Following the successful launch of the all-new, widely acclaimed 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle in Miami earlier this year, Kia Motors America (KMA) today launched the all-new 2010 Kia Forte compact sedan in Seattle. (more…)
Tag: KIA Motors
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2010 Kia Forte Compact Sedan Hits the Streets of U.S.
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Kia Motors introduces Eco Dynamics brand and LPI Hybrid for Korean market
Kia Motors has introduced its new environmental brand ‘Eco Dynamics’ and an LPI Hybrid based on its Korean market Forte saloon as part of its commitment to the development of earth-positive vehicles.The Eco Dynamics brand was unveiled at Kia Motors’ domestic sales headquarters in Apkujeong-dong, Seoul, along with the company’s blueprint for developing low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles. (more…)
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2010 Kia Forte
On the heels of announcing the widely acclaimed, all-new Kia Soul, Kia Motors America (KMA) today introduced the all-new 2010 Kia Forte (pronounced for-tay) compact sedan at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Forte blends Kia’s exciting new design direction under the tutelage of Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors’ chief design officer, with a multitude of standard features. The 2010 Kia Forte will go on sale in North America in late spring or early summer of 2009. (more…) -
Soul’Ster Brings Sunshine To Wintry Detroit
Kia Motors is bringing a sunny beach feeling to the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on a cold Detroit winter day with the arrival of the Kia Soul’ster open-air concept, a variation of the highly anticipated Kia Soul urban crossover. With young-at-heart buyers’ budgets in mind, the Soul’ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the Kia Soul production model, which made its world debut at the 2008 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris in October and is another example of Kia’s increased and long-term focus on design , (more…)
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Kia Sportage makes it three in a row in Planet 4×4 Awards
The Kia Sportage has been chosen as the ‘Value for Money Champion’ for the third year in a row in the Planet 4×4 2008 Awards.The European built 4×4 has seen a number of improvements since it won last year’s award. Production of the 2008 Sportage moved from Seoul to Kia’s groundbreaking Slovakian plant and at the same time took on some upgrades to make it feel more ‘European’. These included better road manners through upgraded suspension and a beefier braking system, and more comfortable seating and equipment inside. (more…)
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KIA Motors Unveils Next Generation Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
Kia Motors Corporation’s (KMC) Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) program takes a major technological step forward today with the global unveiling of the all-new Kia Borrego FCEV at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. (more…) -
KIA Celebrates Grand Opening Of U.S. Corporate Headquarters And State-Of-The-Art Design Center
Today, Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), was joined by local and state representatives for the grand opening ceremony of the new 21.7-acre Kia U.S. corporate campus in Irvine, Calif. The $130-million investment includes the Kia Motors America Corporate Headquarters and state-of-the-art Kia Design Center America (KDCA). (more…) -
Kia Motors to keep UEFA EURO 2008 on the move
Kia Motors Corporation announced today that it will deliver 265 passenger cars and provide 463 days worth of buses to ensure efficient and smooth transportation during UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland, and to fulfil its requirement as official automobile of UEFA EURO 2008™. Kia is supplying official vehicles from its wide-ranging model line-up to the EURO 2008 and seeks to boost its brand recognition through commercial displays at the event venues and A-board advertisements in the stadiums. (more…) -
Kia Soul
Three Kia SOUL concept cars unveiled by the Kia Motors Corporation at the 78th Salon de l’Automobiles this week in Geneva, Switzerland, reveal a whole new ‘fun’ side to the Korean brand.The concept cars – SOUL Diva, SOUL Burner and SOUL Searcher – were created by Kia’s European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Kia Motors Europe, under the guidance of Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. Following Kia’s recently established tradition, the trio of concept cars are closely related to the new Kia production car which will make its World Premiere at the Paris Show in September. (more…)
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Kia Kue
Kia Motors America (KMA) today during a press conference unveiled the all-new Kia Kue crossover concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The press conference also served as the official public debut in North America for Peter Schreyer, new global design chief of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC).
“We’ve instilled confidence and integrity in our consumer base with vehicles that provide value, quality and safety,” said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of KMA. “Kue embodies the next phase of our brand evolution, which will instill pride and passion in our customers through great design.”
The Kia Kue employs a different approach to the crossover utility vehicle segment by taking elements of what makes a CUV to a new level, namely performance. Kue is designed first and foremost as a driver’s vehicle. While possessing SUV characteristics and capabilities, the Kia Kue focuses more on giving the driver an exhilarating driving experience on the way to the home improvement center than on how much it can haul.
The Kia Kue has a monocoque platform that sits on 22-inch tires with a wheelbase of more than 114 inches, packaged in an overall length of 186 inches. Though purely a concept, the Kia Kue does, however, hint at future styling directions for Kia Motors.
Kia Kue 
“Good design shouldn’t look like you are trying too hard,” said Tom Kearns, KMA chief designer. “The future Kia direction will incorporate the ‘less is more’ philosophy but still include a heavy dose of boldness to be distinct.”
With its four wheels pushed to the corners and exterior skin tautly stretched over its underpinnings, the Kue sits powerful and poised. Draped muscular wheel flares play a nice contrast to crisp beveled sections found elsewhere on the body. Swept back headlights connect to the front grille to create a clean, aggressive down-road appearance. The side window shape flows effortlessly into the rear backlight where two centerline hinging doors open to access rear storage. A single side door that incorporates a negative skive shape opens scissor style for easy ingress and egress.
On the inside Kue continues the clean, athletic theme with bold understated simplicity. With a four-passenger seating arrangement and custom-built bucket seats, Kue is a vehicle both driver and passengers can enjoy. A technology-driven interface designed to adjust to driver and passenger preference is the focus of the interior functionality. Touch pad and motion-sensing controls are used to adjust things like audio and climate, and the entire system is programmable so that one surface may activate the stereo for one driver and temperature for another. Rear passengers have their own, separate interface.
The generation-next functionality of the interior is complemented by the use of sophisticated seat and surface materials and a modern color palette. Carefully selected materials and textures are vital components to the interior design of Kue, and they create an upscale feel that is both modern and inviting. A mid dark interior theme with highlights was chosen in place of the typical light interior common to many concept cars. Overall, the Kue interior presents a new perspective of upscale function with an emphasis on comfortable, user-friendly interaction.
Just as inviting is Kue’s appeal to be driven in a sporty fashion. Fitted with a 400-horsepower, DOHC, supercharged 4.6-liter V8 that twists out 400 lb-ft of torque, Kue is a true performance vehicle. Helping the driver harness all that power is a full-time all wheel drive system yielding predictable driving characteristics both on- and off-road.
Developed by the KMA design team as an expression of Kia’s global design language, the Kia Kue is a true reflection of the Kia brand and the passion it embraces.
