Thursday, July 26, 2012

2012 Kia Optima and Kia Soul Ranked Highest In Class In J.D. Power And Associates APEAL Study

press release
July 25, 2012, 10:15 a.m. EDT
--Two of the Fastest Growing Automotive Brand's Top-Selling Vehicles are Most Appealing Among New Car Owners - Kia's best-selling Optima midsize sedan impresses with its blend of performance, styling, refinement and fuel economy - With consumers shifting to smaller vehicles, the Soul is recognized for offering the same level of appeal and amenities as many larger models
J.D.Power and Associates just recongnized the Soul as 'Highest Ranked Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle in Initial Quality.'(5) Class-leading 35 highway mpg only adds to the class envy.(3,4) FIND YOUR SOUL
IRVINE, Calif., July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) is the fastest-growing car company in the U.S. and two of its best-selling vehicles - the Optima and Soul - were awarded the highest ranking scores in their respective segments within the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.SM The Optima ranked highest in a tie in the "Midsize Car" category, while the Soul claimed the highest ranking in the "Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)" grouping. The APEAL study measures new-vehicle buyers' gratification with the design, content, layout and performance of their newly-purchased vehicles.
"As key entries in Kia's design-led transformation, the Optima and Soul have attracted new customers to our showrooms, and the results of the J.D. Power and Associates' APEAL Study illustrates just how delighted these new buyers are with the purchase of their new Kia vehicles," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications, KMA. "Both of these popular models, along with the rest of the Kia vehicle line, continue to deliver on a promise to offer U.S. consumers high-quality vehicles with an impressive combination of design, performance, comfort, safety and technology. All of this while still maintaining the brand's unmatched value proposition."
This year's study emphasizes the point that although buyers are continuing to downsize, they are looking for vehicles that are as appealing and well-contented as the larger ones they previously owned. Both the Optima and the Soul allow consumers to shop for a smaller, more affordable vehicle without having to make sacrifices in quality and amenities.
The 2012 APEAL Study is based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. Responses were gathered between February and May 2012 from more than 74,000 new car and light truck owners who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.
Kia's Unprecedented Growth Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[1] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[2]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia - KMMG - is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. - the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.
About Kia Motors America Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. [3] Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.
Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website - www.kia.com . For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com .
About J.D. Power and Associates Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
*The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
[1] Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study.
[2] Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis.
[3] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending June 2007 and June 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.
SOURCE Kia Motors America
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Monday, July 23, 2012

Family Fun Photo Contest - Enter to Win!

Gary Rome Kia is currently running a great Family Fun Photo Contest that you can’t resist.
You now have a great opportunity to WIN BIG and have fun too.

All you have to do is upload a photo (with a short description) of you and your family with your Kia, or other vehicle, on vacation and you will be automatically entered to WIN. The photo with the most likes on Gary Rome Kia Facebook site wins. Prizes include:

1.      Six Flags Family Fun Pack
2.      Stafford Motor Speedway Tickets
3.      Red Sox Tickets
4.      Plus $140 GAS CARD with each prize

Free fun and free gas.  Who has to buy an app? You know Gary Rome Kia will take care of you so you can spend money on life’s demands without trading in your fun. There will be a new winner every Friday in August.

Click HERE to enter.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

New Kia Sportage KX-4

This sounds crazier than a rabid badger... but some people think the Kia Sportage KX- 4 is a low-spec car.

New Kia Sportage KX-4
New Kia Sportage KX-4 - Image 1 New Kia Sportage KX-4 - Image 2 New Kia Sportage KX-4 - Image 3
This sounds crazier than a rabid badger... but some people think the Kia Sportage KX- 4 is a low-spec car. Why? Because of its unpretentious badge. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. This, you see, is the highest-spec Sportage in the history of black and white mammals. As such, one of its skills is to steer itself into parallel parking bays. Drivers simply control the throttle, brake, and transmission. This complements the reversing camera, parking sensors, leather seats, key-less entry system, touch-screen sat-nav, duel-zone climate control, and its seven speaker audio system that includes a subwoofer.
Low-spec? The Sportage KX-4 is better equipped than an army of ninja badgers. The Kia Sportage KX-4 is the most powerful in the range too. As such, its 2.0-litre diesel engine produces 182bhp and 383Nm of torque in six-speed manual guise, and 392Nm when bolted to the automatic transmission. And, unlike its lesser siblings, the KX-4 is only available with four-wheel-drive. In normal conditions, one-hundred per-cent of the engine's power is sent to the front wheels - but this torque is automatically split up to sixty/ forty between the front and rear respectively if required. Motorists can also lock the Kia Sportage to 4x4 mode – with a fifty/fifty split – at speeds of up to twenty-five miles per- hour. That sounds perfect for chasing those ninja badgers over rough terrain. Kia Sportage KX-4 prices start at £27,195 for a manual, and £28,500 for an auto. Low-spec? No chance.

By Stephen Turvil, motoring.co.uk

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

2012 KIA SOUL RANKED HIGHEST IN INITIAL QUALITY STUDY BY J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES



2012 KIA SOUL RANKED HIGHEST IN INITIAL QUALITY STUDY BY J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES

Wildly Popular Urban Passenger Vehicle Earns Highest Honor in Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle Segment
 
·  Soul captures segment award in annual study of vehicle owners after receiving significant enhancements for the 2012 model year
·  Quality gains by the fastest-growing car company in the U.S.1 outpace the industry
IRVINE, Calif., June 20, 2012 - From breakthrough advertising to runaway sales success, the Kia Soul has made quite a splash since entering the marketplace in 2009, and today the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked the popular urban passenger vehicle highest in initial quality in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment. The study captures feedback from owners after 90 days of purchase in two distinct categories: quality of design and quality of production. Refreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul was fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements, and consumers have responded with sales up more than 22 percent through the first five months of the year.
"Kia Motors is dedicated to building world-class, high quality vehicles, and the Soul's recognition in the automotive industry's authoritative study on quality is the latest example of Kia's maturity and momentum in the U.S. market," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "The Soul signaled the beginning of Kia's design-led transformation when it launched in 2009, and it continues to be one of our most popular vehicles, attracting new consumers to the Kia brand with its eye-catching design and outstanding record of quality, dependability and reliability and playing a vital role in Kia becoming the fastest-growing automotive brand in the U.S."
In the study, the Kia Soul was honored as the highest-ranking model in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment, while the Kia brand made significant advancements with gains that outpaced the industry average. The annual report includes 233 vehicle models and measures attributes across eight categories, including the driving experience, engine and transmission, and a broad range of quality problem symptoms reported by vehicle owners.

About the 2012 Soul
Refreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul has been fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements. The 2012 Soul delivers class-leading horsepower2 and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon (mpg)3 on the highway. Kia Motors' hatchback remains a class-leading value4 with the lowest starting price of its competitive set at $13,900 MSRP5.

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality6 and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking7. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.
Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.
·          Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
1. Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending February 2007 and February 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.
2. Class-leading 164 horsepower claim for available 2.0L MPI engine based on comparison of 2012 (and available 2013 compact wagons) as of May 2012.
3. 2012 EPA fuel economy estimates are 27 mpg/city and 35 mpg/hwy with standard 1.6L GDI engine. Actual mileage will vary.
4. Based on comparisons to 2012 competitors as May 2012.
5. Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP excludes $750 destination and handling fee, title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.
6. Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study.
7. Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis.
Source: Kia Motors America