Kia nieuws

Kia is a brand that’s going places. Just a few years ago their cars were the equivalent of latex gloves; you’d use them once and throw ‘em away. But now the South Korean company is building some truly impressive, even class-leading products. The Soul is an unmitigated sales success, their Forte lineup is more than competitive and the Sportage is a solid offering in the small-crossover segment. But with triumph has come a sense of restlessness; they want more, which is probably why Kia has cast its gaze upon the luxury segment. The post Five-Point Inspection: 2015 Kia K900 appeared first on AutoGuide.com News. Lees het hele artikel

Kia Motors has been a rising star among the global automotive brands in terms of environmental friendliness, most recently ranking 35th out of 50 global brands in international brand consultancy, Interbrand’s 2014 Best Global Green Brands. Kia is one of ten automotive brands that made the top 50, and it has been climbing Interbrand’s Best Global Green Brands ranks since 2012—first ranking 87th, then 37th in 2013, and now at 35th in 2014. This is a clear testament to Kia’s commitment to grow as a green, sustainable automotive brand. This year’s results can be largely attributed the debut of more ‘green’ vehicles, which have helped Kia grow as a leading brand in sustaina…

What kind of brand is Kia? This is one of the first questions that any company asks itself when setting out to define its brand image. The answer for Kia came from the concept of ‘surprise.’ And our conclusion was simple: Kia simply wants to help customers re-discover the element of surprise in their daily lives. From that initial idea, Kia has grown into a brand that is powered by ‘surprises.’ Kia’s global brand slogan, ‘The Power to Surprise,’ is the philosophy that guides the principles by which our cars are manufactured and designed, and also the way in which we approach life. And this power to surprise also provides the creativity for those very surprises to make ev…

Crossovers and SUVs aren’t just rising in popularity with consumers – thieves are noticing them as well. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently released the most stolen crossovers and SUVs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013. The research only considered 2011-2013 model year vehicles that were stolen within those three years, which were a total of 21,711 crossovers and SUVs. In terms of market segments, compact crossovers were the most frequently stolen with 6,981 thefts while the pickup class of SUVs were the least stolen with 53 units. The post Top 10 Stolen Crossovers and SUVs appeared first on AutoGuide.com News. Lees het hele artikel

Connected cars, vehicles equipped with Internet or wireless data network access, are giving more options to more drivers, who are now able to share information with other devices both inside and outside of the vehicle. And as automotive technology continues to advance, drivers can do so much more with their cars that help make every-day life more convenient, especially with the many connected car applications on the market that may be downloaded to your mobile phone or directly to the vehicle. While built-in navigation systems are good at getting you there, connected cars let you do so much more. They can tell you how much farther until the next gas station, they can use…

This year’s JD Power Initial Quality Study had a few surprises and you might be shocked to hear which vehicles were most problem free. Of the 207 models covered in the annual survey, the Porsche Panamera had the least reported problems. Coming in second place? The surprising Hyundai Accent. So which vehicles were best in their segment? AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of all the top ranked new cars from this year’s Initial Quality Study. The post Top Ranked New Cars in Initial Quality by Vehicle Class appeared first on AutoGuide.com News. Lees het hele artikel

The Kia Cadenza is being recalled to replace alloy wheels that might fracture if the driver hits a big pothole. According to NHTSA documents, a total of 3,107 Cadenza sedans are affected by the recall and are those equipped with the Korean automaker’s 19-inch non-chrome aluminum wheels. Those specific wheels may suffer fractures due to “impacts such as large, deep potholes.” In turn, the broken wheel will cause the tire to lose pressure. SEE ALSO: 2014 Kia Cadenza Review The faulty wheels have been traced back to an improper manufacturing process that caused the wheels to have inadequate tensile strength. Cadenza owners with the 18-inch non-chrome wheels or the 19-in…

Clean, green vehicles still sound like somewhat of an ideal. But this ideal has become a reality for Kia, as our very first all-electric vehicle, the Soul EV, has entered mass production for sales in Europe. The zero-emissions Soul EV will go on sale in select European countries later this year. Initially, up to 5,000 Soul EV units per year will be manufactured at Kia’s Gwangju plant in Korea. State-of-the-art energy-saving features such as the new heat pump, smart air intake control system and a new individual ventilation system ensure maximum driving range without losing much energy from heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. The Soul EV also features a regenera…

We have a wild mix of cars this week, some with two turbos, some with superchargers and some with very little power. Here’s what we’re driving this week. 2014 Jaguar XK-RS: Mike Schlee, Road Test Editor - “It’s the last hurrah for the Jaguar XK this year and for my final drive in the car I will be piloting the ultimate version, the XKR-S. Packing a 550 hp supercharged V8 under sexy sheet metal, this car is anything but subtle.” 2014 Toyota Corolla LE ECO: Colum Wood, Editor in Chief - “I’m often too busy doing management-type things to actually review cars any more, so I’m not always in a “presser.” And when I am it’s usually because the car was just too da…

The first-and-only eight division boxing world champion, Congressman Manny Pacquiao, has joined Team Kia and adds yet another title to his resume: Head Coach of Kia’s PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) team. Pacquiao’s love for basketball is no secret, and he takes his love for it to another level, adding professional basketball team head coach to his growing list of accomplishments. Team Kia, a recent addition to the PBA league of ten men’s professional basketball teams, will suit up for the PBA’s 40th season this October. Though Pacquiao still has a boxing match coming up in November, he did not want to pass up on this opportunity to pursue another one of his pass…

Earlier this year, as a lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, World Cup official sponsor Kia and host FIFA teamed up for the “Power of Football” contest which kicked off today with the match between host country Brazil and Croatia. Our mission was simple: to find a story that demonstrated how football could inspire a local community. And what we found was more than just a touching football story in time for the 2014 World Cup, but a true example of inspiration that brought about a surprising change to a small town located on an island country off the coast of South America. With submissions from all over the world, one story from Nicholas Griffith, a 28-year-old fo…

The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ is just a couple days away, and Kia is honored to be a partner. With a little help from supermodel Adriana Lima, Kia Motors America (KMA) is launching the “For One Month, Let’s All be Fútbol Fans” campaign, marked by a series of three TV commercials featuring Lima, the 2015 Optima midsize sedan and the Sorento CUV, a man cave, and a sports bar. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ is certainly no hype, as this commercial proves. Can’t quite imagine it? Check out the commercials below, before they make their TV debut when group play begins on June 12. The commercials will air in both English and Spanish. “Fútbol.” Kia can’t wait for the …

From May 30 to June 8, Kia wowed at the Busan International Motor Show with its “Neo-Futurismo” concept booth, featuring vehicles and technology pointing towards the future. All eyes were on the all-new Carnival (also known as the Sedona in some markets), which made its Korean public debut at the seaside city. Kia’s latest version of the popular MPV boasts significant upgrades compared to the previous model, and is being hailed as a ‘premium family minivan,’ sporting new seats and a stylish exterior. It also features pop-up sinking seats that fold over and push down into the seat rows, creating a flat surface that maximizes the interior space. And as a true family minivan…

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Kia Motors America (KMA) reached historic new heights this past May with an all-time best monthly sales record of 60,087 vehicles total, a 14.8% increase over the same period in 2013—and also marking the first time KMA has achieved more than 60,000 sales in a single month. Record demand for the U.S.-built* Optima midsize sedan set an all-time single-month record for Kia of 16,843 units, while the iconic Soul delivered the best performance in its five-year history with 15,606 vehicles sold. Congratulations again, Kia Motors America! *The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in …

This summer, Kia is officially responsible for the transportation of all teams, officials, delegates and official VIP during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. As an Official Automotive Partner of FIFA, Kia handed over the 410-vehicle fleet during a handover ceremony at Arena de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Kia will ensure the smooth and efficient transportation by providing vehicle models from its wide-ranging lineup to the Organizing Committee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, including the stylish Sportage CUV and capacious Carnival MPV (known as ‘Sedona’ in some markets). Meanwhile, in the lead-up to this year’s tournament, Kia also provided 93 vehicles for pre…

Building cars close to where they are sold always makes the most sense and Korean automaker Kia has plans to move production much closer to the USA. A new assembly plant in Mexico is on Kia’s to-do list, a source close to the matter revealed to Reuters. The new plant will be built in Monterrey and will have a 300,000 vehicle capacity, which will help Kia meet demand in the United States. At first, the plant will build two small cars for the brand. About two years ago, Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor and its Kia affiliate, placed a limit on new capacity over fears of quality issues born from fast growth. Now, it seems that he must be alright with moving forwa…

Last month, Kia hosted the annual Kia World Extreme Games in Shanghai, China, at the Jiangwen Sports Centre, bringing together extreme sports stars and fans alike from all around the world. Over the course of four days from late April to Early May, over 200 of the world’s best extreme sports athletes traveled to Shanghai from almost 30 countries including Brazil, Japan, China and New Zealand. These athletes competed for titles in events such as BMX Freestyle, Aggressive Inline, Skateboarding, Speed Climbing and the newly-added International Freestyle Motocross (FMX) category. International superstars such as Vince Byron, Andy Macdonald, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Mitchell Brusco,…

People are noticing how much effort Kia puts into staying green and sustainable. Recently, Kia, along with its sister company Hyundai, was named the greenest automaker in the U.S. in an annual ranking of the eight top-selling automakers made by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), an independent nonprofit organization. The rankings are based on carbon and smog-forming emissions from each automaker’s vehicles, and we came out on top because of the green technologies incorporated in our vehicles that reduce environmental impact. This recognition follows Kia’s entry onto Interbrand’s list of “50 Best Global Green Brands 2013” in 37th place. The bigger Kia worldwide op…

This month, Kia surprised five young football fans with the chance not only to attend but to stand on the field during the matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. In addition to donating US$100,000 to the Make-A-Wish International® foundation, Kia invited five wish children to become Kia Mascot Friends and accompany the official World Cup mascot—Fuleco the Armadillo—onto the pitch at half-time starting with a group stage match on June 23rd and through a semi-final match scheduled for July 8th. Wish children Aidan (age 14, Australia), Fausto (age 11, Mexico), Nathan (age 10, Brazil), Yuri (age 9, Brazil), and Bruno (age 11, Brazil) are known to be avid football fans…

Kia announced that its cumulative global sales have exceeded 30 million vehicles since Kia produced Korea‘s first three-wheeled vans, the K-360, 52 years ago in 1962. Have a hard time wrapping your head around what 30 million cars looks like? If 30 million Kia Optimas (also known as the K5) were lined up bumper-to-bumper it would span some 40,000 kilometers, equivalent to 3.6 times the circumference of the earth. The Kia Rio (also known as the Pride) has been the all-time most popular so far, with about 3,460,000 vehicles sold. The second-most popular vehicle is the Kia Sportage, with approximately 3,110,000 sold, followed by the Kia Sorento, with about 2,020,000 sold…

Looking to purchase a safe, fuel efficient car? This is a list of the top 10 list of the safest, most fuel efficient cars available in showrooms today. The vehicles on this list earned a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and achieve a minimum score of 38 combined MPG according to EPA tests. Plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles are excluded from the list. An an honorable mention, the plug-in hybrids that have earned a five-star NHTSA safety rating are the 2014 Chevrolet Volt, 2014 Tesla Model S, 2014 Honda Accord plug-in hybrid and 2014 Ford Fusion Energi. Other notable mentions that barely missed the list is the…

You’re not the only one in a rush to get your body ready for summer. Your car also needs to get ready for the heat. Check out our five practical tips to help you get your car ready for the summer. Check the cooling system. The number one reason that cars break down during the summertime is from engine overheating and cooling system failure. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, first, check that there is no debris around the radiator—a blockage in air flow can lead to overheating. Make sure to check your car’s coolant levels regularly. The coolant must be replaced at least once every two years. Also, be sure to check the radiator cap before summer starts, as they te…

The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ is just three weeks away, and as the top football players from all over the world get ready to play their hearts out in Brazil, Kia is also getting prepared for all the festivities. We recently unveiled our Kia TV commercial that shows a fun interpretation of the behind-the-scenes preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. We got some inspiration from our own vehicle assembly lines to ‘assemble’ and set up for the football festivities from our point of view. Check out the fun commercial featuring the one and only Kia Sportage—and get excited for what’s to come. We can’t wait! Remember to stay tuned for more updates and be on th…

After receiving a significant refresh for the 2014 model year, the Kia Optima is getting minor changes for 2015. The 2015 Kia Optima gains the Korean automaker’s next-generation of UVO eServices and a number of subtle interior refinements to improve ergonomics and offer a more premium experience within the cabin. The Optima will be available with the same trim levels as before: LX, EX, SX, SX Turbo and SX-Limited. Available as an option on the EX, SX and SX Turbo models while being standard on the SX-Limited is Kia’s next-generation UVO eServices that now offers additional features designed to keep the owner better informed through a smartphone. Four new services have…

The 2011-2013 Kia Sorento is under investigation because its sunroof might randomly shatter. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its investigation after consumer complaints were filed that the sunroofs on the Kia Sorento would spontaneously shatter. In total, NHTSA has received 95 reports of shattered sunroofs and there are 18 reports of minor cuts and scratches. No crashes related to the issue have been reported. SEE ALSO: 2013 Kia Sorento Review – Video The investigation was initially opened last October. A majority of the claims that were filed cited the panels breaking while the vehicle was in motion. According to the South Ko…