Kia to Introduce Electric Car in 2011

Kia Motors said Wednesday it would introduce its first electric car in 2011, a week after its bigger sister firm Hyundai Motor unveiled the nation's first full-speed electric car.

Kia, South Korea's second-largest carmaker, plans to introduce its first electric model in December 2011 and produce 2,000 units in the following year, spokesman Michael Choo told AFP.
Hyundai Motor last week unveiled the country's first full-speed electric car, designed to tap into the increasingly competitive electric auto market.

The country's largest carmaker introduced BlueOn, with President Lee Myung-Bak test-driving it at the presidential Blue House.

Hyundai, with its affiliate Kia, is the world's fifth largest carmaker.

2011 Kia Sportage is The Safest Car

The 2011 Kia Sportage has been recognized as one of the safest new vehicles on the market; it's earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

While the Sportage wasn't actually tested, the IIHS applied results from the 2010 and 2011 Hyundai Tucson, which is nearly identical structurally. And as interior trim and door pieces can often make the difference between a 'good' and 'acceptable' score, there's apparently more in common between these two vehicles than Kia or Hyundai would like us to believe. Though Kia and Hyundai are run as separate companies in the U.S., and their respective models are typically built at separate plants, the two brands come from the same South Korean automaker.

The Sportage (and Tucson) can take 4.43 times its body weight in a designated area of the roof before it deforms a specified amount. That easily surpasses ratio of four the IIHS requires to earn a 'good' rating, and is much better than the federal government's current requirement of just 1.5 (a requirement of about three times body weight will be phased in).

The new 2011 Sportage is hardly Kia's only safety bright spot. The model joins the 2010 Forte sedan, 2010 Soul hatchback, and 2011 Sorento crossover in earning that top recognition from the Institute.
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Kia Pop EV Concept

The 2010 Paris Motor Show begins next month and you can be certain that the trend will be electric vehicles.Kia will be there offering us more details on the Pop Concept, which is a zero-emissions car just like the Nissan Leaf.

2011 Kia Optima

Korean manufacturer Kia took the wraps off of a stylish new Optima sedan at the New York Auto Show.
The Kia Optima shares its platform with the recently introduced Sonata sedan manufactured by its corporate affiliate, Hyundai, and will be offered with same three engine choices.
Riding ona wheelbase three inches longer than the current Optima, the 2011 model has a sleek, coupe-like profile.
When the Optima goes on sale this fall, it will be available with a 2.4-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 2-liter turbocharged, direct-injection, 274-horsepower four-cylinder powerplant. Early next year, Kia will offer a hybrid model that combines the 2.4-liter engine with an electric motor.
Optimas with the standard 2.4-liter engine are expected to return 24 mpg around town and 35 mpg on the open road. Transmission choices will be a six-speed manual on the entry-level LX model and a six-speed automatic on all models.
The more upscale EX and SX models will be available with a variety of luxury and electronic upgrades that include leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, and an in-car communications and entertainment system with rear-view camera.

2011 Kia Optima Video


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Kia Motors Launches New Sportage

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, launched sales of its new compact sport-utility vehicle on Tuesday, hoping to compete with Honda Motor Co.'s CR-V and Toyota Motor Corp.'s RAV4 at home and abroad.

The all-new Sportage comes equipped with either a 2-liter petrol or diesel engine, which produces 166 horsepower at its peak, with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Kia, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., expects to sell 140,000 units of the new Sportage this year, including 37,000 units at home.
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Concept Car: Kia Ray

The futuristic concept car from Kia - Kia Ray



Kia Motors has unveiled its Ray plug-in Hybrid concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, a blend of innovative fuel-stretching and emissions-cutting technologies that boasts a range of 746 miles.

Designed with lightweight and recycled materials, as well as hexagonal solar cells embedded in the glass roof panel to power extra lighting or climate control systems, the Kia Ray is also a bold collaboration between design and engineering that showcases a futuristic four-seat compact sedan based on the Kia Forte platform.

Kia Ray Pictures Gallery


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Kia Offers 7-Year/150,000 Km Warranty

Korean auto maker, Kia, has announced a seven-year/150,000 km bumper-to-bumper, parts-and-labour warranty for all vehicles sold and registered in Europe from January 1, 2010.

Kia’s warranty coverage does not in any way appear disingenuous – it has minimum exclusions, is transferable to subsequent owners and its press statement was quite clear that “this is not an insurance company’s ‘extended warranty’ - the Kia warranty is a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty with ‘bumper-to-bumper’ coverage from Day 1 until the end of the seventh year.” For the first three years there is no mileage limit, unless the vehicle is being operated as a taxi, in which case the limit is 150,000 km. For years four-to-seven, for all users, the warranty limit is 150,000 km.

There are also some components that are not covered for 7 years, but once again, the finer details seem reasonable as some items have a natural limited lifetime/durability: vehicle paint (5 years/150,000 km), audio system, navigation and in-car entertainment equipment (3 years/100,000 km), accessories and batteries (2 years). Wear and tear items such as tires, brake pads do not come with a time or distance warranty either.
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2009 Kia Borrego

2009 Kia Borrego first drives video:

Kia K9 Sketches Released

Kia has introduced sketches of their upcoming Kia K9 luxury sedan. The counterparts rumored to be a part of this upcoming Korean luxury sports sedan are shared with the Hyundai Genesis sedan. The Kia K9 would virtually be a sister car to that of the Genesis Sedan sporting a V8. Would that put a Kia up against the likings of an Audi A8 and BMW 7-series?

Kia USA Plant

Kia motor USA plant opening video.

Enjoy your Kia

Kia Kee Coupe

Autocar is reporting that Kia has its ever-eager eyes on the affordable RWD sporty coupe market. It’s 2008 Kee coupe concept could borrow the Genesis coupe’s RWD platform when it eventually makes its appearance.

In an exclusive interview Kia design director Peter Schreyer told Autocar that the Kee wasn’t in the European product plan for the next two years, but also confirmed that he is very keen to bring added strength and desirability to the Kia brand with such a car.

Autocar is reporting that Kia has its ever-eager eyes on the affordable RWD sporty coupe market. It’s 2008 Kee coupe concept could borrow the Genesis coupe’s RWD platform when it eventually makes its appearance.

Kia is The 2010 UK Automotive Company

Kia has been named the UK Automotive Company for 2010 by the Institute of Transport Management.

The ITM, which was founded in 1977, highlighted the company’s “innovative and dynamic efforts to lead the way towards a healthier industry, in both financial and environmental terms.”

The award comes as Kia prepares to unveil a host of new products at the Frankfurt Motor Show, including several diesel hybrids, which have impressed the institute.

2010 Kia Sorento

On sale: February 2010; Price: From $36,095; Seven seats and a strong diesel engine


Kia's reputation for building stylish, well-built and great value cars looks set to continue with the 2010 launch of the Sorento.

This latest models is longer and lower than the existing model that was launched in 2003, meaning there is more room for passengers inside with Kia claiming the interior will be much more luxurious too. On the outside the changes include the new more aggressive front grille that can also be seen on the latest version of the Kia Ceed.

The most popular engine is expected to be the new 2.2-litre diesel which will replace the current 2.5-litre diesel engine but will produce more power with 197bhp compared to the existing 168bhp. Ths new engine will be available with either the six-speed manual gearbox or an all-new six-speed automatic on offer.
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2010 Kia Forte

The 2010 Kia Forte merits a new trip to the Kia dealership and perhaps a new look at Kia, as the brand is quickly shedding its reputation for dowdy vehicles. The Forte has many of the elements and features of much more expensive cars, yet it’s still one of the least expensive small sedans.

The svelte 2010 Kia Forte doesn’t have any awkward angles, and a nice wide stance from the front and back somehow matches the flowing, elegant roofline. Inside, the look is simple, with a smoother, more organic version of the teardrop center stack used in the Forte.

The new Forte starts at just $13,695 for the LX model, while the EX starts at $15,745 and the SX bows at $17,195, not counting destination. All models get Bluetooth, Sirius Satellite Radio, and an auxiliary input jack for the audio system, plus steering wheel controls and voice activation. The EX model adds air conditioning, power accessories, and the SX adds fog lamps plus upgraded upholstery and trim. The SX model is the “image leader” of the lineup; in addition to those details and the stronger engine, it gets a sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and showy 17-inch alloy wheels. Other options are limited to a power sunroof, leather seat packages (heated in front), and a Convenience Package that adds A/C and other upgrades to the LX.



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Kia Cee'd 1.6 CRDi Face To Face

It's supposed to be a rival to the VW Golf and Ford Focus but it's hard to take seriously a car with such a silly name.
What do you think?

Kia Cee'd 1.6 CRDi

Top speed: 106 mph

Acceleration: 0-62 in 13.8sec

Average consumption: 62.8mpg

CO2 emissions: 119g/km

Price: from £11,270