Archive for Kia

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Kia previously teased us with it’s 2+2 seater Frankfurt car, and now we get to see it in full light - the Kia Kee concept. The Kia Kee - pronounced “key” - is a 4324mm long 2+2 coupe powered by a next generation 2.7 liter MUE-II V6 engine putting out a sporty 200 horsepower mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The headlamps use LED clusters, and being a concept car it gets the compulsory large wheels - 20 inch in size. Chief designer Peter Schreyer says the Kia Kee concept is not a mere flight of fancy, but represents an affordable dream for sports car lovers. Get into the interior and you will be greeted by a sports car-like cockpit. The square-bottomed steering wheel has paddle shifts for you to manually select the 6-speed auto’s cogs. Instead of a standard gear shifter, an ergonomically designed lever sits atop the centre console and it is a soft touch shifter, which means you just nudge it forward and backward to select the desired drive mode, similiar to BMW’s new soft shifter.

The Kia Kee uses light-weight aluminium or plastic panels and components wherever possible in order to reduce weight and improve vehicle balance. The Kee concept is currently front-wheel drive, but Kia says the production version could end up as a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive car.

More images after the jump.

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The new Kia Optima is now available at Naza Kia showrooms. Two variants are available - the basic Kia Optima EX which goes for RM102,000 and the Kia Optima EX Novus - which used to be called the EX Premium - for RM110,000, on the road with insurance. The Kia Optima EX features a 2.0 liter DOHC CVVT engine from the Hyundai-Kia Theta engine family. It makes 145PS at 6,000rpm and 189Nm of torque at 4,250rpm, and is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting. This engine is not the same as the one in the new Kia Sportage, but a newer family.

While most think the current Optima and the Sonata share the same platform like other Hyundai-Kia models, Kia has decided to develop it’s own platform for the Kia Optima. It features McPherson struts at the front and what Kia calls in-wheel multilink at the rear. In-wheel multilink is called so because it uses a compact transverse subframe to support a rear multi-link system with twin upper arms and long lower trailing arms, plus separate coil springs and dampers. The system is tightly engineered with a significant percentage of the components are mounted within, or very close to, the interior space of the 46mm offset road wheels, which gives it the “in-wheel” moniker.

Interior space is surprisingly large, and I would say it is comparable to short wheel base versions of the BMW 7-Series. Perhaps a chauffeured car for companies with a limited fleet budget? The exterior looks rather defacto three box large sedan (which I actually like), with a rear that reminds some of a Volkswagen. The front is also a non-event but I like the smoked dark headlamps. Despite the conventional outlook, Naza Kia has specified some rather unique colours for the Optima that is refreshing in a sea of what looks like generic colours used over and over again. I like the Optima in red the best, but that colour is not available in Malaysia. There is something called Dark Red though, that looks black at first glance but appears dark red under bright sunlight. The other colours include Midnight Grey, Almond Beige, Ocean Blue, Ebony Black and Bright Silver.

I had the opportunity to drive the Kia Optima EX Novus for just over a 100km or so on the way up to Penang in a media preview. With a price difference of RM8,000 you get significantly better equipment with the car. 8 grand buys you ESP stability control, fully automatic climate control, an Infinity 6.1 audio system, some nice perforated suede and leather upholstery which include some decent premium-feeling seats, automatic headlamps which turn on automatically in the dark), larger 17 inch alloy wheels versus 16 inch on the normal EX, Michelin Pilot Primacy tyres, and a powered driver’s seat.

Also, a fully black interior with aluminium trim greatly lifts the interior ambiance, giving it an upmarket feel. I think this Kia Optima is the one Korean car I’ve driven that has broken away from the cheapo Korean interior feel. No unsightly interior with acres and acres of boring grey. Of course, the engine and transmission combo is really nothing to shout about. Rather boring. It works, but that’s about it. But I think someone looking at the Optima will not be too bothered about that. The car was quite comfortable and NVH levels was up to standards. The Infinity 6.1 audio system was somewhat of a let-down though. It’s above average but it isn’t any different from what you get in 2.4 liter versions of Japanese D-segment sedans, just that here you are able to have it in a 2.0 liter Korean D-Segment sedan.

All the basic safety features are there - dual SRS airbags, active headrest, ABS brakes with EBD. The Novus is safer of course since it has ESP stability control. Not a bad alternative to C-segment Japanese sedans, but there will be many concerns on Naza Kia’s network - dealerships, aftersales service, and of course other than that there is the dreaded reputation for Korean cars to be heavy fuel guzzlers. If Naza Kia can get over these obstacles, the car should theoretically sell. This new generation of Kias use engines that can be considered modern, equipped with features like CVVT variable valve timing. This should help alot with the fuel consumption. The Optima along with the Spectra5, and Sportage also have trip computers to help you measure your fuel consumption.

Lastly, both the Kia Optima EX and Kia Optima EX Novus come with a 5 year or 125,000km warranty and a 2 years or 50,000km free service package.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Kia Optima 2.0 DOHC CVVT EX Novus

The Naza Group still has plans to list the company on the stock exchange. The listing exercise is to raise funds to build a new plant in Bertam, Penang which is estimated to cost about RM1.2 billion as well as new model development.

The plant was announced in 2005 and will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 cars. “It is still on. There is no delay actually. Sometimes, it is the market situation,” said Naza Group head Tan Sri Nasimuddin SM Amin.

It is also expanding it’s Gurun plant, but no targeted production capacity was mentioned. Tenders have been opened for works related to the plant expansion. The Gurun plant currently makes 50,000 units a year.

Source

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Kia will be revealing the production version of it’s Kia pro_cee’d 3-door hatchback at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show on the 11th next month. The new Kia pro_cee’d will have 19 different variants offering various engine options and trim levels - LX, EX and TX.

The Kia pro_cee’d is longer, lower and lighter than it’s 5-door Kia cee’d sibling, but keeps the same 2650mm wheelbase. Rear luggage capacity with the rear seats upright matches the 5-door model. The windscreen is shallower and vehicle height is reduced by 30mm. The doors are 276 mm longer than the front doors of the 5-door ceed model. Kia Motors Europe chief designer Gregory Guillaume notes that although the rear screen is steeply raked, rear headroom remains good.

Those who want more performance out of their pro_cee’d can order the optional Sports Pack, which comprises 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres, stiffer dampers, a sport-concept interior trim which features ‘tyre-track pattern fabric and silver stitching, plus alloy pedals and stainless-steel door-scuff plates.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of More details on Kia pro_cee’d before unveiling

Kia has released another teaser image of the Kia Sports Coupe Concept - a side profile view this time. An image of the front was released a month ago, and the 2+2 coupe will be revealed to the public in it’s entirety together with it’s name at the 2007 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

This car could go into production as the mechanical twin of the next generation Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which is reportedly rear wheel drive.

Related Posts:
Kia Sports Coupe Concept front teaser

Kia has revealed a second teaser image of the new Kia Pro-cee’d set to be revaled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Kia Pro-cee’d is the production version of the Kia pro_ceed concept car shown last year at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

This new shot shows a rear view of the car. For the front view and more details on the new Kia Pro-cee’d, click here or have a look at the related posts below.

Related Posts:
Kia Pro-cee’d to make debut at Frankfurt 2007
Kia pro_cee’d concept at Paris

This Kia Spectra5 was spotted today traveling north from KL to Penang on the North South Highway. The Kia Spectra5 is also called the Kia Cerato in other markets, and it comes in both sedan and 5-door hatchback form.

From the looks of it, the 5-door hatchback might be making it’s way onto our local shores before the sedan. Fans of 5-door hatches will have an additional choice soon - there are not many C-segment hatches around here unlike the many B-segment hatches. As far as I can recall, we only have the Optra5 and the Ford Focus 2.0, and in a way, the Skoda Octavia, though that is technically a lift-back instead of a hatch.

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The new 3-door version of the Kia cee’d will make it’s world debut at the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show on the 11th September 2007. It will be called the Pro-cee’d, which doesn’t stray far from it’s pro_cee’d concept name, just a matter of a dash instead of an underscore and proper capitalization.

“Longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car, the new Kia Pro-ceed is going to be a great drive. Combining real style and genuine practicality, our new three-door ceed is sure to delight existing Kia customers and attract a new group of European consumers who have not yet considered our brand,” said Senior Vice President of Kia Motors Europe Jean-Charles Lievens.

It’s 5-door brother the Kia cee’d which made it’s debut earlier has had some success in the market - 6 awards so far with the most recent being the 2007 Auto Express Special Honour award.

“Kia has worked tirelessly over recent years to improve their product range and establish themselves firmly in consumers minds. With the introduction of their first truly European product early this year and its industry leading seven-year warranty, Kia have given us all a reason to think twice before we buy elsewhere,” says a man that most of you know - Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell.

Just too bad that the Kia cee’d, the cee’d SW station wagon as well as the Pro-cee’d will remain largely European market cars for the time being - we’re still stuck with Kia’s old C-segment entrant, the Kia Spectra at the moment. Hopefully not for long, as the soon to be introduced new Kia Optima needs a younger sibling.

The Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima used to be mechanical brothers, and both variants were available here in Malaysia, with the latter offered by Naza Kia Sdn Bhd. The Hyundai Sonata has since been updated with an all-new model here in Malaysia first as a CBU and subsequently as a locally assembled CKD unit.

As for the Kia offering, the old Optima is still on sale, but looking at Naza Kia’s continuous efforts with the Kia brand here in Malaysia (the most recent being the introduction of a locally assembled Kia Sportage), we are poised to see the new Kia Optima here very soon as a locally assembled model.

The new Kia Optima differs slightly from it’s Hyundai Sonata brother in the area of front suspension setup, where the Sonata uses a multilink setup while Kia uses a MacPherson strut setup at the front.

Engine options consist of a 145 PS inline-4, a 161 PS 2.4 liter inline-4 and a 185 PS 2.7 liter V6 mated to a 4-speed or 5-speed automatic transmission, with a 5-speed manual also available for those who prefer clutch action.

Kia has been emphasizing on the crash test results of the new Optima, which earned a 5-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests and a 4-star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test.

According to a dealer tip, unlike the Sonata which offers 2.0 and 2.4 liter variants, the Kia Optima will most likely be offered as a 2.0 liter inline-4 only, but will have two different trim levels - a standard one called EX with dual airbags, ABS, fabric seats, CD/MP3/USB audio and a higher spec model called EX “Special Package” with more goodies like a 6.1 Infinity sound system (4 speakers, 2 tweeters, 1 subwoofer) with a 420 watt external amplifier and a 6-CD in-dash changer, ESP stability control, 215/50R17 Michelin Pilot Premacy-wrapped 17″ wheels, powered driver’s seat, and suede/leather upholstery.

Both models will be available with a 4-speed auto gearbox, as the 5-speed units are only available for the 2.7 liter engine. Expect a classy black interior with real aluminium trim, similiar to the locally assembled Kia Sportage.

Have a look at more pics and videos after the jump.

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Kia will be revealing a new concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show called the Kia Sports Coupe Concept. Like it’s namesake, it will be a sports coupe wth a 2+2 seating configuration. It was designed by Kia’s design team in Europe led by Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

“Kia has given me the opportunity to shape its whole brand design and character. Seldom does a designer have such a clean sheet to work with. We started this exciting journey with the Kia ex_ceed cabrio concept at the Geneva Show back in March, and at Frankfurt Im sure Kia will surprise the entire automotive world when people see our new sports coupe concept in the metal.”