We have first seen the 2009 Kia Optima at the New York Auto Show in April. For 2009 model year, Kia Optima received a mid-cycle facelift and a fresh new look. The update goes from head to tails, starting with narrowed headlamps, a trapezoidal grille that hints at a new face of Kia brand, and new, larger fog-lights. The side sills and rear fascias have also been revised to provide more sportier look to Kia’s four-door family sedan. The revised Optima goes on sale this fall.

At the Busan Auto Show last week, Kia presented it’s refreshed Optima sedan to Korean consumers for the first time. Kias sold in Korea oftenly get minor exterior details such as differently shaped grille or rear LED-lights that provide a more upscale look to the overall appearance of the vehicle. Kia’s introduction of the Lotze Innovation made me think: Will there be any noticable differences between the Optima and Korean Lotze Innovation?

Have a look for yourself by comparing the 2009 Lotze Innovation images with the 2009 Optima below and let us know what you see.

IMPORTANT: check Kia Lotze interior images by clicking here.

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Kia Motors Corporation announced today that its global sales (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) of passenger cars, recreation vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles in April 2008 recorded 129,477 units, representing a 24.7% year-on-year increase.

Cumulatively through the first four months of 2008, Kia’s global sales increased by 15.5% year-on-year and reached 460,364 units. General markets have experienced the largest gain, selling 73,529 units to date representing a 32.9% increase, while the China and Europe markets have showed cumulative year-on-year sales growth of 24.7% (52,543 units sold) and 19.4% (123,309 units sold), respectively. The Korea market has also shown a cumulative year-on-year sales increase of 14.9% (101,824 units sold).

So far in 2008, Kia’s best selling model in export markets has been the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ in some markets) with 68,382 units sold. It is followed by a tight group of three vehicles’ sales figures: the C-segment cee’d at 50,023; the B-segment Rio at 48,992; and Kia’s Sportage compact SUV at 48,917. The A-segment Picanto is Kia’s fifth best selling model in 2008 with 37,281 unit sold. (more…)

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Follow this link to read all latest updates on Kia Soul crossover or read why were Kia able to let journalists drive the Soul

While it could be argued that Volkswagen was really the company that started the box-that-it-came-in styling trend with its old vans, vehicles like the Honda Element and Scion xB made it popular again. Besides being a rolling fashion statement, this shape of vehicle also happens to be extremely practical and allows for much more interior space than more streamlined bodywork, so we’re happy to hear that Kia is planning on offering its upcoming Soul small car in the U.S. in addition to the Chinese market.

We have seen what appears to be production-ready pictures of the vehicle already, and the production Soul should retain most of what we’ve seen in the concepts, minus the crazy paint jobs. The Soul is certainly a bold step for Kia, which has so far erred on the safe side when it comes to vehicle styling. Automotive News reports that the front-wheel-drive Soul will be equipped with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine and should arrive in both China and the States next March. [Source: Autoblog]

Yesterday, after driving the new rear-wheel-drive Genesis sedan at Hyundai’s state-of-the-art research facility and test tracks in Namyang, Korea, we had lunch with Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, who is President of the R&D and Corporate Product Planning and Strategy Divisions of Hyundai-Kia Motors. Dr. Lee joined Hyundai in 1984, so he has been at the company since before it sold cars in the United States (the Hyundai Excel, that gem of a subcompact, debuted here in 1986).

Dr. Lee reminded us what a big achievement the Genesis is for this automaker, which was established only four decades ago as a satellite assembly company for Ford’s U.K. arm to assemble Ford Cortinas for the Korean market. Aside from those kit cars, Hyundai’s first car was the 1975 Pony (which, incidentally, was designed by Giugiaro), and through the 1980s Hyundai licensed designs from Mitsubishi to build cars. Hyundai did not build its own engine until 1991, when the Alpha four-cylinder was introduced. Dr. Lee was the proud father of that engine, which is still used in the Accent. (more…)

I am a Chemical Engineer in Eskisehir, Turkey.I am 22 years old. I most like to drive to different places with my car.

1. How long have you owned your Rio?

I own my rio since 20th march 2006.

2. What cars did you own before you bought your Kia?

This is my 2nd car. Old one was a Renault Laguna.

3. Honestly, what was your intention when you bought your Rio?

I bought rio , cuz its inner and outer design looked perfect for me for modding when I first saw it.Also it has the most powerful diesel engine in its class in Turkey.

4. In a few words, describe the style of your Rio?

Different, stylish, cool..

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Hyundai-Kia said on Thursday it had shelved plans to produce a pickup truck in the United States amid concerns surging oil prices will hit demand for gas-guzzling vehicles.Hyundai Motor Group had planned to produce mid-sized trucks at subsidiary Kia Motors Corp’s new factory in Georgia to make inroads to the world’s top pickup truck market.

“We have an interest, but because of high oil prices, the light truck market has been declining. We don’t think it’s the right time to produce the truck; it’s not the right economic environment,” Kim Dong-Ji, Hyundai’s chief executive, told reporters in Seoul.

“Kia is well-adapted to make the pickup truck and so we investigated the possibility while building the Georgia plant. However, with this economic environment, we were forced to give up these plans,” said Kim, according to spokeswoman Song Meeyoung.

The plans may be reviewed when economic conditions improve, Song added!

Kia pick up concept:

Latest Kia pick-up news

Kia is hard at work on the replacement for the current Kia Sorento SUV and a prototype of the next generation Sorento has been caught near Kia’s German R&D Center.

Despite the heavy camouflage, we can tell from the photos, that the new Sorento will not retain the curent model’s boxy shape, but will follow the latest design direction Kia showed us on it’s KUE and KND-4 crossover concepts.

We don’t know much at this point as far as engines and other accessories go, suffice to say recently updated 3.8L V6 will be avaliable, while diesel will also be on the offering.

Production of the new Sorento is expected to start next year in West Georgia (USA), where Kia is building it’s first US plant.

SORENTO SPY SHOTS UPDATE: 2010 Kia Sorento

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Kia Canada has announced that its sales totalled 3719 new units for April 2008, representing a 12,1 percent rise compared to April 2007. Sales for Kia were lead by the Rio, which posted April sales of 1086 units. Second and third position went to Rondo and Sportage respectively.

Since its introduction into Canadain market, Rondo sales have passed the 11.000 mark becoming one of the most popular Kia vehicles in Canada. In April alone, Kia dealers moved 1039 Rondos from their lots. Sportage sales also performed very well last month, with the sales of 541 units. Placing last was the Amanti sedan with the sales of 19 units only!

As of the end of April 2008, Kia Canada has sold 10,879 vehicles compared to 9,543 in 2007, representing a 14% increase. In April, Kia managed to garner a 2.0% market share in the country, where a year ago had 1,9%.

Rio – 1086
Spectra – 460
Magentis – 123
Amanti – 19
Rondo – 1039
Sportage – 541
Sorento – 136
Sedona – 315 (more…)

Today, Microsoft Corp and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems. Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Mongku Chung, chairman of HKAG, were present as Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft’s Automotive Business Unit, and Hyun Soon Lee, president and chief technology officer of HKAG, signed the agreement in Seoul.

Together, Microsoft and HKAG will deliver new and innovative solutions based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, bringing the future of in-car technology to Hyundai-Kia drivers worldwide.

“These new systems will redefine consumer experiences in the car,” Thall said. “Since the spring of 2006, HKAG and Microsoft have been sharing their vision for the future of in-car technology. We’re now aligned to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems.” (more…)

Kia-World talks with Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., Communications Director Stephen Kitson about the recent sneak-drive of the three stunning SOUL concepts for lucky journalists from Britain and Germany.

Steve, Concept cars are often just for show – why were Kia able to let journalists drive SOUL?

Kia have a history of not just building concepts as flights of fancy – our concept cars tend to be much more closely linked to reality, so when the Design Team in Frankfurt decided to showcase their ideas for SOUL they used actual pre-production vehicles. That meant the cars had all the running gear of a normal car and luckily Peter Schreyer said yes when we and Kia Deutschland asked if a lucky few journalists could spend some time behind the wheels.

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Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever with record April sales of 30,066 units, a 15.6-percent increase over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 98,280 total units.

Kia’s April growth was led by Spectra and Optima, up 4.8 percent and 89.3 percent respectively over the previous month. Rondo sales increased 118.3 percent over the same period last year with 2,583 unit sales. Rio and Spectra continue their strong showing with 4,052 and 8,406 units sold respectively, with increases of 23.6 and 16.7 percent.

“As consumers are looking to further stretch their dollar in the midst of rising gasoline prices and a downward sliding economy, we are pleased to see Kia’s fuel-efficient and dynamic product line continue to appeal to new car buyers,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). “Kia’s value-packed Rio and Spectra models continue to outpace last year’s sales and Rondo’s strong showing position KMA for another successful sales effort this year.”

Follow our monthly Kia sales reports here.