Archive for Kia

These are the first official images of the new Kia Optima (Magentis in some markets) that will make its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show on April 1st. The Korean carmaker previously revealed the Optima’s design sketches, which you can see here.

Kia latest features a new interpretation of the company’s “tiger” grille that’s joined to the headlamps to create a mask-like face, as seen on the Forte and new Sportage. The fog lamps get LED driving lamps as “eyebrows”. Longer, wider and lower than the current car, this is another new entrant with the mention of “coupe-like profile” by its maker. Kia says that the sweeping chrome arc that flows A to C pillars visually lowers the car while making prominent its “cab-backwards proportions”.

“The Optima embodies Kia’s confident new design direction. It’s a global car with individual appeal,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer. “The next generation Optima possesses the power to surprise. It’s a car that people will simply not expect from Kia – and that’s exactly what we set out to achieve,” the man added.

I disagree with Peter on his last point. Seeing the company’s great run of form when it comes to design these days, this is exactly the kind of car we expect from Kia – clean, bold, distinctive and totally removed from the previous generation, which in the Optima’s case was worthy but dull. More pictures after the jump!

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Kia’s has opened its first-ever U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets. Representing a US$1 billion investment by Kia, the 2.2 million-square-foot plant sits on more than 2,200 acres of land.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia consists of four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly. The site also includes a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track. The general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favourable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Uniquely, it is outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment, says Kia.

As an all-new plant, KMMG uses the latest tech available. Stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure and an automatic panel loading system; the fully automated welding shop boasts 242 welding robots; the paint shop uses eco-friendly, water-soluble coatings; and various systems are in place to keep inventory to a minimum via timely parts delivery. KMMG also features a internal railway system to facilitate transportation.

Mass production of the new Kia Sorento began on Nov 16, 2009 with the product officially going on sale in the U.S. in January this year. With 7,398 units sold, the Sorento was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in that month. Despite the global recession, Kia’s car sales in the USA grew by 9.8% to 300,063 units in 2009, and the Korean firm aims to increase sales by 15.6% to 347,000 vehicles in 2010.

This is the new Kia Sportage, which replaces the second-gen model that has sold 860,000 units since 2004. The Geneva showstar looks nothing like that car though, dumping the stodgy image to join Kia’s Peter Schreyer led design revolution.

Immediately recognisable as the younger brother to the Sorento, this new Sportage is longer, wider and lower than the previous model (by 90 mm, 15 mm and 60 mm respectively). Its 2640 mm wheelbase is 20 mm longer than a Honda CR-V’s even though the Kia is shorter overall by 80 mm – minimal overhangs see to that. Despite the size increase, weight is down by 91 kg model for model.

Two engine variants are available now; a 2.0-litre CRDi diesel with VGT (134 bhp/304 Nm) and the Theta II 2.0 petrol with 161 bhp/194 Nm. In both camps, smaller engines with Start/Stop will join later this year – a 1.7-litre CRDi (113 bhp/255 Nm) and a 1.6-litre version of the Theta II with 138 bhp and 166 Nm. The 2.0 models can be had with on-demand AWD with lock function for 50:50 torque split. All variants but the 2.0 petrol manual have six forward ratios.

Euro-spec models come with lots of kit, including ESC with a new Rollover Sensor (that pre-deploys the side airbags, curtain airbags and seatbelt pretensioners), Hillstart Assist Control, Downhill Brake Control (to limit speed during a steep descent) and an optional rear-view camera with LCD display integrated into the rear-view mirror.

Sharing much of its underpinnings with the soon to be launched in Malaysia Hyundai Tucson (called ix35 in Europe), both cars will be built in Slovakia, besides Korea of course. We can look forward to Naza Kia bringing this car to our shores, although it won’t be before the Sorento, which should debut sometime this year.

More pictures after the jump.

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This is a much anticipated test drive report. Not only have we received many requests to feature the Kia Forte, but I myself have been waiting so long to get behind the Forte’s wheel. We missed the media test drive event and Naza Kia’s schedule was so full that only now do we get a sampler.

Priced at RM75,800 OTR including insurance, the entry level 1.6 EX looks to be a steal, and that’s before you realise that for RM6,000 more the SX comes with equipment unheard of in cars below RM100,000. Let’s not forget that this is a C-segment contender to the Civic, Lancer, Sylphy, and Altis, priced below Japanese branded B-segment cars. We see if this irresistible on paper appeal runs deep.

Continue reading the report after the jump.

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Kia is scheduled to introduce the all new Optima mid-sized sedan at the upcoming motor show in New York. However before the company can officially reveal the car, two images have been leaked onto the Internet. These two images shows us close-up views of various parts of the car.

We can look things like the headlights, the Schreyer grille, fog lamps with daytime LED running lights, the wrap-around taillights as well as the wheel. Kia promises that the new Optima is “bold” and has “sporty visual energy”. The Optima which will be known as the K5 in Korea is expected to be offered with a 2.0 liter CVVT and a 198hp 2.4 liter GDI 4-pot with direct injection. I have not seen the entire car in the flesh but I am expecting something that is very pleasing to the eye.

The next generation Kia Optima, known as the Magentis in some markets, will make its world debut at the New York Auto Show, which opens on 2nd April.

Based on the design sketch, we can see that Kia has ditched the distinctly three-box, uninspiring looks of the current car for a sleeker and sexier design. Of course, the actual car will be toned down from this, but we expect a looker based on Kia’s recent track record. The Korean brand promises “bold, athletic and sporty visual energy” for its D-segment challenger.

Little else is known for now, but Kia has revealed that the new Optima is longer, lower and wider than the car it replaces, and features a “significantly longer wheelbase”. For reference, the current car measures 4,800 mm long, 1,805 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, with a 2,720 mm wheelbase.

The Optima will go on sale in the USA late this year, while European sales will start in spring 2011. More images after the jump!

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Kia was present at this year’s Chicago Auto Show and took the opportunity to reveal the Ray concept vehicle. The Ray is based on the Forte platform and measures 4,400 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, 1,360 mm high and has a wheelbase that is figured at 2,700 mm in length.

The concept which is able to seat seat four utilizes a plug-in hybrid powertrain that is made up by a 1.4-liter Gamma GDI engine that outputs 153hp as well as a 78 kW electric motor. It uses a continuously variable transmission. The Ray is able to deliver 1,200 kilometers in terms of overall range and can travel for 80.5 kilometers on pure electric power.

Overall fuel consumption is figured at 1.2 liters per 100 kilometers which sounds very good. Key features on the Ray concept includes a “cool car” technology along with nano-laminate films and cool-glazing materials that reduce solar heat which can help keep the interior cool. This will then reduce air conditioning loads and subsequently greenhouse emissions.

It also has a drive-by-wire steering system, touch screen controls, Kia’s UVO voice and touch-activated controls and more. More images can be found after the jump.

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The Kia Ray concept car will make its debut at next week’s Chicago motor show. Previously we’ve seen a design sketch that showed a low-roof coupe style four-door body. That image, which shows the rear of the Ray, also revealed a glass roof and prominent wheel arches. Now we can see the front design – no grille, long headlamps that stretch into the front fender and very little front overhang.

Styled at the Kia Design Centre in the US, the Ray is a plug-in hybrid that also shows off “Kia’s evolving design direction”. Since we like how the current crop of Kias look, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll evolve.

We already saw how the new Kia Sportage looks like in clear view thanks to EU patent applications mid last month, but here are the first official teaser photos from Kia, which they posted on their Kia Buzz blog.

Both an orange and a silver car is pictured. The teaser actually includes both the North American spec and the Europe spec. The North American spec is the one with amber signal lamps as required by their laws (pictured above) while the Europe spec has fully clear lenses. Looks pretty good, like a smaller and stouter version of the Sorento!

The new Sportage will be longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model. It will also have a longer wheelbase which will likely translate to a roomier interior and a plusher ride. It will premiere at the Geneva show in March.

Look after the jump for the full pix.

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Kia Motors Corporation has announced that its global sales figures for 2009 reached an all-time high of 1,651,920 units. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 20.1%, cementing Kia’s position as one of the world’s fasting growing automakers. This comes after sister company Hyundai breached the three million unit mark for the first time in 2009 (up 11.6%), bringing the combined Hyundai-Kia total to over 4.75 million units sold.

By region, Kia posted year-on-year increases in China (256,732 units, up 69.9%), Korea (412,752 units, up 30.4%), North America (346,181 units, up 11.3%), Western Europe (242,288 units, up 7.7%) and general markets (304,522 units, up 16.2%). Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets was the C-segment Forte with 304,295 units sold.

We have previously commented on brands that provide value for money thriving in uncertain economic times, such as Skoda, Hyundai and Kia. While the Czech brand provides VW tech on the cheap, the Koreans are riding on improved design and quality plus their customary long warranties and lower purchase price.

But where are these increased sales coming from? At the expense of the guys at the top, of course. Toyota has just released its 2009 sales figures which saw a 13% drop to 7.81 million, and Detroit giants GM and Ford have been hurt by poor domestic performance. These companies will also face challenge from a motivated Volkswagen (6.29 million in 2009, up 1.1%), which aims to unseat Toyota by 2018.

This is a teaser image of the Kia Ray concept, which will make its debut at the Chicago motor show next month. Not much is known about the Ray, but the Korean carmaker says that it is a plug-in hybrid that also shows off “Kia’s evolving design direction”.

Styled at the Kia Design Centre in the US, the Ray looks to have four-doors wrapped in a low-roof coupe style bodyshell. It’s obvious from the picture that the Ray has a glass roof and prominent wheel arches. We reckon that it should be quite a looker in the metal.

On another note, Kia says that real-life testing of its hybrid vehicles (both petrol and diesel variants) will start this year in the UK.

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.

More pictures of the Sportage from various angles after the jump!

Click here to read the rest of New Kia Sportage revealed via EU patent application

Those brazen Somali pirates that terrorise the Gulf of Aden are at it again. This time a car shipment has been diverted to their den. Asian Glory, a ship operated by EUKOR Car Carriers Inc, was hijacked on Jan 1 while on its way to Saudi Arabia from Ulsan, according to statement today from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritimes Affairs. The vessel was carrying 2,405 cars, including 2,388 from Hyundai and Kia, plus 25 crewmen. It was hijacked 1,000 km off Somalia’s coast.

“As soon as the vessel embarks, all risks related to the vessel are the responsibility of the distributor. All payments for the cars have been made, while the cars are also insured,” Hyundai said in an e-mailed response to queries.

After a spate of hijacks last year, some 20 warships from the EU, NATO and other countries patrol the Gulf of Aden, a major gateway that’s used by 30,000 ships a year carrying about a 10th of world trade. This latest case is among the first successful attacks on merchant ships in the area since July 2009. The Somali pirates, who received successive multi-million dollar ransoms last year, currently hold at least 12 vessels.

The pirate boss must have really wanted a Genesis Coupe!

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The Naza Group targets to achieve sales of 25,970 units next year with major contribution coming from its Kia division. Joint executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin broke down the 2010 sales target to 22,000 Kia vehicles, 2,930 Peugeot vehicles and 1,040 units of the Naza Forza.

Naza plans to launch four new Kia models which will include a “recreational vehicle” in the first half of the year. The conglomerate will also introduce four new Peugeots in 2010, including the “T33″ entry-level model that will be manufactured at its Gurun plant.

Our guess is that the “RV” in question will be the new Sorento, while the Soul and Forte Koup should also be coming. How about the facelifted Optima to make it four?

On the Peugeot front, T33 is the 207 Sedan, which despite the name is a booted 206 with the 207’s “big mouth” face. Naza will be counting on this small saloon to provide the bulk of Peugeot sales. My personal prediction for the other three is 207, 308 CC and a crossover, possibly the 3008.

Kia has dropped the Borrego from its 2010 US lineup due to slow sales. The mid-sized (it’s considered full-sized elsewhere) SUV made its US debut late 2008, coinciding with high fuel prices and the financial crisis. Kia had hoped to sell 20,000 units of the Borrego per year, but only managed to shift 9,510 units for the first 11 months of 2009.

Highly rated by the motoring press, the body-on-frame Borrego was offered with a 3.8-litre V6 and Kia’s first V8, a 4.6-litre unit with 337 bhp mated to a six-speed automatic. Despite the robust underpinnings, the Borrego wasn’t positioned as a serious 4X4 as it lacked advanced off-road hardware, but more as value priced alternative to luxury SUVs. The big seven-seater, which sits above the Sorento in size, is sold in its home market as the Kia Mohave. Kia is reported as not ruling out a future return of the Borrego to the US.

If you want to spend money building a big SUV, you’ve got to do well in the American market, and this has to be a rare setback for Kia, a company more used to encouraging reviews and rising sales these days.

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