Popular Sorento SUV is now available for a limited time with $3,400 worth of extra equipment that makes Sorento perfect for your next trip, whether it’s circumnavigating the world or just going away for the weekend. The new limited edition Sorento Global Circuit pack is available through Kia dealers across Australia from July to October this year.  

The limited edition Sorento Global Circuit pack, with a retail value of $3,400, adds a towbar with wiring, nudge bar, roof bar set, genuine tailored carpet mats, rear parking sensors, alloy side steps, rubber cargo mat, ARB recovery kit and unique Global Circuit badging – at no extra cost. (more…)

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Kia Motors reported its profit rose 40 percent in the second quarter of the year, beating analysts expectations, on higher sales of Morning minicars and a weaker Korean won. The company had earned $85.3 million in the second quarter of the year, while its sales gained 1.4 percent to 4.19 trillion won. Kia expects to post a full-year operating margin of more than 3 percent, with the weaker won offsetting rising materials costs. The operating margin in the first half stood at 2.8 percent.

In South Korea, where Kia earns a third of its revenue, the automaker boosted vehicle sales to 79,619 units. Sales in the first six month increased 20% compared to last year and was led by strong demand for the Morning (Picanto) mini car. Kia introduced the facelifted model in January and since then it has sold at over 8000 units each month. Compared with its sales in the first half of 2007, Morning sales jumped nearly 300%!!

With more small car models coming in the second half, Kia will likely win more customers at home and abroad, giving it a bright outlook. New models, such as Forte compact sedan and Soul crossover, will certainly raise Kias domestic sales and profit in the second half, while helping it offset industry-wide sales declines in Europe and the U.S. [Source: TheEconomicTimes ]

Kia Motors reported on Thursday that 108,000 vehicles were produced at its European plant in Zilina, Slovakia in the first six months of the year. Daily production at the plant averaged at 850 units, while the most productive month was April, when more than 19.000 cars and SUVs were built. Kia currently produces three different variants of cee’d model (five-door, three-door and sporty wagon) and Sportage SUV in Slovakia.

The most popular choice among buyers so far was the Cee’d Sporty Wagon, taking up 35.84 percent of the production. Second came the five-door cee’d, which sales accounted for 30.74 percent, while Sportage came third. It was followed by sporty pro_cee’d (16.66 percent). The Cee’d represent around 83 percent of the total production at the plant.

The most demanded among five available engines (three petrol and two diesel), was the 1.6L diesel engine, representing as much as 41.8 percent of the car sales volume.

Through improving the production effectiveness of built cars, the company is looking to produce record-high 220.000 vehicles by the end of the 2008. Along with the production report, Kia also revealed its plans to start production of the fourth cee’d variant, reportedly named Eco_cee’d, by the end of the year. Thanks to several technical adjustments to the basic car, the fuel consumption and emissions output on Eco_cee’d has substantially been reduced. More information about the Eco_cee’d will soon be released. [Source: Kia]

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Thanks to Martin1491, I can now bring you the first available video preview of the all-new Kia Soul and Forte sedan. He sent us a tip about the video that shows the Soul and Forte on the move.

We have been waiting for a close up preview of Kia Soul for a long time and finally, the wait is over. A pre-production model of the all new Kia Soul has been caught sans disguise today, while cruising on the highway near Seoul. This is undoubtedly the most revealing set of Soul spy images until now and gives us best ever insight on its unique and youthful exterior styling.

The model spotted here is finished in metallic white and wears sporty looking alloy wheels with 18-inch tires. Chrome door handles, roof racks and large wheels indicate that this is the flagship trim of the Soul.

Production starts in November and will be limited to 120.000 units per year. The production ready Soul will first be displayed at Paris Auto Show in October and is slated to go on sale worldwide early in 2009…Read more

Click image to enlarge! (more…)

Last week, Kia Motors America invited more than hundred journalists and automotive press reporters to the Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington, where the company has held an official presentation of the all new Borrego SUV to the U.S. media.

Less than a week has passed since then and first test drive reports are coming in sight. The reviews you can read so far are certainly very positive and highlight the Borrego in terms of refinement, looks and (towing) performance. They also praise Borrego for its combination of the premium power and fuel efficiency, combined with luxury appointments that are not typical for a mid-priced SUVs.

I have garnered some reviews that I find the most interesting. Not to violate the copyright rules, only quotes from test drives were posted in this post. If you want to read complete reviews just hit the link you see at the end of each quote and you’ll be redirected to chosen Borrego review. Each of the reviews posted below includes lots of high quality photos so make sure you hit the jump and continue your read.

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Surprise, surprise… exciting Kia Soul crossover shows its rear fascia for the first time!

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is celebrating a storming month of June sales at over 78,000 vehicles sold, achieving its highest ever monthly vehicle market share in US. It has happened for the first time that the automaker topped the 6 percent market share since its inaugural launch 22 years ago.

Hyundai Motor America sold more than 50,000 vehicles last month achieving yet another milestone in its history. Thanks to massive demand for fuel efficient sedans, Hyundais sales has increased to record high 50,033 units. Sales of Accent compact went up 70%, while sales of Elantra jumped 50% to 14,482. Mid-sized Sonata sold 16,875 units in June, up 12 percent from last year and 24 percent from May.

Record high monthly sales was also reported by Kia Motors America. The company has announced its best June sales ever with sales topping 28,292 units. Together with Hyundai, the company sold exactly 78,325 vehicles through June 2008. The number represents a +3,5% increase compared to June 2007. Considering the overall US auto sales dropped by 16.5 percent last month, the growth of 3,5 percent year-on-year is quite an admirable achievement.

The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has accelerated past another road marker last month as its June 2008 sales overtook rival Nissan for the first time. Nissan North America Inc. reported sales off nearly 18% from last year. The Japanese company sold 75,847 units in US last month, compared to 78,325 units sold by Hyundai-Kia group. (more…)

Long anticipated Borrego mid-size SUV is finally here and you can have it for five bucks under $27.000. The base LX model, powered by 3.8L V6 engine mated to the five speed automatic transmission, offers a complete safety equipment (including seven airbags), ABS and ESP, along with Downhill Brake Control, Hill Assist Control, 17-inch tires, USB/auxiliary input jack, side mirror turn signal indicator and cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted control buttons. It’s price starts at $26.995.

Standard items that makes you special for opting up to an EX version include 18-inch tires with chrome alloy wheels, dual power heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, driver’s knee airbag, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, steering-wheel-mounted audio control buttons, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and metal-film interior trim. (more…)

UPDATE: Kia VG spied again!

Spys have caught an unknown sedan parked at one of the streets in South Korea. Heavily camouflaged vehicle on the image above is believed to be the new near luxury sedan, Kia has been developing under the VG codename. Following the future timeline, that recently leaked from Kia and outlines the release dates of future Kia vehicles, the VG is set to go on sale in August of 2009.

Sporty looking Kia VG is expected to be front wheel drive vehicle, closely related to Hyundai Grandeur -known also as Hyundai Azera in US market. Details are yet to be released, but we can speculate that the VG could be powered by either a 3.8L Lambda V6 engine or a more powerful 4.6 V8 Tau engine when it hits the market.

Follow the jump to see more spy shots of the cloaked in camouflage VG sedan or click this link to see the exclusive set of images of the 2010 Kia Rio facelift (called Kia Pride in Korea). (more…)

Kia Motors America (KMA) continues to broaden its product line-up with the arrival of the all-new seven-passenger Borrego midsize SUV. Proving you don’t have to sacrifice sophistication, convenience, quality or size for impressive value, Borrego enters the North American market offering unmatched power capabilities and luxury at an unbeatable price.

Representing what a midsize SUV is capable of offering, Borrego is poised to become a powerful contender in its segment. While some competitor vehicles require premium unleaded gasoline, Borrego runs on regular unleaded and achieves class-leading fuel economy of 15/22 city/highway for its V8 with two-wheel drive, and a respectable 15/20 city/highway for the four-wheel drive. (more…)

Kia Motors has released new images of its upcoming Soul crossover, revealing us the first good look at the full front view of the production car. Along with these exclusive images, Kia also released details on powertrain options that the Soul range will include when it goes on sale next year.

The 2009 Kia Soul will be released in three different powertrain configurations. The entry level 1.6L gasoline engine (124hp) will be available, as well as more powerful 2.0L gasoline unit. European buyers will also have a choice of 1.6L turbodiesel engine with variable geometry turbocharger. All three engines are similar to the engines currently in use in the European built Kia cee’d. Manual and automatic transmissions will be available.

Kia Soul sits on a modified Rio platform and will be the front wheel drive vehicle only. At 4,105 mm (161-in) in length and 1,785 mm (70,3-in) in width it has grown in size compared to Rio hatch. Although it has compact overall dimensions, the Soul features an exceptionally long (for its size) wheelbase of 2550 mm. The up to 18-inch wheels are placed at the body corners to ensure smooth and sporty driving.

The world premiere is scheduled for the Paris Auto Show and will happen on the 2 nd of October. Sales will commence in February next year after Soul arrives to Kia dealers in Europe. The US launch date has also been announced and it was set for April 2009! More details will soon be released, so stay with us.

UPDATE: Hit the jump to find the SOUL news & images.

UPDATE2: Exclusive image of the rear-end design!

UPDATE3: First drive, Soul fully exposed

Click image to enlarge!

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Continuous rises in steel materials and logistics costs this year, has forced Kia Motors to increase the prices of its new cars. Kia announced it would raise all car prices for the local market by an average of 2.03 percent and lift prices for overseas markets by an average of 2.5 percent from August, next month.

Kia has no other choice but to raise prices as it can not endure recent changes in the business environment. In the first five months, prices of steel plates have increased more than 60 percent, while logistic costs have gained up 27 percent the company said, adding that raw material prices are expected to raise further during the year. [Source: Reuters]

Kia UK has released special cee’d SW Medical Car, which will be employed as an official Medical Response Unit at circuits and events around the UK, including high profile events at Castle Combe and Silverstone. It will be joined by the cee’d Safety car that was introduced to the public last year and serves to intervene in serious and dangerous incidents during racing events at Castle Combe circuit (UK).

To make the cee’d SW more circuit friendly, a few changes had to be made to the car. The suspension system used on SW Medical Car has been upgraded using Eibach lowering springs, pro_cee’d sport dampers and an upgraded rear anti-roll bar. The 1.6 liter diesel engine has also been upgraded using a K&N air filter and modified ECU, taking power from 113 bhp to 142 bhp and adding 37 lb/ft of torque, taking it up to 225 lb/ft.

To ensure much needed extra grip at the track, cee’d SW received black 8 x 18-inch wheels, from Team Dynamics, which are wrapped in low profile 205/40 Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. A state-of-the-art blue and white LED digital lighting system from Vision Alert has been fitted throughout the car, along with a high tech emergency siren and PA system. The system is fully flexible and pushing one button can activate the whole system for a swift set-off. Bespoke graphics, which meet with complex Motor Sport Association regulations, complete the look.

These are the first available images of the SW Medical Car, exclusively brought to you by KIA-WORLD blog.

Click image to enlarge!