Kia News
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The affordable large car segment is starting to get just a little overcrowded, and in a time where customers all around the world are downsizing to smaller midsize models, performance, fuel-economy and overall value is now more important than ever. South Korea’s entrants in this field have been winning plenty of accolades lately, especially newcomers like the Hyundai Genesis, and Kia is working on another large car that by the looks of things will only continue this trend. The replacement for the Amanti (Opirus) sedan is just around the corner, but an image of a concept version of the...
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Kia unveils Forte LPI Hybrid in Korea
Pushing the cutting edge of technology forward has been a job traditionally set on the shoulders of the car industry's leaders, as they have the R&D budgets to finance the expensive and time-consuming work. But Hyundai-Kia is pushing technology on its own of late with the introduction of a pair of...
Nelson Ireson -
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...
Nelson Ireson -
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...
Kenneth Hall -
Kia Prices All-New 2010 Soul Hatchback
Kia the recent 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...
James Martinez -
European design students take the wraps off 1/4 scale supercar concepts
The Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) is a massive six-city, three-country school that is one of Europe's foremost centers for fledgling automotive designers. The students there have collaborated with DR Motor Company to produce a trio of 1/4 scale supercar models. Dubbed Action (blue), Spirit...
Kenneth Hall -
Kia Motors is the unlikely leader of a design renaissance in the automotive world, with the company’s talented head designer, Peter Schreyer, penning its latest concept car, the No 3. Formerly at Volkswagen/Audi, Schreyer has given the value-conscious Korean brand a shot in the arm when it comes to competing on design. The small hatchback, despite being just 13.27ft (4,045mm) long is an indication of the new ‘face of Kia’ according to the company, with the front grille, head lamps and logo in particular giving us an idea of what future Kias will look like. Finished in...
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Detroit 3 looking to Asia for brand sales
Tough times are a unifying theme of the economic and sales reports of the last six months, especially in the car industry. Finding ways to pull itself up by the bootstraps is proving harder than imagined by some, but the effort is pushing the Detroit 3 to consider a window of opportunity in Asia...
Ralph Hanson -
U.S.-spec Kia Forte debuts at Chicago Auto Show
Kia’s new Forte sedan has been on sale in South Korea since August of last year but the car is just making its North American debut, launching today at the Chicago Auto Show. The Forte draws heavily on the styling of the recently revealed Kia Koup concept and features a new, edgier look...
James Martinez -
Kia considers production of Soul’ster pickup
Kia rolled out an oddly styled pickup concept based on its new Soul compact car at last month’s Detroit Auto Show as way to drum up excitement for the regular hatch model which is set to go sale in March. The concept, called the Soul’ster, was never intended to be produced but strong...
James Martinez -
Kia teases mini-MPV concept ahead of Geneva
Scant imagery and even fewer details have been released regarding Kia's newest concept car, a Mini-MPV headed to the 2009 Salon de l’Automobile in Geneva this March. It does, however, claim that the vehicle will redefine the segment. In a press release announcing the new concept car, Kia...
Kenneth Hall -
Kia Unveils Soul'ster Urban Crossover Concept
Kia's 2010 Soul hatch just made its debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, but already the South Korean carmaker is teasing the upcoming hatch with a new concept vehicle that was unveiled at this week’s Detroit Auto Show. The concept is the new Soulster mini pickup and it is...
Ralph Hanson -
Kia has released a teaser image for an all new concept based on its Soul hatchback, despite details for the production version, due next year, already being released. Kia has announced that it will be showing the all new Soul concept to compliment the trio of concepts seen earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, as well as the original Soul concept seen in 2006. Kia claims that the all-new concept is more than just a re-packaging treatment, as it will demonstrate the flexibility of the original Soul design. Currently, the production Kia Soul is due to go on sale in the U.K. market from...
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Kia to present Borrego FCEV in L.A.
Kia will use next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show to debut a concept version of its Borrego SUV powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Called the Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), the concept represents an important milestone for the South Korean manufacturer and is a sign that Kia is one of...
Jeremy Weber -
Borrego Limited concept vehicle to highlight Kia lineup at SEMA
Kia will be playing the ‘urban’ theme with its latest showing at the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, enticing attendees with DJs and tattoo artists, as well as a number of concept vehicles. Some of the cars we have already seen, such as the Soul Burner from March’s Geneva Auto Show...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Chinese government allegedly bans Hyundai-Kia imports
The Chinese government has reportedly suspended the majority of vehicle imports from South Korea following a complaint made by several Chinese dealers that Hyundai-Kia is backing its own dealer groups at the expense of independent firms. The decision comes after the filing of a petition against...
Kenneth Hall -
Kia Soul Hybrid concept headed for Paris Motor Show
Next week’s Paris Motor Show will see the world debut for Kia’s upcoming Soul hatchback, a car that was first previewed in concept form as far back as 2006’s Detroit Auto Show. For Paris Kia will present no less than seven versions of the car, including an advanced hybrid concept...
Kenneth Hall -
2009 Kia Borrego scores 5 stars in NHTSA crash test
The Hyundai-Kia automotive conglomerate is on a roll of late with its stong crash test scores. Just over a week ago the 2009 Hyundai Genesis scored a perfect five-star rating, and now the Kia Borrego SUV has scored the same, which should help the big vehicle with its recently-announced North...
Nelson Ireson -
Updated with new interior shots. Kia will use next month’s Paris Motor Show to debut its new Soul hatch, which is set to go on sale in South Korea at the end of the year and eventually Europe and North America in the first half of next year. The Soul will be available in Europe with a choice of two engines, one diesel and the other petrol. The diesel engine generates 126hp (94kW) at 4,000rpm and maximum torque of 188lb-ft (255Nm) at 2,000rpm. The all-aluminium petrol engine also produces 126hp (94kW) at 6,300rpm and 115lb-ft (156Nm) of torque at 4,200 rpm. The U.S. will receive two...
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Crisp and edgy styling to differentiate future Kia lineup
The Hyundai-Kia automotive conglomerate is South Korea's leading force in the industry, and recently became the fifth-largest carmaker in the world. In the U.S., Hyundai and Kia have to date targeted very similar markets with their cars, seeking to establish a foothold in the value segments where...
James Martinez -
Hyundai-Kia continues U.S. expansion with new gearbox plant
Ranked fifth overall in the global auto industry for the first time this year, surpassing brands like Honda, Nissan, Chrysler and Fiat in overall sales, Hyundai-Kia has been intent on improving its U.S. manufacturing and distribution resources for several years. Already a small-car plant in West...
Nelson Ireson -
2009 Kia Sportage Revealed
Kia has revealed the first images and details for its 2009 model-year facelift for the Sportage compact SUV. The changes are minimal, consisting of a few minor styling updates and the addition of a new diesel engine, and should ensure the car remains competitive against the top-selling Toyota RAV4...
James Martinez -
Kia Announces North American Launch For Borrego SUV
Kia Motors America has announced the sales launch of their all-new seven-passenger midsize SUV, dubbed the Borrego. Revealed at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year, the new Borrego offers a compromise position between large capacity and fuel economy. The release brings new details of the SUV...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Hyundai-Kia now ranked fifth in auto industry
Over the past two decades Hyundai has moved from being a manufacturer of cheap poor quality cars to become a serious player in the auto industry with world class cars that equal or better more established brands in reliability, performance and price. One of the most influential executives to spur...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran