Kia
Hyundai And Nissan Emerge as Rivals to Overtake Honda in U.S. Sales Race
The Japanese auto industry has always had a well-defined hierarchy, with Toyota, Honda and Nissan locked in a firmly established pecking order. But Toyota’s recent streak of quality problems has caused it to shed sales, causing a disruption in the marketplace. Customers fleeing Toyota are helping to propel the sales numbers of both Nissan and…
Kia Rondo Getting Axed Due to Sliding Sales
Kia appears to have quietly killed-off its Rondo MPV in response to a continued slide in sales. Visitors to the Rondo page on Kia’s U.S. website are greeted with the news, “Thank you for inquiring about the Rondo. As the saying goes, ‘all good things must come to an end’ But with endings, come new…
Kia POP City Car Concept to Debut at Paris Auto Show
Looking like what Hello Kitty might drive if she lived in the Tron universe, this new city car concept by Kia is called “POP” and is set to officially debut at the Paris Auto Show this fall. Taking design cues from the Kia Ray electric coupe concept, the POP is roughly 10 feet long and…
Suzuki Down 43%, Porsche Up 75%, In July 2010 Sales
Porsche was the big winner for July 2010 sales, moving 75% more cars than in July 2009, with Hyundai/Kia, Jaguar/Land Rover and the Big Three all making solid gains. Japanese auto makers bore the brunt of the market, with Toyota and Honda losing a bit of market share, while Suzuki took the dubious title of…
Consumers Reports Releases List Of Best Cars For Teens, Devoid Of Supercars Or Pickups
For most teenagers, a list of cars most suitable for their age group would likely be made up of low slung Italian droptops or monstrous pickup trucks. But for all but a few lucky “My Super Sweet 16” participants, the fact is that something more bland is in the cards for young drivers. That’s not…
Kia’s “Who’s Next” YouTube Contest Could Land You $10,000
Have you got talent or do you think you’ve got talent? Kia Motors America is looking for you to be the next big Internet star with their $10,000 Who’s Next? contest on YouTube. An online video contest based around the Kia Soul, “Who’s Next” invites contestants to post their videos themed around the Soul on…
Kia Hesitant About Soul Variants
Kia‘s Soul compact car has a commanding lead over the Nissan Cube and Scion xB, outselling the Cube by a near 2:1 margin. But Kia is hesitant to expand the Soul’s lineup by spinning off variants of the boxy small car in the quest to increase sales. Speaking to Ward’s Auto, Orth Hedrick, director of…
2011 Kia Sportage Priced At $18,295
The 2011 Kia Sportage is set to go for $18,295 ($18,990 with destination), while coming equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, power windows, doorlocks and mirrors, auxillary inputs and Bluetooth connectivity. Powered by a 2.4L, 176 horsepower 4-cylinder, the Sportage is also set to get the 270 horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder…
Kia and Yo Gabba Gabba Hit the Road For National Tour
One of the funkiest kids’ shows on TV and Korean automaker Kia are hitting the road for a cross-country tour. Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba” is pairing up once again with Kia (the first time being the Super Bowl commercial collaboration that aired this year). The ad featured Yo Gabba Gabba character Muno and an assortment…
Kia Unveils Limited Edition Soul Echo Model for the UK
In a clever black and white themed campaign, Kia UK is now offering a new special edition version of the Soul, as well as a special edition version of both the Picanto and Rio small cars. We can’t help but to relate it to Scion’s RS-series releases, where unique paint colors and accessories adorn the…
Hyundai Kia Boss Named Asia’s Best Automotive CEO
Back in 2000 Hyundai Kia CEO Chung Mong-koo refused a request by the company’s chairman, and his own father, to step down from the top post of the Korean automaker. Today, Mong-koo is getting the respect he rightly deserves, after being named Asia’s top automotive business leader by Automotive News. The industry publication sited Hyundai’s…
Consumers Reports Released List Of 10 Best Cars For Teen Drivers
Just like the title says, the venerable magazine Consumers Reports has released its list of cars suitable for teen drivers, and absolutely none of them will make the budding enthusiast glow with delight. Of course, Consumers Reports is primarly concerned with safety when it comes to cars for first time drivers, so their choices are…
Kia Looking to Scrap Model Names for Alphanumeric Badges
Kia is looking to add a little extra panache to its image by dropping the current list of model names in favor of alphanumeric designations. According Chung Eui-sun, to Vice Chairman to Hyundai Motor Co., which owns Kia, the Korean automaker is looking to make the switch in North America. Currently, Kia uses short alphanumeric…
Kia Donates Borrego SUVs for Firefighter Training
These vehicles will be used in a variety of scenarios that simulate real fire and emergency situations, plus as late-model vehicles they allow both students and instructors to learn about the latest in modern technology.
2011 Kia Optima Spied In The Wild
Nobody could ever accuse the previous generation Kia Optima of being interesting or fun cars. But that looks set to change when the new model debuts with bold new styling and a 274-horsepower 2.0 four-cylinder turbo engine. While previous pictures of the Optima have only been taken in studios with favorable lighting and re-touching, these…
Kia Tops Lists of Manufacturers Preferred by Women
It’s no mystery what women really want… well, at least that’s the case when it comes to cars. Unlike men, who are easily swayed by bold design statements, sexy lines and flashy performance, women are more impressed by vehicles that are practical, economical and safe. To back up the claim that women like their cars…
Nex-Gen Kia Rio Set for 2011 Debut
Following roughly a year after the debut of the all-new Hyundai Accent, Kia will unveil its third-generation Rio sub-compact in early 2011. Set for a dramatic makeover (much like the Accent) the Rio will get styling inspired by the Forte and Forte Koupe as well as the new Optima Sedan. Like the Accent power is…
Kia Soul Hamsters Return With Hip-Hop Themed Spot
Regular readers will recall a fondness for hip-hop music at the Autoguide offices. We’ve previously covered the Houston “swangas” phenomenon, Seattle’s Volvo driving rapper and Atlanta’s dubbed-out Camaros. Now, Kia is showing the East Coast some love, with their new commercial featuring their familiar Hamsters, the Kia Soul, and Black Sheep’s seminal anthem The Choice…
Kia Ghost Soul Adds One More Special Edition Model to Soul Lineup
Kia as just announced its fourth special edition Soul model, the Ghost Soul. Like the previous three special edition models, the changes aren’t drastic and include a special aerodynamics kit, a new rear spoiler, different front fender vents, special 18-inch wheels and some chrome detailing. There’s also a light gray-blue exterior and gray side-stripe. Interior…
Kia Optima Coupe Renderings Look as Good as We Expected
Several weeks ago we brought you a story about the possibility of a Kia Optima Coupe. Now, thanks to the folks at InsideLine, we have a few renderings of what that car might look like. And as we expected, it’s a stunner. Having just launched the Optima Sedan at the New York Auto Show, a…
Hyundai Debuts Direct Injection I4, V6 And 8-Speed Automatic
Hyundai‘s new Accent was the star of the companies exhibit at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, but the debut of two new engines and a new automatic transmission will have broader implications for the rest of the company’s lineup. In addition to the 2.4L GDI four-cylinder in the Sonata (pictured above), two new gasoline direct-injection…
Kia Forte Announced as 2010 Top Safety Pick by IIHS
The Kia Forte took home the 2010 Top Safety Pick, given out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is the third model from the Kia/Hyundai brand to win the rating for 2010, following the Kia Soul and the Hyundai Sonata. To be considered for this award, vehicles must earn the top rating of…
Hyundai Bringing Start-Stop Technology to North America
Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia will both look to bring start-stop technology to its model lineup in North America in 2012. Start-stop technology is already popular in Europe, allowing the engine to shut off at stop lights or wen in traffic. It’s also part of most modern hybrid setups, allowing the green-machines to get the…
Kia Optima Coupe Under Consideration, Optima Wagon Gets Green Light for Europe
Kia will build a wagon version of the newly unveiled Optima sedan for the European market and is considering a Coupe. In an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar, top Kia designer Peter Schreyer confirmed the wagon (or Estate as its likely to be called in Europe) and hinted at a coupe. “I would love to…
