Automobiles Review

Tag: Kia

  • 2015 Kia Sedona [teaser]

    Kia has published two teaser images of the upcoming 2015 Kia Sedona (Carnival), which will make its official debut in New York, next week. The passenger vehicle looks pretty good and takes styling cues from other models.

    The mid-size MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) has an almost flat roofline so there will be lots of headroom available. The 2015 Sedona will have rear sliding doors making the entry easier. There will be space for up to eight passengers (7+1), which makes the new Sedona a perfect family vehicle.

    There will be also a new engine – a 3.3 liter V6 GDI delivering a lot of power and returning very good mpg. Other innovations include a new generation UVO Infotainment and Telematics system including some new eServices features. The Korean manufacturer has previously mentioned that the model is going to target “adventure seekers”, so the cabin will have a versatile configuration with numerous storage spaces and the possibility of modifying the seating arrangement.

    More details and official pictures will be released close to vehicle’s official public debut scheduled for 2014 New York Auto Show.

    Stay tuned!

    Source: Kia

  • New Kia Models for 2014

    Kia has announced four new high-spec models, which will satisfy the demands of customers seeking even greater luxury. The new models will also help Kia to maintain its phenomenal record-breaking sales growth in the UK.   The new models include Sorento KX-4, Picanto “4” and Rio “4” as well as the pro Ceed SE Tech.

    2014 Kia Sorento KX4 comes with standard 2.2 litre CRDi turbodiesel engine. There is also Parallel Park Assist, memory seat function on the driver’s seat, 19” alloy wheels, rear side door sunshade blinds and a silver front mesh grille and chrome surround add identifiable touches to the Sorento’s road presence.  The Sorento KX-4 is priced at £36,495.

    2014 Kia pro Ceed SE Tech is available exclusively with a 1.6 litre 126HP CRDi turbodiesel engine and 6-speed manual gearbox. It is able to return 65.7 mpg UK and CO2 emissions of 112g/km. 0-100 km/h in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 195 km/h (122 mph). The standard equipment includes black leather seats with contrasting mesh inserts, an electric tilting and sliding sunroof with an automatic electric roller blind, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, front parking sensors and Kia’s Parallel Park Assist System (PPAS). The pro Ceed SE Tech is priced at £22,795.

    2014 Kia Picanto 4 is ered by a 1.25 litre 84HP petrol engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox and ISG engine stop/start system. The standard equipment includes automatic air conditioning, 15” alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and LED rear combination lights, a premium Supervision instrument cluster and heated front seats. The Picanto 4 is priced at £11,995.

    2014 Kia Rio 4 boasts a smart key with engine start button, a power sliding and tilting sunroof, black leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel. It has a 1.4 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 107HP connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox. There is also a 1.4 liter CRDi diesel with 6-speed manul transmission. The Rio 4 starts at £16,595.

    2014 Kia Picanto 4
    2014 Kia pro Ceed SE Tech
    2014 Kia Rio 4
    2014 Kia Sorento KX4

    Source: Kia

  • Kia To Debut Multi-Purpose Vehicle In New York

    Kia’s new midsize multi-purpose vehicle has just been teased with a first image. The picture above actually shows a lot of what we can expect to see at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in April, when the car will make an official debut. With this vehicle Kia aims to challenge the segment and offer a new interpretation of an eight-passenger car that will also appeal to the adventure seekers.

    Except for this information, the brand didn’t disclose much more information. Making conclusions when looking at the teaser, we see that the vehicle really looks like a crossover. It has a large front grille and big headlights, typical for Kia’s range.

    We are also wondering, whether this new multi-purpose vehicle will has something to do with Kia KV7 Concept that we have seen debuting at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2011. The KV7 got gullwing opening rear doors, swivel seating, minimalist dash and wood panel floor.

    It is also rumored that the new car will be powered by Kia’s 2.2-liter diesel engine. We have to wait for some more time to get the clearer image. The brand promises to release more information in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned!

    Source: Kia

  • Kia Sportage MY2014 Update Debuts At Geneva

    2014-Kia-Sportage-shadow2014-Kia-Sportage-mediumWith the Geneva Motor Show drawing nearer, we get all kinds of news: interesting, prolific, and downright mind blowing. This is neither of these, but we’ll deliver nevertheless. It’s the slightly updated Kia Sportage range for this year.

    Here’s the deal: the MY2014 gets a new premium sound system, FlexSteer (Kia’s selectable steering feedback) as standard, a heated steering wheel, and trailer stability control. In terms of refinement, the interior is, apparently, less noisy thanks to an even more stream defying windshield. Bush-mounted subframes and new transmission mounting brackets bring about further improvements to the overall ride quality.

    We guess beauty is in the details since there’s nothing else to be said about the update. Surprisingly enough, the Spotage is Kia’s best-selling model in Europe. Back in 2013 there were a total of 89,553 models sold. That’s a year-on-year increase of 10.5 percent. Clever moves like that are sure to keep that trend going.

    2014 Kia Sportage
    2014 Kia Sportage
    2014 Kia Sportage
    2014 Kia Sportage
    2014 Kia Sportage
    2014 Kia Sportage

    Source: Kia

  • Incoming Kia Soul Snatches Design Award

    Kia-Soul-SUV-Pack--iF-Design-Award-shadowKia-Soul-SUV-Pack--iF-Design-Award-mediumThe new Kia Soul has been honoured with the iF Product Design. The Track’ster-inspired compact SUV is supposed to be both radiating the genes of its predecessors and the light of the new age.

    “The great challenge we faced when designing the second model generation was to preserve the strong, individual character that made the Kia Soul so successful, and at the same time give the design new impulses”, says Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation.

    The new Kia Soul is indeed entirely new. No body panel has been shared with the previous generation. Inside you get more leg and head room than before and a more overall luxurious feel. The base platform of the Soul is akin to that of the Cee’d which is pretty dynamic. There are two engine choices: a 1.6-liter 132 PS petrol one and a 128 PS diesel one.

    The Soul happens to be the first Kia model which can have its roof in a different-than-the-rest color. Add the “SUV Styling Pack” and you’ll stand out with a distinctive black roof, piano black bumper garnish, side skirts and wheel arches. The award-carrying Soul has was indeed with that pack.

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    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
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    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul

    Source: Kia

  • 2015 Kia K900 Now With V8 Power

    2015-Kia-K900-shadow2015-Kia-K900-mediumThe K900 – Kia’s flagship sedan – now comes with a V8 engine. V6 engines will also be available, but they won’t be the top of the top now, will they? Also, each version of the 2015 model year has quite a few equipment packages, so you’ll have to extra careful in your choice.

    The V6 K900 base range – which will go on sale later this year – is called the Premium. It’s still pretty luxurious with front and rear park-assist sensors and cameras, a leathered interior, a multimedia steering wheel, LED interior illumination, a 12-adjustable driver’s seat and power lumbar support and a few more bits.

    For that extra something, you can equip the V6 with a Technology Package. It offers a variety of gadgets that, supposedly, should make your life easier. To name a few, consider the 16-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power headrests and cushion extender for added thigh support. Or how about the first-ever-in-a-Kia color Head-Up Display (HUD)? It displays not only things like speed and navigation directions, but also draws and provides information from the Blind Spot Detection and Lane Departure Warning systems (both of which are also standard on the Technology Package). Also included in the package is the radar-based Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) which is just plain clever (keeps a certain distance from the traffic upfront by adjusting the speed of the car by itself).

    The most expensive K900 model you can have would be the V8 with the added VIP Package (daft name). It incorporates all of the features above plus super-fancy back seats with multi-stage heating and cooling. Both of them recline independently and have power lumbar support and lateral headrest adjustability. Behind the wheel of the VIP V8 one finds the “largest TFT instrument panel ever offered in a Kia”. On the centre console: a 9.2-inch display that offers access to the Driver Information System. Think of it as Kia’s version of the iDrive. It even has a similar rotarty knob. From there you control the 900-watt Lexicon high-fidelity audio system, the navigation, the lot.2015-Kia-K900-medium-2

    Enough IT lingo, though. Let’s move on to the essential bit – the V8. It’s a 5.0-liter GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) plant with dual CVVT variable timing on all 32 valves. It’s rated at 420 hp which is 109 more than the V6. The V8 utilizes a roller-type chain and a Teflon coated crank oil seal to reduce wear and tear. A sophisticated catalytic converter is said to help reduce emissions, but we don’t know any figures on that yet. The accompanying automatic transmission sports 8 gears. The shifts themselves happen at different rpm points depending on the mode of driving selected (Eco, Normal, and Sport).

    The 3.8-liter Lamba V6 is still the most powerful Kia six-pot with 311 hp. It too uses the GDI module and CVVT. A three-step Variable Intake System (VIS), on the other hand, ensures optimum low- and mid-range torque. The Lamba is mated to the same 8-speed transmission the V8 but with appropriately modified ratios.

    The chassis is 75 percent high and ultra-high tensile strength steel and holds an advanced five-link fully independent, sub-framed suspension. Front coaxial coil-spring shock absorbers and a new friction bearing in the steering column enhance straight-line stability and steering precision. The back benefits from individual coil springs and shock absorbers which in turn allows negative camber.

    The K900 V8 includes as standard equipment staggered P245/45P-19 front and P275/40R-19 rear tires on 19-inch chrome alloy wheels.

    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900
    2015 Kia K900

    Source: Kia

  • Kia Launches VR7 Line For Picanto, Rio, Cee’d

    Kia-VR7-Range-shadowKia-VR7-Range-mediumKia are planning to introduce a new range for the Picanto, Rio and, cee’d (low-case spelling) models. It’s called the VR7 which sounds sporty but it really isn’t.

    All VR7 models should have a high level of standard equipment. That means air conditioning, leathered steering wheel and gear shift knob, Bluetooth connectivity and USB and AUX ports. On the exterior the new trim-line cars will showcase a selection of features usually found on premium models: alloy wheels, reversing seonsrs, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, and electric windows on all doors.

    The Kia Picanto VR7 comes in either a 3- or 5-door version. The latter holds a slightly more powerful 1.0 engine with 84 hp. (the 3-door has 68 hp). Either way, you get an entirely comprehensive automotive package complete with things such as ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (ESB), Brake-Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), six airbags and Hill-start Assist control (HAC).

    The Kia Rio VR7 models are again in either 3- or 5-door shells. The 3-door Rio VR7 comes only with a 1.25-liter 84 hp engine and a 5-speed manual. All the while, the 5-door can have the same engine or a 1.1 CRDi diesel with 98 hp and a 6-speed manual ISG transmission. All the Rio models boast color-oriented bumpers, exterior door handles and door mirrors. Needless to say, ESC, VSM, HAC and Anti-theft Alarm System are again included.

    Finally, the cee’d VR7 family. Weather you’re going to go with a pro_cee’d, a 3-door cee’d, a 5-door cee’d or a cee’d Sport Wagon, you will always end up with a 1.4 engine. All but one have the same power output: 98 hp. The one exception is the cee’d CRDi engine which develops 89 hp. All cee’ds have a 6-speed manual and all have a great bundle of standard extras: a rear spoiler, projection headlights, front fog lights and daytime running lights.Kia-Picanto-3door-VR7-medium

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    Source: Kia

  • Kia GT4 Stinger Convertible Concept [render]

    X-Tomi Design has published a render picture of Kia GT4 Stinger Convertible Concept. The Korean manufacturer managed to impress the audience at 2014 NAIAS in Detroit with GT4 Stinger Concept.

    The Coupe is powered by a T-GDI 2.0 liter engine – 315HP. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels via a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. The stopping power is courtesy to the Brembo Gran Turismo 15” crossdrilled rotors and four-piston calipers.

    The GT4 Coupe boasts 52:48 weight distribution, the quick-ratio steering rack and its relatively low unsprung mass which stands at 1,303kg (2,874 lbs). Probably the Convertible will be slightly more heavy, but it will still manage to keep the perfect weight distribution.

    Source: X-Tomi Design

  • Kia GT4 Stinger Concept Out Of The Shadows

    Kia-GT4-Stinger-Concept-shadowKia-GT4-Stinger-Concept-mediumPure, unadulterated fun is the idea behind the Kia GT4 Stinger Concept which has now gone public in Detroit at the North American Auto Show. An engine at the front, rear-wheel drive, 2+2 seating and an acceptable price. Could eventually Kia be taking on the BRZ and the GT 86? Let’s hope so.

    What we do know for sure, however that the GT4 looks amazing. Yeah, it’s a concept and that’s what it’s supposed to look like, but this one does the job particularly good. It’s 169/7 inches long, 74.4 inches wide and just 49.2 inches tall. It sits close to the ground on 275/35R20 Pirelli Pzero performance tires (235 at the front). Consider us more than impressed with the creeping LED lights, the see-through A-pillars, the silky-smooth sculptured body, and the overly simplified back end. It really is a masterfully designed thing. Props to you, Kia Design Center America (KDCA).

    Enough admiration, though. It’s time to get serious. Like under-the-hood kind of serious. There’s a real engine hiding in there – it’s Kia’s acclaimed T-GDI 2.0-liter unit tuned to churn out 315 hp. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels via a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. The stopping power is courtesy to the Brembo Gran Turismo 15-inch crossdrilled rotors and four-piston calipers.

    The GT4 should be an adrenaline blast in the corners as well, considering the near perfect (52:48) weight distribution, the quick-ratio steering rack and its relatively low unsprung mass which stands at 2,874 pounds.

    Small wonder then, that you don’t even get a stereo, nor carpets. Door handles? Nah, try pull straps for a size. “It’s a totally selfish design. The design team at KCDA is full of gearheadsand enthusiasts, and the GT4 Stinger is the perfect car for that kind of crowd.” comments chief designer, Tom Kearns

    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
    Kia GT4 Stinger Concept

    Source: Kia

  • Kia Reveales Details For GT4 Stinger And Next Teaser Image

    Kia-GT4-Stinger-THUMBA week ago it was announced that Kia will premiere a concept vehicle called GT4 Stinger at 2014 Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS). With this news the brand released a teaser image of the front of the car. Now the world is ready for another portion of the car revealed ahead of official debut.

    The teaser shows the car when looked from above with its sleek and dynamic profile. Beneath the low wedge of the sculpted bonnet is hidden a tuned version of Kia’s 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) four-cylinder engine. The latter is responsible for the 315 horsepower (232 kW).

    The unit is matched with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission which directs power to the rear wheels. There 275/35R20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres meet the asphalt. The tyres on the other hand are coupled with custom 20-inch aluminium centre-lock wheels with carbon fibre inserts for strength and weight reduction.

    What bring to halt the GT4 are Brembo Gran Tourismo two-piece cross-drilled rotors with four-piston callipers. As one can see, the Stinger will be covered with the expressive ‘Ignition Yellow’ paint, and what one can not see is the custom chassis with an independent double wishbone suspension.

    Full specifications of Kia GT4 Stinger are to be revealed next week at NAIAS.

    Source: Kia

  • 2015 Kia K900 Flagship Sedan

    Kia will showcase its first ever rear-wheel drive V8-powered sedan at the Marquee Basketball Matchups on December 25th. The modern and elegant K900 signals a new era for Kia, and the “Preconceived Notions” spot examines the perceptions and realities surrounding luxury automobiles.

    The all-new 2015 K900 combine  world-class accommodations with advanced technology and superb craftsmanship and materials. The K900 will challenge the full-size rear-drive luxury sedan segment, and the first spot’s tagline – “It Challenges EverythingTM” – makes it clear that something different is going on at Kia.

    “Kia has always been willing to challenge the status quo, and with next year marking our 20th anniversary in the U.S., we are making our boldest statement yet and redefining what the Kia brand stands for with the launch of the K900,” commented Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.

    “The K900 is a modern and new twist on luxury, and our campaign provides a long-term platform to speak to and engage with confident, independent thinkers who actively seek out new products and unique ideas from up-and-coming brands.”, he finished.

    Stay tuned for more information and pictures!

    Source: Kia

  • NAIAS Kia Concept Teaser

    Kia-Sports-Concept-Teaser-shadowKia-Sports-Concept-Teaser-mediumThe first image (sort of) of an upcoming unnamed Kia concept is here, and we are feeling curious.

    What is it?

    All we know is that we are talking about a “stunning” 2+2 sports car designed at Kia’s Irvine, California-based studio. Hey, at least its not another compact SUV nonsense. Also, it kind of looks like a baby Veyron.

    Is it going to gold-plated or what?

    We highly doubt it, but if it is, may we suggest calling it the “Calf“? Don’t want to get too biblical here, but if it does turn out to be something ridiculously expensive and luxurious, it will be a type of heresy against the Kia way. That is, cheap, affordable and sensible. Then again, we’d like to see what happens when they flex their muscles.

    We have nothing else, really. Kia promises full disclosure at the North American International Auto Show where this thing will make its world debut. Detroit it is then.

    Source: Kia