will give fans an insider's look at each tour stop including photos and specially created, first-hand video.

In addition, Kia will be on stage as the presenting sponsor of the popular Kevin Says Stage, a forum for local bands to rock out at each tour stop. A part of the Warped Eco-Initiatives, this solar powered stage is just one of the eco-friendly actions Kia will be part of during the tour. Kia Motors also is proud to be part of the post-concert clean up and recycling efforts.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Kia Motors America Announces Best Month Eever

IRVINE, Calif., June 3, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever for the second consecutive month with record May sales of 31,047 units, an increase of nine percent over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 129,327 units.

May's record sales were led by Spectra and Optima, which both had their best months ever with 9,407 and 8,197 units sold respectively, increases of 10.5 and 120.8 percent over same period last year. Rio also continued with strong sales in its best month of the year at 4,474 units, a 28.6 percent increase over the same period last year.

"With gas prices continuing to rise, record sales of the fuel-efficient Spectra and Optima are proof that consumers are recognizing Kia's value now more than ever," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "Achieving the best month ever for two months in a row is the result of enhancement efforts to Kia's brand image and the Kia dealer network's total endeavors in a difficult market environment to sell more vehicles."

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- www.kia.com.

  MONTH OF MAY YEAR-TO-DATE
Model 2008 2007 2008 2007
Rio 4,474 3,479 17,624 13,067
Spectra 9,407 8,512 35,826 30,208
Optima 8,197 3,712 21,943 17,675
Amanti 182 748 973 4,014
Sportage 3,505 4,678 17,251 20,088
Sorento 1,695 3,111 9,307 16,073
Sedona 2,021 2,500 12,601 21,122
Rondo 1,566 1,754 13,802 5,857
Total 31,047 28,494 129,327 128,104

Monday, June 9, 2008

Kia Spectra: One sleek gas miser



Affordability, reliability, and style can now all be found in a single vehicle.

And the fact that it has the best standard warranty of any car on the road is just icing on the cake.

The Kia Spectra - armed with sleek lines, gas mileage that tops 30 miles-per-gallon, and more standard base features than other models in its class - has been wowing commuters and budget-conscious drivers ever since the manufacturer started rolling them off the assembly line.

Currently Manteca's Kia Country not only has brand new Spectra models to suit anyone's taste, but also new 2007 models available with a $3,000 rebate that only makes the cars even more affordable.

"It's a model that's popular because it's efficient and it's sporty," said Kia Country Sales Associate Jon Hungerford. "People like the fact that it gets great gas mileage - especially with gas prices the way that they are today - and the fact that it's more powerful that other cars that are similarly priced.

"When you throw in the rebate we're currently offering for 2007 models and the 10-year, 100,000-mile warrant you can see why the car is so popular."

Despite the relatively small stature of the Spectra, the model has earned a 5-Star National Highway Transportation Safety Administration frontal crash rating - reinforcing Kia's commitment to safety as well as affordability.

All models come with dual front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and full-length curtain airbags that helps reduce head injuries in case of a rollover of particularly bad side-impact collision - already complimenting the reinforced side-impact door beams that add an extra level of strength and safety.

Adding all of that safety doesn't mean that Kia sacrificed the features that modern drivers demand either.

Options for models include 16-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, a stylish rear spoiler, a sunroof, and a six-disc in-dash CD player.

In addition to the 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage that comes standard on every new model, additional perks include a 5-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty, and a 5-year, 60,000-mile roadside assistance program that helps set Kia apart from other car makers.

Combining style, performance, and the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing that you're covered and protected in the worst-case scenario is something that's perfect for long distance commuters and new car buyers who want to maximize their investment.

"It's a vehicle that has something for everybody," Hungerford said. "We encourage everybody that is in the market to see what the Spectra has for them.

"It's an impressive car and a great value."

Jason Campbell
Mante Bulletin

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Kia Optima offers real family value

Sedan has big bang for the buck



The 2008 Kia Optima sedan looks almost exactly like the rival Toyota Camry - except for the price on its window sticker.

After all, the Optima (base price: $16,355) runs some $2,000 less than a Camry. Heck, even a fully loaded Optima costs just a tad over $20,000 after factoring in rebates.

The Optima also comes standard with an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

On the outside, the Optima offers classic Asian-sedan looks: A little on the "plain-vanilla" side, but nothing embarrassing.

A large hood and an aerodynamic windshield sweep back toward doors outfitted with folding side mirrors. In back, a keyless-entry trunk can hold perhaps four medium-sized suitcases.

Motor Mouth's test Optima also came with optional six-spoke alloy wheels, part of a $700 Appearance Package.

Inside, the Optima offers excellent headroom, legroom and hiproom for both driver and front passenger.

An eight-position power seat adjuster comes standard on the driver's side, while an optional $700 Convenience Package added an electric adjuster to my test car's passenger seat as well. (Motor Mouth's test Optima also featured optional perforated-leather upholstery that matched the vehicle's standard leather steering wheel.)

The Optima's no-nonsense dashboard has a large speedometer and tachometer, along with easy-to-read digital fuel and tempature gauges.

The model's stereo (upgraded to an AM/FM/MP3/6CD system on my test car as part of a $1,300 Premium Package) features an easy-to-read digital display and 16 well-marked buttons and knobs.

Similarly, the car's climate system relies on a simple LQD display and just six buttons and knobs.

In back, the Optima's 60/40 split fold-down rear seats offer great headroom, legroom and hiproom for two passengers, although a third person would find the center seat a bit lacking.

The Optima can comfortably carry three adults or children on short trips, but intercity drives would be a bit much even for kids older than about eight.

Nice extras on my test car included a power sunroof, part of the optional Premium Package.

On the road, the Optima's soft suspension, standard five-speed automatic transmission and 162-horsepower 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine team up to provide a good ride.

The model corners, brakes and accelerates well, although my test Optima had to rev a bit noisily to 6,200 rpm to go from 0 mph to 40 mph. (You can upgrade the engine to a 185-horsepower V-6 for an extra $1,600.)

Backing up and parking the Optima are easy given the model's excellent sight lines and modest size.

The EPA also rates the sedan's fuel efficiency at a decent 21 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway.

As for pricing, the Optima's $16,355 base not only bests the Camry's $18,570 sticker, but also runs significantly lower than other key rivals' prices.

For instance, the Optima costs less than the Honda Accord ($20,360), Hyundai Sonata ($17,670), Nissan Altima ($18,620) and Chevrolet Malibu ($19,645, although that includes automatic transmission).

Of course, rebates complicate the picture.

As noted above, the Optima carries $3,000 in cash back through June 2. The model also currently has $500 in "dealer cash" - an extra discount Kia's quietly giving dealers to give savvy buyers better prices.

But the Optima's competitors currently have special deals, too.

The Camry carries a $1,000 rebate or a three-year, 0 percent loan, while the Accord comes with 0.9 percent three-year financing.

The bottom line: The 2008 Kia Optima mixes good looks and performance with lots of features and a nice price.

Anyone shopping for a family sedan should definitely check this model out.

Information about the 2008 Kia Optima:

Base price: $16,355

As tested: $23,435

Type: front-wheel-drive five-passenger sedan

Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (162 horsepower)

Transmission: five-speed automatic

Mileage: 21 mpg/city, 31 highway

Built in: South Korea

By Jerry Kronenberg / Motor Mouth
Boston Herald

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

G. Chambers Williams III: Kia puts heart into Soul

It's looking like South Korean automaker Kia's answer to the Scion xB or xD, the production version of the all-new Soul, will be unveiled at the Paris auto show in October.

Production of the vehicle begins in South Korea in September, and the car is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter.

It's definitely a car whose time has come. With a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine, relatively small exterior and a surprisingly roomy interior, the Soul will offer an alternative to the SUV to consumers battered by the high gasoline prices.

Nissan is planning to introduce its own version of a small, fuel-efficient vehicle with a similar boxy body style, the Cube, sometime next year. The Soul, though, will arrive first.

Kia announced recently that the car would retain the "Soul" name from the original concept vehicle, which was introduced at the Detroit auto show in January 2006, and the three Soul concepts that were shown at the Geneva auto show in Switzerland a few months ago.

In announcing the name, Kia also released the first official photo of the production version of the Soul, whose name is a play on the name of the city that is headquarters to Kia Motors Corp. in South Korea -- Seoul.

"Reaction from the media and public to the three Soul concept cars first unveiled at the Geneva Show in March and shown subsequently at other international events, has been overwhelmingly positive," said Hyoung-Keun Lee, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kia's International Business Division.

"This reaction, plus the fact that both physically and emotionally the Soul concept cars are so closely related to the new Kia Soul production car, made it a natural choice to retain this evocative name," he said.

Lee said the Soul concepts revealed "a whole new fun side to Kia."

"They signal that our new Kia Soul production model is poised to defy convention and offer buyers a ‘world of possibilities' for expressing their personality," he said. "This new model will reach out to a new group of consumers, appealing especially to the young and the young-at-heart."

The Soul looks like it might be somewhere in between the original Scion models, the less boxy xA hatchback and the cube-styled, slightly larger xB. The xA was replaced last year by the xD, and the xB got a restyling that made it longer and roomier, but somewhat less boxy than the original.

Similarly, the xA and xB were the first models in Toyota's 2004 launch of its youth-oriented Scion brand, whose role was to lower the median age of the buyers of Toyota automobiles.

The xB, while appealing to the target under-35 male demographic as Toyota had planned, also has turned out to have a much broader reach -- the people Kia describes as the "young at heart." It has been a favorite of the empty-nester baby boomers just as much as the under-35 crowd.

The xA and xD have a different audience and generally appeal more to women than men.

Kia's European design team created the three Geneva concepts -- the Soul Burner, Soul Diva and Soul Searcher -- the company said. That team was led by Gregory Guillaume, under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, Kia's design chief.

All three, though, were based on the original Soul concept, which was designed jointly by the company's California and South Korea design studios for the 2006 Detroit show.

Kia says that Schreyer "strongly endorsed" using Soul as the name for the production vehicle.

"The name Soul accurately reflects how people will be able to express their spirit, their psyche with this new product."

The Soul "defies classification, but its design will encourage customers to build an emotional bond with this rebellious new car," the automaker said, adding that the Soul "provides a creative platform for buyers to individualize and match their car to their own personalities."

That ability for owners to express themselves will come from a variety of options, accessories and colors offered for the vehicle, Kia said. Toyota offers the same kind of personalization with its Scion vehicles, something that is quite popular with young consumers.

No further details of the production car have been released yet, but we can expect it to come with a four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmission, with fuel economy probably ranging from the mid-20s in the city to the mid-30s on the highway.

The boxy shape will allow for five passengers and some limited cargo, but the interior will be reconfigurable to carry more cargo (and fewer people) when necessary.

Standard features probably will include front seat-mounted side and two-row side-curtain air bags, air conditioning, electronic stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, antilock brakes and more. Options will include power windows/mirrors/door locks, a variety of audio systems and other amenities.

No prices have been announced yet, either, but the Scion xD begins around $15,000 and the xB around $16,000. The Soul will have to be competitive.

By G. Chambers Williams III
San Antonio Express-News

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Kia Sorento Recives Top Ranking In AutoPacific 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

SUV Tops Midsize SUV Segment



IRVINE, Calif., May 29, 2008 - The 2008 Kia Sorento is the top ranking midsize SUV in AutoPacific, Inc.'s 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA), an industry benchmark for objectively measuring owner satisfaction of new vehicles. In this competitive segment, Sorento received a higher rating than the Hummer H3, Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro and Nissan Xterra.

"Sorento's recognition by AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards shows that you don't have to spend a lot to be satisfied with your new vehicle purchase," said Tom Loveless, vice president, sales of Kia Motors America (KMA). "In these difficult economic times, it is good to know that you can still purchase an SUV with great amenities, options and standard safety features, and be satisfied with your decision."

The 2008 VSA are based on survey responses from more than 34,000 vehicle owners who purchased a new 2008 model year car or truck between September and December 2007. Respondents rate 46 attributes for importance in the purchase decision and satisfaction after purchase.

The 2008 Sorento was recently recognized by The Car Book as a "Best Bet" in the Midsize SUV category and received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star crash safety rating in all four seating positions.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Monday, June 2, 2008

Kia bares it's Soul - production car keeps original concept name



Kia Motors has confirmed its all-new segment-busting car will retain the name and spirit of the concept from which it evolved -- Soul.

First seen as the SOUL concept car at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a trio of concept developments then appeared at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show which gave a strong indication to the many characters the new Kia could take on.

Mr Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO, International Business Division, Kia Motors Corporation, said; 'Reaction from the media and public to the three SOUL concept cars seen at the Geneva Show in March and shown subsequently at other international events, has been overwhelmingly positive. This reaction, plus the fact that both physically and emotionally, the SOUL concept cars are so closely related to the new Kia Soul production car, made it a natural choice to retain this evocative name.'

The three Geneva concept cars - SOUL Burner, SOUL Diva and SOUL Searcher - were created by Kia's European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, with input from Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. The original SOUL concept was designed jointly by Kia's Californian and Korean design studios.

Speaking about the choice of name for the original 2006 Detroit concept car, Tom Kearns, Chief Designer of Kia Motors America, said; 'We wanted to inject some life into this car's design, to give it a soul. And the word 'Soul' is a homophone for the home city of Kia Motors headquarters, in Korea, so it is a fun play on words.'

Peter Schreyer added; 'The name SOUL accurately reflects how people will be able to 'express their spirit - their psyche' with this new product. Through a variety of options, accessories and colours, they will be able to personalise their Kia Soul and create a sense of individuality, making their new car a true reflection of their personality.'

Looking to the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Gregory Guillaume said; 'Because the new Kia Soul is not a replacement for an existing vehicle and is destined to play a unique role within the Kia global line-up, it can be a bit of a rebel. The trio of Geneva concepts were 'appetisers' for the new model introduction at Paris, and you can be certain that the new Kia Soul model will retain the core DNA of the three exciting concepts.'

The Kia Soul defies classification and its design will encourage customers to build an emotional bond with this new car. Production of Soul will begin in Korea in September 2008 with UK cars appearing in early 2009. Kia believes Soul will provide a creative platform for buyers to individualise and match their car to their own personality.

The Kia Soul production car will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October this year and is expected to go on sale in the UK in early 2009.