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Motor Authority - blog Category: Soul

  • Saab's new buyers want to re-awaken the carmaker's 'soul'

    Saab's new buyers want to re-awaken the carmaker's 'soul' June 17th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, June 17th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Saab's new buyers want to re-awaken the carmaker's 'soul' Many gearheads remember fondly the days when something like a first-gen Saab 900 Turbo might rumble past, sounding vaguely like the airplanes that were its ancestors and wearing an endearingly awkward shape. But once General Motors took over the carmaker much of the eccentricity was squeezed out to make room for mainstream acceptability. Get ready for things to change once again with new owner Koenigsegg behind the wheel.

    It's been almost 20 years since GM bought a majority interest in Saab back in 1990, but with its own core operations in serious trouble, it's time for the two companies to part ways - and none too soon for Saab, if Baard... Many gearheads remember fondly the days when something like a first-gen Saab 900 Turbo might rumble past, sounding vaguely like the airplanes that were its ancestors and wearing an endearingly awkward shape. But once General Motors took over the carmaker much of the eccentricity was squeezed out to make room for mainstream acceptability. Get ready for things to change once again with new owner Koenigsegg behind the wheel. It's been almost 20 years since GM bought a majority interest in Saab back in 1990, but with its own core operations in serious trouble, it's time for the two companies to part ways - and none too soon for Saab, if Baard Eker, the Norwegian owner of 49% of Koenigsegg, is to be believed. Eker wants to re-awaken Saab's 'soul and spirit', which slumbered under GM's tenure. GM itself admits the need for a re-invigoration at Saab, according a Reuters report quoting Eker. "Saab has to refine their quality level, their soul and spirit and we believe that this is something we can help with," said Eker. "The most interesting thing is that GM thinks the same." So what will Eker do to revive Saab's hibernating quirkiness? Whatever it is, it'll be environmentally friendly. According to Eker, going green, "is something the smaller companies can more easily attend to because it is much quicker to turn around a smaller company." Some of the speculation on what may be coming from Saab in the near future includes rumors of the Quant electric supercar (pictured) and the Saab 9-3X, 9-4X and 9-5. With a lineup like that it'll take a while to distance Saab from its recent GM history, but perhaps that will give Saab and Koenigsegg time to find a balance that ensures it's Saab's - and not Koenigsegg's - sense of quirkiness that shines through in the future.2010 Saab 9-4X spy shots2010 Saab 9-5 spy shots2010 Saab 9-3X crossover spy shotsKoenigsegg Quant Concept Read More

  • Hyundai-Kia overtakes Nissan for sixth spot in U.S. sales

    Hyundai-Kia overtakes Nissan for sixth spot in U.S. sales May 4th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, May 4th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 0 Comments

    Hyundai-Kia overtakes Nissan for sixth spot in U.S. sales April was another tough month for carmakers but amidst all the doom and gloom was some positive news for South Korean duo Hyundai-Kia. Despite seeing sales decline more than 14% last month, Hyundai-Kia managed to overtake Nissan for sixth place in U.S. new car sales on the back of several exciting new models. The combined sales of Hyundai-Kia totaled 59,558 units, with Hyundai selling 33,952 new cars and Kia managing 25,606 units.

    The overall industry fared much worse, with carmakers seeing their sales levels plunge an average 34% on levels just one year ago. Nissan’s sales dropped even further in April, falling 38% on last... April was another tough month for carmakers but amidst all the doom and gloom was some positive news for South Korean duo Hyundai-Kia. Despite seeing sales decline more than 14% last month, Hyundai-Kia managed to overtake Nissan for sixth place in U.S. new car sales on the back of several exciting new models. The combined sales of Hyundai-Kia totaled 59,558 units, with Hyundai selling 33,952 new cars and Kia managing 25,606 units. The overall industry fared much worse, with carmakers seeing their sales levels plunge an average 34% on levels just one year ago. Nissan’s sales dropped even further in April, falling 38% on last year’s levels to 47,190 units. Those figures saw Hyundai-Kia ranked sixth in the American market with a 7.4% share of the market - a first for the company. Hyundai’s quality and reliability have improved substantially in the past couple of years and not only have we seen this in the company’s strong sales but also in awards like the coveted North American Car of the Year title for the Genesis saloon. Strong sales of new models like the Kia Soul and Genesis Coupe also helped the carmaker improve its position during one of the worst sales slumps in automotive history. As for the other players, General Motors kept its top position, followed by Ford, Toyota, Honda and Chrysler. New car sales in April 2009: 1) General Motors - 172,150 2) Ford – 129,476 3) Toyota – 122,098 4) Honda – 101,029 5) Chrysler – 76,682 6) Hyundai-Kia – 59,558 7) Nissan – 47,190 Read More

  • Ward’s Auto announces 2009 Interior of the Year winners

    Ward’s Auto announces 2009 Interior of the Year winners April 8th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, April 8th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 2 Comments

    Ward’s Auto announces 2009 Interior of the Year winners While we all like to go on about horsepower or differentials or suspension arms when discussing new cars, we often overlook the place where you and your car will spend the most time together - inside the cabin. In order to recognize this aspect of vehicle development, Ward’s Auto releases a list every year for the best car interiors in a number of different vehicle segments.

    After driving the vehicles over a two month period, judges evaluated the them during their daily driving cycles and awarded points for design, material selection, fit-and-finish, ergonomics, driver information, safety, value and comfort.

    For 2009, the awards were... While we all like to go on about horsepower or differentials or suspension arms when discussing new cars, we often overlook the place where you and your car will spend the most time together - inside the cabin. In order to recognize this aspect of vehicle development, Ward’s Auto releases a list every year for the best car interiors in a number of different vehicle segments. After driving the vehicles over a two month period, judges evaluated the them during their daily driving cycles and awarded points for design, material selection, fit-and-finish, ergonomics, driver information, safety, value and comfort. For 2009, the awards were not dominated by luxury car brands that like to swathe their interiors in leather and wood as you might think - rather than that it was the cheaper end of the spectrum that impressed the judges most. For example, taking out the top prize for an economy-priced car was the Honda Fit Sport, which managed to capture the judges' attention thanks to its high-quality feel and clever design. Kia's new Soul was given the award for the “grooviest interior”, and with its red dashboard and lights that flash to the beat of music we would probably have to agree with that one. Interestingly, the award for the best interior in a premium priced car was given to the Acura TL, while the award for the best interior in a popularly-priced car went to the Volkswagen CC. For sports cars, the new Nissan 370Z in Touring trim managed to claim the best interior award, while the Dodge Ram won in the popularly-priced truck category. The Ford Flex took out the award for premium-priced trucks, while the Ford Fusion hybrid won for best graphic display - giving Ford two winners in the competition, more than any other manufacturer. Meanwhile, the new Audi A4 won the award for the best interior redesign, and the premium Lexus RX 450h won an award for having “design harmony”. Finally, the award for best brand expression went to the Cadillac CTS-V, with the judges noting the car's handsome instrument stack and long list of electronic gadgets as some of the highlights. This year’s winners are as follows: - Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car) - Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car) - Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior) - Acura TL (Premium-priced car) - Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car) - Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck) - Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck) - Audi A4 (Best Redesign) - Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display) - Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony) - Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression) Read More

  • Kia considering brand-wide name changes

    Kia considering brand-wide name changes March 23rd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, March 23rd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Kia considering brand-wide name changes Getting young people to buy cars is tougher than it sounds. Fashion, mode and politics all play a role in addition to the classical considerations for car buying: price, features and performance. But Kia is determined to grow its business with younger buyers, as its current 52-year-old average customer is more elderly that it would like.

    Kia will have to be careful not to alienate too many of its existing customers, however, as those are the brand's proven loyalists. But at the same time, getting a new image across to a whole new segment of the population could prove more beneficial that sticking with what's worked in the past.

    "We want to... Getting young people to buy cars is tougher than it sounds. Fashion, mode and politics all play a role in addition to the classical considerations for car buying: price, features and performance. But Kia is determined to grow its business with younger buyers, as its current 52-year-old average customer is more elderly that it would like. Kia will have to be careful not to alienate too many of its existing customers, however, as those are the brand's proven loyalists. But at the same time, getting a new image across to a whole new segment of the population could prove more beneficial that sticking with what's worked in the past. "We want to leave the old baggage behind," Kia Motors America vice president of marketing told Automotive News. "A lot of people don't know who we are anyway. So why not come out with new names like Forte?" The name changes would be along the lines of the Forte-Spectra renaming - finding strong, one-word names that give the brand a fresher image. The Soul hatch is another exemplar of the newer branding strategy. Changing names and shooting for a younger audience is part of Kia's larger plan of reaching for more market share while the bigger carmakers struggle. Already it has increased its hold on the market from 2.1% in 2008 to 3.3% through the first two months of 2009. While other carmakers fell over 40% in February, Kia held steady. These signs are strong indicators that Kia is on the right track with its heavy incentives, strong warranty, fresh models and new names. Whether a continuation of that pattern will net even more customers, however, remains to be seen.Kia Soul in U.S. production guise Read More

  • Red Dot design awards winners revealed for 2009

    Red Dot design awards winners revealed for 2009 March 20th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, March 20th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 2 Comments

    Red Dot design awards winners revealed for 2009 Innovative and interesting designs are rewarded each year with a 'red dot', from world renowned design institution, the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, one of Europe's oldest and most highly reputed design centers.

    This year a number of interesting entries in the automobile category came away with red dots, including the Kia Soul - the first Korean car to have ever been given a red dot award. Other awards went out to BMW's stunning new Z4 roadster, as well as other BMW's such as the K1300R and K1300S motorbikes.

    BMW's new F01 7-Series limo also managed to garner an award, giving BMW a total of four red dots from the Design Zentrum. The... Innovative and interesting designs are rewarded each year with a 'red dot', from world renowned design institution, the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, one of Europe's oldest and most highly reputed design centers. This year a number of interesting entries in the automobile category came away with red dots, including the Kia Soul - the first Korean car to have ever been given a red dot award. Other awards went out to BMW's stunning new Z4 roadster, as well as other BMW's such as the K1300R and K1300S motorbikes. BMW's new F01 7-Series limo also managed to garner an award, giving BMW a total of four red dots from the Design Zentrum. The new Volkswagen Golf also received a red dot award, as did the handsome new Opel Insignia and the Ford Fiesta. The new Honda Insight also won an award - the only Japanese car to have been awarded a red dot. Other Japanese cars, such as the Toyota iQ, received honorable mentions, which recognize certain aspects of design that are innovative and interesting. Other honorable mentions include the Alfa Romeo MiTo and the new Mercedes E-Class. The process behind choosing the winners is exhaustive, with design experts from all over the world collaborating to evaluate each entry in the competition's numerous categories. The design experts are constantly changed every year, and the selection process is made as impartial as possible to ensure that the awards remain an effective indicator of good design.2010 BMW Z4 Roadster Read More

  • Kia officially prices new Soul hatchback

    Kia officially prices new Soul hatchback March 10th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, March 10th, 2009 James Martinez 8 Comments

    Kia officially prices new Soul hatchback Kia used last year's Los Angeles Auto Show to display the North American version of its new Soul hatch, which is now on sale in the U.S. as a 2010 model. Pricing for the car leaked on several internet forums late last year, and now Kia has made it official, revealing that the stylish hatch will be available from just $13,995 (including a $695 destination charge).

    Designed in Southern California, the Soul is a C-Segment vehicle targeted at younger buyers looking for something a little more stylish than the average econo car. Originally debuted as a concept vehicle at Detroit’s NAIAS in 2006, the production version will come in four... Kia used last year's Los Angeles Auto Show to display the North American version of its new Soul hatch, which is now on sale in the U.S. as a 2010 model. Pricing for the car leaked on several internet forums late last year, and now Kia has made it official, revealing that the stylish hatch will be available from just $13,995 (including a $695 destination charge). Designed in Southern California, the Soul is a C-Segment vehicle targeted at younger buyers looking for something a little more stylish than the average econo car. Originally debuted as a concept vehicle at Detroit’s NAIAS in 2006, the production version will come in four different trim levels - Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport – and a single five-door body. The entry level price is for the basic Soul model with a 1.6L engine and manual transmission. Next up is the Soul+ with a 2.0L engine and manual transmission for $15,645, while a full options package raises the price to $17,795. Then there is the 2.0L Soul! in manual trim for $17,645 and $18,595 for the fully optioned variant. Finally, there is the 2.0L Soul sport also priced from $17,645 up to $19,295 with all options equipped. Some of the options include a premium audio package for $400 and a power moonroof for $700. Built on a platform with a wheelbase of 100.4in, an overall length of 161.6in, an overall width of 70.3in and overall height of 63.4in, the Soul offers enough space for five adults with some space left for storage. The car rides on a fully independent front and twist-beam rear suspension system, with front MacPherson struts and coil springs. In the rear, the Soul suspension is sub-frame-mounted with a transverse torsion beam axle with trailing arms. To maximize space, the rear anti-roll stabilizer bar is mounted inside the torsion beam. The engine lineup will consist of a 120hp 1.6L unit and a 140hp 2.0L option. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30mpg. The Soul includes black door handles and side mirrors, body-colored bumpers, a rear wiper washer and 15in steel wheels fitted with 195mm tires. Upgrading slightly to the Soul+ offers keyless remote entry, solar glass, privacy glass on the rear side and rear windows, body-color handles and power side mirrors along with 16in alloy wheels with 205mm tires. Enhancing to the Soul! adds a power moonroof, fog lights, 18in alloy wheels furnished with 225mm tires, while the Soul sport features side sills, a rear spoiler, 18in alloy wheels, and unique sports bumpers both front and rear. Inside, there’s a three-dial instrument cluster, a floating center stack design, MP3 CD stereo, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats. Kia is hoping to double its sales in global markets by 2010 with the introduction of several new and updated models. The first of these will be a facelifted Sportage SUV in July, followed by the Soul and two new sedan models later in the year. The carmaker is also scheduled to open its first U.S. plant and is planning to build up to 300,000 vehicles per year at the Georgia site.Kia Soul ConceptsKia Soul in U.S. production guise2010 Kia Soul Read More

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