Kia
2007 Kia Optima Under Investigation for Transmission Issues, Recall Possible
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Along with the 2006 Honda CR-V, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced an investigation into the 2007 Kia Optima. Both NHTSA probes have been sparked by just three complaints, with the Kia Optima being investigated for transmission shifting issues. A total of 41,000 Optimas are involved, with complaints that the automatic transmission…
Acura ZDX Is America’s Most Expensive Vehicle To Insure
A report by insurance comparison website InsWeb suggests that the priciest car to ensure in America isn’t a Nissan GT-R or some other foreign exotic favoured by the young and reckless, but the strange looking Acura ZDX crossover. According to the site, there is little data on the ZDX, as few people have bought one,…
Hyundai Overtakes Toyota in Europe as Top Asian Automaker
Thanks to a slight bump in sales and continued struggles by Toyota, Hyundai is now the number one Asian automaker in Europe by volume. So far this year Hyundai (including Kia) has seen a four percent rise in units moved, while Toyota (including luxury brand Lexus) has seen its sales drop drastically by 17 percent….
LA 2010: Kia Optima Hybrid Debuts With 40-MPG Claim
Poor Kia, always playing second fiddle to big brother Hyundai, including when it comes to Hybrids. Many months after the debut of the new Sonata Hybrid, the car’s twin, the new Kia Optima, now gets its own hybrid variant. Using the same 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor and lithium-polymer battery, the combined…
LA 2010: Kia Optima Hybrid Revealed
Kia took the wraps off their Optima Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, and no surprise here, it’s exactly the same as it’s corporate sibling, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Fortunately for the Optima, this gives the car a huge leg-up. Our review of the Sonata Hybrid was quite positive, and we expect the…
Foreign Automakers Cashing in on ‘Made in America’ Trend
Are you more likely to by a car that’s been made in the good ol’ U.S. of A.? Chances are the answer is “yes,” according to a recent Harris Poll survey. It’s cool once again to show your sense of national pride, and advertisers are banking on it. When a product says it’s “Made in…
2011 Kia Sedona Updated With New Styling, Engine
Kia‘s Sedona minivan, an often ignored but solid bargain in the minivan segment, gets a new grille for 2011, along with an upgraded powertrain. The Sedona’s new V6 puts out 271 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque with power being put down through a 6 speed manual transmission. This gives the Sedona a 27 horsepower…
Generation Y Buying Toyota, Honda and Ford Cars
Generation Y has come of age and are now setting their sights on what new car to buy. And according to research firm AutoPacific, younger car buyers are choosing vehicles made by Toyota, Honda and Ford. Also among the top 5 brands are Chevrolet and Nissan. Making their way onto the 2010 Gen Y (people…
Kia Will Get a Sports Car Says Design Boss
While Kia‘s recent success has a lot to do with the new platforms and engines underneath its products, not to mention the improved quality and low purchase price, the automaker is putting the focus on its dramatic designs. The top man behind Kia’s “design revolution” is Peter Schreyer and so it only makes sense that…
SEMA 2010: Kia Reveals Dueling ‘Work’ and ‘Play’ Sportages at SEMA
To help show the versatility of the new 2011 Sportage, Kia has unveiled two “dueling” versions of the crossover at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Sporting plenty of aftermarket accessories (this is SEMA after all), a matte-red “Play” Sportage looks to the more adventurous side of the crossover and its owners, while the…
SEMA 2010: Kia Forte Hybrid Concept Revealed in Las Vegas
At the SEMA Show it’s no surprise to see high horsepower street and race cars. It’s far less common to see a modified hybrid. And while there are a few tuned Priuses and CR-Zs, over at the Kia booth is the world’s first Forte Hybrid. This is not a conventional tuner car, but a one…
SEMA 2010: Kia Unveils Forte Koupe Type R Concept in Las Vegas
Reconfirming its commitment to its motorsports program and showing just how much their street cars can benefit from track competition, Kia unveiled the Forte Koup Type R Concept at the 2010 SEMA Show today. Painted in a menacing matte-black, the Type R Concept gets its inspiration from the Forte Koup race cars that competed in…
Kia Announces Six SEMA Show Cars; Teases Another Special Edition Soul
The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show is set to take place next week and everyone from Scion to Ford have announced big lineups of wild modified vehicles. Having made appearances in year’s past, it’s little surprise to see that Kia will also be in attendance. No specifics have been given, but a short press…
Honda, Toyota Top Latest Reliabilty Study; Domestics Improve, European Brands Faulter
Consumer Reports has released its latest reliability study and while little has changed in respect to the industry-leading Asian brands, domestic automakers are catching up. Toyota and Honda each recorded the highest scores in five vehicle segments in the 2010 Annual Auto Survey, while General Motors posted considerable improvements while Ford is ranked best among…
2012 Kia Rio: First Spy Pictures Reveal Optima-Inspired Look
Several spy photos of what appears to be the upcoming 2012 Kia Rio reveal that the Korean automaker’s subcompact sedan is posed to borrow heavily from the design of the all new Optima. A sister car to the Hyundai Accent, power is expected to come from the same engine choices: either a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder or…
Kia Considering RWD Convertible to Rival Mazda MX-5
Designers aren’t usually the most vocal members of an automaker, but when you’re Peter Schreyer and Kia is relying on your innovative designs to rebrand the company, well, you’ve got a lot of clout. And Schreyer isn’t shy about letting people know. In the past, Schreyer has indicated his interest in designing a low-cost rear-wheel…
BREAKING: Kia Optima Hybrid To Debut At Los Angeles Auto Show
While attending the launch of the 2011 Kia Optima, AutoGuide has just learned that Kia is planning to launch an Optima Hybrid, based on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The new model will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, with sales beginning in early 2011. Kia Motors America CEO and group president Byung…
Kia to Launch Electric Crossover Next Year
A week after Hyundai announced its first electric car, sister company Kia Motors will continue the Korean automaker’s EV plans with a battery-powered crossover set to debut next year. “We plan to produce 2,000 electric vehicles based on Kia’s upcoming cross utility vehicles (CUVs), and 500 BlueOns by 2012,” said Hong John-hee, the head of…
Kia Prepping Forte Koup for Targa Newfoundland
This year’s event marks a “natural extension of the company’s US motorsports program,” according to an official Kia press release, began last fall with road racing.
Michelle Wie Stars in New Kia Soul Ad
Kia appears to be changing gears in its marketing approach for the Kia Soul, switching from comedy to sex appeal. After its popular Rapping Hamsters ad, the Korean automaker has just launched a new commercial featuring the 6-foot 1-inch 20-year-old pro golfer Michelle Wie. Kia’s soul is already thought to be somewhat of a chick-car…
Kia Vice-Chairman Resigns Over Recalls
Jeong Sung Eun, Kia‘s Vice Chairman, took the rare step of resigning his post on September 3rd, as he accepted responsibility for a large recall of Kia vehicles. Roughly 86,000 vehicles were recalled due to an electrical wiring issue that posed a potential fire hazard. About 35,000 Sorentos and Souls from the the 2010 and…
Kia To Upgrade Shock Absorbers On The 2011 Sorento
Kia‘s top of the line Sorento SX comes with special Dual Flow Dampers, which apparently offers a great blend of performance and comfort, while giving the Sorento a slightly lower ride height. However, the lesser Sorentos apparently offered a harsh ride of broken-up pavement, and Kia has taken notice. The DFD dampers will now be…
Kia Soul, Sorento Recalled Over Fire Concerns
Kia is recalling both the 2011 Sorento and the 2010 Soul after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation confirmed the interior lighting wiring harnesses could be faulty. The harnesses could develop an electrical short, which could then lead to a fire. The recall affects 35,185 vehicles built between September 7, 2009 and July…
Hyundai ix20 Picture Released Ahead Of Paris Auto Show Debut
Hyundai‘s subcompact crossover, the ix20, will be revealed at this month’s Paris Auto Show media days, but the company has released a rendering of the car in advance of its launch. Based on the Kia Venga, the ix20 is an interesting blend of a crossover and small car, similar to a Ford Fiesta hatchback. With…
