- Pan-European competition attracts entrants from 21 countries
- Belgian participant wins grand final to claim Kia cee´d worth €28,000
Kia Motors Europe recently hosted the grand final of its first-ever pan-European promotional competition – the “cee´d European Test Drive Challenge” – at the Hockenheim racing circuit in Germany.
The one-day grand final was attended by 70 participants from 21 countries. Finalists spent the morning familiarising themselves with the performance and handling of the Kia cee´d and receiving a safer driving course from professional instructors.
The “cee´d European Test Drive Challenge” competition was open to anyone taking a Kia cee´d test drive at a Kia dealership in Europe and attracted more than 20,000 entrants. Each entrant was given a ´boarding pass´ which enabled them to register on the competition website in their country and answer a series of cee´d-related questions. Each participating country held a prize-draw to select the individual who would progress to the grand final and enjoy a chance to win the Kia cee´d.
The afternoon was devoted to a series of slalom, parking, braking and reaction tests (against the clock), which fully demonstrated the car´s ABS and ESP systems and put each driver´s talent at the wheel of a Kia cee´d through a severe test.
Ultimately, 24-year old Mr Christophe Maquel from Belgium was judged by the jury to be a worthy winner. The architectural designer from Attert, near Arlon, was delighted to take home a top-of-the-range 1.6-litre diesel Kia cee´d EX five-door hatchback with optional Sport Pack, worth in the region of €28,000.
“Our pan-European test drive programme, and the “cee´d European Test Drive Challenge” competition which followed, attracted enormous interest and triggered enquiries from thousands of consumers who have not previously owned a Kia,” commented Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. “Since the car´s launch in Europe last December, more than 80,000 cee´d five-door models have been delivered. The style, design, quality and durability of the Kia cee´d is playing a key role in winning over new C-segment customers to the Kia brand.” [Source: Kia Europe]
Click image to enlarge!
September 27th, 2007 at 8:09 am
As you know, the kia new car called HM has already its name in Korea. This name is MOJAVE. Mojave means desert name.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am
To MTC: It was reported here about that already!
I did test drive the cee’d which was condition to attend this competition, but unfortunately I wasn’t chosen to attend it. Perhaps next time!
November 17th, 2007 at 3:57 am
I am really glad that Kia has chosen Volvo trucks to transport the Cee’d! The only other car I’d be happy with is a Volvo! My dad drove a Volvo truck all over the United states and that thing was awesome! I wish Kia would come out with a semi, Hyundai has semi-trailers, but no semis. Kia could make a fortune selling well-built semis for affordable prices, just like Volvo did. Just a thought…..
November 20th, 2007 at 12:27 am
I think that Kia should use car carriers like this in the US. I saw a Kia car carrier today that was a really dull lime green. That is NOT good for Kia’s image.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:32 am
They can’t use this kind of carriers for cars! The trailor on pic is not designed to do that. All of the car companies use the same kind (boring) carriers to transport their vehicles to the dealers.
But yes they could pay to some truck companies and advertise on their trucks.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:33 am
Oh, You could probably fit a couple in there. You can in a normal truck.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Yes you could fit a car or two in it! But on the real car trailor you can put up to seven cars (depends on how large they are). I know here in Europe I see tons of trucks transporting cars on motorways including Kias coming from Slovakia.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Solvakia is not that far away from you. Here in America we put 8-10 cars on the average carrier.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Really high end car companies like BMW use soft side carriers(you can’t see the cars)
November 20th, 2007 at 12:49 am
that’s how they transport the race cars like F1. You can’t see anything but the beautifull carrier. Interesting that they use the soft side carriers. Here the carriers used for transporting cars are side opened, but cars on the carriers get some kinf of plastic bag to cover the most vulnerable body parts.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Kias in the US get a Cellophane sheet on the doors hood, and plastic all over the Interior.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:58 am
Do they get that on exterior too? You can see here a plastic (cellophane) on the roof, rims, hood, sometimes even on bumpers.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:03 am
My(Our) new Optima had it on the bumpers, hood, doors,(white in color) and there were plastic hubcaps over the alloy wheels.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:10 am
Yes, we absolutely love our Optima(Magentis)! We bought it with 5 miles on it. It is a red EX I-4 and has everything! Every option available except for the V6. The V6 wasn’t that much more powerful, plus the I4 had a timing chain. Bottom line: WE LOVE IT!
November 20th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Great to hear yo’re happy with your car!
November 20th, 2007 at 1:27 am
It technically isn’t mine, but it will be in 2 years when mom gets a new one and I’m 16 and can get my Driver’s License.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Hehe Greg, you’re only 14 and already a Kia freak! You’re just like me when I was at your age!:)
November 20th, 2007 at 1:35 am
LOL, most teens my age are into tricked out Honda Civics and loud mufflers and I am in love with Kia. That is kind of funny.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:41 am
Isn’t it like 1:30 in your time zone?
November 20th, 2007 at 2:12 am
It is 1.12 AM. I’m going to bed now! Good night everyone!:)
November 20th, 2007 at 2:41 am
It is 7:42 P.M. for me. I’m in New York time zone. This is kinda of cool contacting others in parts of the
world. We never seen each other and we all have somthing in common.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:35 am
I’m in New York time zone too. In Michigan