Kia News

  • New Spectra will spawn Kia's first coupe model

    Kia will launch its first ever coupe model next year with the launch of the next-generation Spectra (Cerato range). The new model, which is expected to draw heavy influences from the recently revealed Koup Concept (pictured), will replace the current Spectra and could even adopt a new name. The car will first be launched with a regular sedan bodystyle but will be followed a coupe of months later by the new two door. A Spectra hatchback will be offered in some markets but according to the president of Hyundai-Kia’s R&D team, Lee Hyun-soon, the U.S. will miss out on the more practical...

  • Kia opens new U.S. headquarters and design center
    Kia opens new U.S. headquarters and design center

    As Detroit's Big 3 see sales figures plummet, closing factories and design centers has become a nearly monthly event. Kia's U.S. operations, however, haven't felt the punishing blows of high fuel prices and a weak economy as keenly, thanks in part to the company's relatively small and...

  • Georgia plant to build small cars for Kia and Hyundai
    Georgia plant to build small cars for Kia and Hyundai

    Kia's new Georgia assembly plant is scheduled to build a new compact car for the South Korean brand starting from next year, however the same plant could also be used to supply a new small model for Hyundai as well. Kia’s new small car is likely to be the new Soul hatch (pictured), revealed...

  • Kia Pro_ceed enters Nurburgring 24 endurance race
    Kia Pro_ceed enters Nurburgring 24 endurance race

    There’s been no shortage of carmakers interested in competing in this weekend’s 24 hour Nurburgring endurance challenge. Already we’ve seen the likes of Lexus, Audi, Opel and Volkswagen enter race-prepped versions of their regular production models, as well as future models in the...

  • Kia confirms 2009 U.S. launch for Soul hatchback
    Kia confirms 2009 U.S. launch for Soul hatchback

    Few would have thought Kia was planning to launch a production version of its Soul concept when the trio of hatchback models was revealed at the recent Geneva Motor Show. The Soul concept was shown as far back as the 2006 Detroit show but it was restyled this year by Kia’s new head of design...

  • Kia KOUP Concept debuts in New York
    Kia KOUP Concept debuts in New York

    Kia has taken the wraps off a new two-door concept at this week’s New York Auto Show that previews the shape and evolution of the carmaker’s future models. Designed by Kia’s America Design Center in California, the Koup concept showcases a new fluid design theme as well as an...

  • Kia presents trio of SOUL concepts

    Kia is presenting three new concept cars at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, which were developed under the guidance of chief designer Peter Schreyer at the carmaker’s new European design center. All three cars carry the ‘SOUL’ title and are closely related to an upcoming production model Kia claims will start a whole new segment when it’s launched at the Paris Motor Show in September. The concept cars – SOUL Diva, SOUL Burner and SOUL Searcher – are each designed to appeal to different consumers and showcase a number of possibilities for customizing...

  • Kia in talks with Karmann over new convertible
    Kia in talks with Karmann over new convertible

    Kia is reportedly in talks with German car manufacturer Karmann over a deal for a new production contract, rumored to be for a new convertible. The Osnabrück-based company has worked closely with Kia in the past, having manufactured the Kia Sportage SUV during the mid 1990s and more recently...

  • Kia launching new ‘ECO’ range in Europe in 2009
    Kia launching new ‘ECO’ range in Europe in 2009

    Kia is the latest carmaker to announce plans for the launch of a range of ultra-efficient vehicles, with its first enviro-friendly vehicle tipped to be a new clean version of the Ceed hatch. The new car will be based on the Kia eco_cee’d concept car (pictured) that was unveiled at last...

  • Kee Sports Coupe Concept marks new face of Kia
    Kee Sports Coupe Concept marks new face of Kia

    Kia has taken the covers off its new Kee Sports Coupe Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show today, revealing a dynamic coupe characterized by a broad stance and low profile. The new concept was designed and constructed in Europe under the guidance of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, formerly of...

  • Kia releases more info on pro_cee’d hatch
    Kia releases more info on pro_cee’d hatch

    Kia’s latest offering for the style-conscious Euro market is the new pro_cee’d hatch, which will debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show before going on sale early next year. The new pro_cee’d sits lower than its five-door sibling, making it the sportier of the two...

  • Luxury cars fare poorly in IIHS's latest side-impact test results
    Luxury cars fare poorly in IIHS's latest side-impact test results

    Side impact collisions are the second most common fatal crash type after head-on crashes, with 9,200 people in passenger vehicles killed in the US alone during 2005. Strangely, the percentage of drivers in cars one to three years old killed in side-impact crashes actually increased 31% since 1980...

  • Kia releases 2nd teaser for Frankfurt Coupe Concept

    Kia has released a more detailed teaser shot for a new coupe concept car it’s planning to unveil at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Last month Kia leaked a front-on teaser shot that you can see by clicking here, and it’s now joined by the profile shot revealing a rakish cab backward design. The new concept will be a 2+2 coupe fully designed and constructed in Europe, and we’re hoping that it’ll lead to a new and affordable production sports car. The project was led by Kia’s new Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, and its design is said to represent the...

  • More details on the Kia Pro-cee’d hatch
    More details on the Kia Pro-cee’d hatch

    Kia has released a second image of its upcoming Pro-cee’d, which is set for its world debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new three-door hatch will be joining the cee’d five-door and the soon to be released cee’d wagon models in the European market and was...

  • Kia reveals three-door Pro-cee’d hatch
    Kia reveals three-door Pro-cee’d hatch

    Kia has released the first preview image of its upcoming three-door hatchback model, which will make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new hatch will pick up the name Pro-cee’d. Based on the almost identical concept car displayed at last year’s Paris Show...

  • Kia to present Sports Coupe concept at Frankfurt
    Kia to present Sports Coupe concept at Frankfurt

    Kia has released a teaser image of a new concept car developed by its European design center that will be presented for the first time at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new concept was designed under the guidance of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi, and is the...

  • Koreans to take early lead in LPG-hybrids
    Koreans to take early lead in LPG-hybrids

    Hyundai has announced that it will release a hybrid version of its midsized Avante sedan in 2009, a car that will combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine that runs on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This will be the first high-volume Korean hybrid car and according to Hyundai...

  • Kia drops development plans for cee’d cabrio
    Kia drops development plans for cee’d cabrio

    Executives at Kia have decided to shelve plans for a drop-top version of the cee’d hatch, despite the project already being in an advanced stage. Product planners cite poor profitability and Kia's small market presence as reasons for axing the plans. During a recent visit to Kia’s...

  • Kia keen to reduce emissions, looks to hybrids

    Despite its budget image, Kia fully intends to outdo its rivals in the green stakes by improving the fuel efficiency of its fleet by 20% over the next five years. At the same time, it hopes to see carbon dioxide emissions levels fall from its fleet average of 163g/km to around 140g/km in 2009 and 130g/km by 2012. Some of its vehicles have already hit the magic 130g/km mark, but larger and more powerful V6 models like the Magentis and Sportage are no where near this level. An engineer admitted to reporters from What Car? that “current technologies cannot help” and the goal will be...

  • Kia's KND-4 4x4 concept
    Kia's KND-4 4x4 concept

    Kia has released some surprisingly nice concept cars at recent auto shows, and the trend continues with the KND-4, which was shown today at the Seoul International Motor Show. It’s clear that one major market for Kia is small to mid-size SUVs, as was recently shown with the Kia Kue. The KND-4...

  • Ex-TT designer developing new Kia sports car
    Ex-TT designer developing new Kia sports car

    Kia is planning to unveil a new sports car concept at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and if successful could even start production of the new car by 2009. Kia’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer, is the man responsible for the original Audi TT and he’s reported to be employing the...

  • Kia’s new ex_cee’d cabrio concept
    Kia’s new ex_cee’d cabrio concept

    Kia will debut the all-new ex_cee’d cabrio concept at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, where it'll join the cee’d wagon and hybrid Rio production models on the Korean automaker’s stand. Penned by Kia’s new Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, the ex_cee’d hints at a...

  • German cars beaten by Kia in reliability
    German cars beaten by Kia in reliability

    A recent study run by independent automotive warranty specialist, Warranty Direct, looked at more than 450,000 vehicles, across 33 manufacturers, from the UK and the USA for reported mechanical failures. It found Mazda to be the most reliable car brand with almost 92% of its cars aged between 3 and...

  • Kia Kues its new concept
    Kia Kues its new concept

    Kia has given the regular crossover a sporty theme with its Kue concept, which was designed first and foremost as a driver's vehicle. While possessing SUV characteristics and capabilities, the Kia Kue focuses more on giving the driver an exhilarating driving experience, instead of being solely a...

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