Although offering no new facts regarding its platform mechanicals or powertrain components, we now have confirmation of what we’ll see in the exterior redesign of the new-for-2014 Kia Forte. Like the teaser illustrations released earlier, these official factory photos show the automaker’s global best-selling model will introduce an even edgier interpretation of Kia’s current design language.

The automaker has confirmed that the 2014 Forte is longer, lower and wider than the vehicle it replaces, and that this compact front-drive sedan will arrive with a more spacious and even better appointed passenger compartment. Collectively, those attributes should help it meet the ever-intensifying challenge of primary foes like the Chevrolet Cruze, Dodge Dart, Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla as well as its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. On sale here early next year, the 2014 Kia Forte sedan will ultimately be joined by a coupe and a 5-door hatchback with at least some version or versions expected to boast a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or better.

*Courtesy of BurrellesLuce

This week, we’re driving the new 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, which does battle with several other competitors including Toyota, Nissan, Chevy and Ford (to name the majors).

Kia thus enters the hybrid market with its most popular mid-size car, Optima, and then adds a hybrid system for a surprisingly low base price of just $25,700. Compared to a gas powered Optima’s $21,200 entry, the extra money spent for its hybrid is not overwhelming and allows Kia to fare well when consumers do comparative price shopping.

In deciphering the Optima Hybrid, Kia utilizes a lightweight 1.4-kWh, 40-horsepower lithium polymer battery powered motor that combines with a 2.4-liter, 13 to 1 compression four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It all results in a net horsepower output of 206 and torque rating of 185, which is more than many of the competing brands.

Similar to the other hybrids, Kia’s Optima and cousin Hyundai Sonata Hybrid both deliver impressive results on the highway, with 35 city and 40 highway the listed EPA numbers. Depending on how you drive and road conditions (hilly, flat, winding road), expect Kia Hybrid to deliver 44 or more on a straight, flat, highway with a minimum of 33 on the tougher surface mountain roads.

As for procedure, Kia’s Hybrid operates like most other gas/battery hybrids, although unlike Chevy Volt it does not need any “plug in” charging. Kia’s battery pack rejuvenates via the 2.4 engine and also shuts the engine off when stopped. One feature I really like is the pedestrian and pet friendly “Virtual Engine Sound System,” which plays a pre-recorded engine sound during electric-only operation.

Thus far, both Kia and Hyundai Hybrids are receiving good reviews from owners, consumer magazines and auto journalists. In addition to its Hybrid abilities, adding a 10-year, 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty certainly attracts attention, as does the lower price of operation, overall.

Although mechanical twins, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata hybrids are very different looking. Optima Hybrid features specific aerodynamic highlights and a hidden to the eye rear exhaust. There’s also a different headlight design and even an underbody “aero tuning” system that reduces drag and adds to its enhanced slipstream abilities.

Optima’s cabin is well done, visibility is good and room for passengers better than average. Standard are dual zone air, SIRIUS stereo AM/FM/CD, MP3, USB, Bluetooth, cruise, push button start, floor mats, Homelink, power seats, and more. All Optimas feature fully independent suspensions, all the airbags, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, electronic brakeforce, stability control, traction control and hillstart assist. (There are many more standard features your Kia dealer will gladly explain).

Our tester came with a $5,350 technology package, which adds rear backup camera, Infinity audio system, panoramic sunroof, 17-inch tires and alloy wheels, leather trim, heated and cooled front and rear seats, and more. It also featured a $700 Hybrid Convenience package that adds a rear camera display (not the camera), power seats and “in vehicle info” system. Although I love the rear backup system, I’d opt to pocket the $6,050 it takes to have one and just go with the base model.

Important numbers include a wheelbase of 110-inches, 3,490 lb. curb weight, 35/40 MPG EPA estimates, 17.2 gallon fuel tank and 9.89 cu. ft. of cargo space.

In summary, unlike our last Hybrid test of the Chevy Volt, where we recommended the gas powered Cruze Eco instead, Kia’s new Optima Hybrid passes the “Test Drive” return on investment (ROI) test, as just $25,700 parks this mid-size, front-drive, gas saver in your driveway well-equipped. As for options, that’s up to you and your pocketbook.

*Courtesy of Google News

“This really is the 3rd car I have bought from him and I have sent at least 3 of my friends. Both my Daughter and son-in-law have gotten their cars from him as well as my daughter’s Father-in-law. So I guess you could call us a Kia Family.” – MaestroJim

“We will definitely recommend this dealership to anyone looking for a new or used car.” –ronyvonne4448

“He did everything possible to get me financed and into a van that I loved. I would recommend Bob Sight to anyone” – mcoonce

Kia is on a roll with strong sales, but it aims to stick with its vaunted 10-year warranty. Executives at the Korean automaker stood by the 100,000-mile powertrain policy – mirroring Hyundai’s defense of the same warranty last year amid questions as to whether it was still necessary.

“We continue to get the cross-shopping set,” said Tom Loveless, Kia’s U.S. sales chief. “Customers who are continuing to purchase other brands who are coming to Kia expressly for [the warranty] … actually make the decision to purchase because of the warranty coverage. I see no reason to change. It’s part of the Kia recipe.”

Does Kia need the warranty? The brand still ranks below average in J.D. Power’s three-year Vehicle Dependability Study, but Consumer Reports says four out of the automaker’s six ranked vehicles have average or better reliability. (A seventh car, the Rio, has insufficient reliability data.) Sales are churning right along, up 18% through the first half of the year. It’s not because Kia shoppers are getting huge discounts, either. Besides the soon-to-be-redesigned Sedona minivan, cash incentives on Kia’s lineup maxed out at just $1,500 through the first six months of 2012 – not bad for a carmaker whose products range from $13,600 to the high $30,000s.
“We’re growing in the meat-and-potato segments,” Loveless said. He expects the boxy Soul to find more than 100,000 buyers for the second year in a row as the brand builds on its 22nd consecutive monthly sales record.

But some of that encroaches on Hyundai, which bought a controlling stake in then-bankrupt Kia a decade ago. Bloomberg News noted as much earlier this year, and the carmakers have competing products in a number of segments. Kia’s Rio, Forte and Optima sedans compete respectively with Hyundai’s Accent, Elantra and Sonata.

Michael Sprague, vice president of U.S. marketing at Kia, says there’s “not as much [competition] as there used to be, quite honestly.” Sprague said shoppers compare the Optima to the Sonata, but the Toyota Camry ranks No. 2. Shoppers compare the Kia Sorento SUV, meanwhile, to the Toyota RAV4 most often – not a Hyundai.

The popular Kia Soul remains without a Hyundai equivalent while Hyundai’s Veloster and Genesis Coupe don’t have similar variants in Kia showrooms.

That balance may change if Kia tries to move upscale. The automaker’s rear-wheel-drive K9 flagship, announced for Korea last February, could take a bit out of Hyundai Genesis sedan sales if Kia brings it here. Loveless wouldn’t share any plans, only saying that Kia is “looking at all sorts of segments” in the U.S.

*Courtesy of Google News

A trifecta of prestigious international design awards has confirmed what the public and media experts have been saying _ Kia stands out from the crowd.

Kia’s baby Rio, winner of the Carsguide Car Of The Year for 2011 and Australia’s Best Car for the Light Cars under $20,000 segment, picked up a pair of prestigious international awards for its styling, quality, innovation and practical capabilities.

The Rio was awarded a 2012 Red Dot Design Award in March this year against the best the world has to offer and backed up this month with a bronze medal in the transportation design category of the IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) program, administered by the Industrial Design Society of America.

Since its inception in 1955, the Red Dot Design award has become one of the world’s largest and most recognized design competitions. This year 1800 companies from 58 countries submitted to the Red Dot product design category.

The new Kia Rio was awarded thanks to its “powerful personality, created by a distinct wedge shape, a low roofline and its metal-to-glass ratio”. The jury praised not only the Rio’s self-contained design, but also its sound workmanship. Kia has won six Red Dot awards since 2009 with vehicles like the Soul, Optima and Sportage.

The IDEA awards are decided on by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and recognize designs that affect a person’s quality of life in 18 categories. This year, the Kia Rio received Bronze honours in the Transportation category.

The judging panel cited its fresh, sporty feeling; exciting design, and environmental credentials, saying “the Rio is a car that is extremely attractive with a fresh feeling of sportiness _ a car that people will want to buy for its looks as well as its environmental credentials In the 2012 model Kia created a car that answers consumer demand for more quality, more choice and a more attractive, exciting design.”

The third leg of the design trifecta went to the Picanto which, in addition to a Red Dot Design Award, collected an iF (International Design Forum) Award from the Hanover-based global design recognition organization.

*Courtesy of strategyone.net

A trifecta of prestigious international design awards has confirmed what the public and media experts have been saying _ Kia stands out from the crowd.

Kia’s baby Rio, winner of the Carsguide Car Of The Year for 2011 and Australia’s Best Car for the Light Cars under $20,000 segment, picked up a pair of prestigious international awards for its styling, quality, innovation and practical capabilities.

The Rio was awarded a 2012 Red Dot Design Award in March this year against the best the world has to offer and backed up this month with a bronze medal in the transportation design category of the IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) program, administered by the Industrial Design Society of America.

Since its inception in 1955, the Red Dot Design award has become one of the world’s largest and most recognized design competitions. This year 1800 companies from 58 countries submitted to the Red Dot product design category.

The new Kia Rio was awarded thanks to its “powerful personality, created by a distinct wedge shape, a low roofline and its metal-to-glass ratio”. The jury praised not only the Rio’s self-contained design, but also its sound workmanship. Kia has won six Red Dot awards since 2009 with vehicles like the Soul, Optima and Sportage.

The IDEA awards are decided on by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and recognize designs that affect a person’s quality of life in 18 categories. This year, the Kia Rio received Bronze honours in the Transportation category.

The judging panel cited its fresh, sporty feeling; exciting design, and environmental credentials, saying “the Rio is a car that is extremely attractive with a fresh feeling of sportiness _ a car that people will want to buy for its looks as well as its environmental credentials In the 2012 model Kia created a car that answers consumer demand for more quality, more choice and a more attractive, exciting design.”

The third leg of the design trifecta went to the Picanto which, in addition to a Red Dot Design Award, collected an iF (International Design Forum) Award from the Hanover-based global design recognition organization.

*Courtesy of strategyone.net

“There was absolutley no pressure from him. He did everything possible to get me financed and into a van that I loved. I would recommend Bob Sight to anyone and especially David May.” – mcoonce

Exhibiting highly sculpted, sloping shoulder lines and wedge-shaped exteriors, the 2012 Kia Rio subcompact has achieved top honors from exclusive design award competitions in the U.S. and Germany, including the brand’s first IDEA Design Award in the Transportation category and a highly coveted Red Dot Design award.

The IDEA Award is a top design award organized by the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) and recognizes designs that affect a person’s quality of life and economy in 18 categories, including Transportation, Design, Technology, and Design Strategy.

The 2012 Red Dot Design awards are held by the Design Centre of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and judge on innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability, ecological compatibility and intuitive handling. Globally, Kia has been awarded six Red Dot awards since 2009 – with the Picanto and Rio winning in 2012, Optima and Sportage winning in 2011, Venga in 2010 and the Soul in 2009.

“Since its introduction, the Rio’s striking looks inside-and-out has attracted new customers to the Kia brand with a standout combination of style, performance and modern amenities that consumers are looking for,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. “The new Rio is the latest vehicle to emerge from Kia’s design-led transformation and represents the collaborative work of our global network of design centers in Seoul, Frankfurt and Irvine, California under the direction of chief designer Peter Schreyer.”

About the 2012 Rio
Available in three trims – LX, EX and SX – the eco-friendly 2012 Rio is available with a 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission (LX only) or six-speed automatic. One of only two vehicles in the segment to offer a GDI engine, the 2012 Rio provides an inviting combination of power and fuel efficiency, achieving standard class-leading² 138 horsepower while maintaining a standard class-leading³ fuel economy rating of 30/40 mpg (city/highway).

Kia’s Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world’s fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America’s full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality⁴ and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking⁵. Kia’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia’s value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

*Courtesy of Kia Media