Update: See the first accurate spy shots of the 2011 Kia Sportage here.

Kia Motors has been working hard to renew it’s successful SUV/crossover line-up. After it has successfully launched it’s all-new Borrego/Mohave SUV, the company is now preparing to bring the new Sorento and Sportage to the market.

Joining our latest round of 2010 Sorento spy shots, that we have seen here last week, are the first spy shots of the 2010 Kia Sportage! Although styling details are being kept closely guarded, these spy shots reveal, the 2010 Sportage will feature sportier and far more distinctive design.

Codenamed SL, the 2010 Kia Sportage will get a new 6-speed automatic transmission and a range of new four-cylinder engines. Powertrain options will include a range topping 2,0L diesel engine, delivering 184 horsepower. Named the R-engine, it was jointly developed with Hyundai Motor Company over the period of 42 months with a cost of 250 million won. It will also debut in the 2010 Hyundai Tucson as well as in other upcoming Kia vehicles.

The engine line-up will also include other engines, but at the moment, there are no further details, except of the rumour that tells the V6 gasoline engine will be nixed and replaced with a more fuel-savy four-cylinder unit. Next generation Kia Sportage is also expected to pick-up a new 6-speed automatic transmission, which has also been developed together with Hyundai. The 6-speed manual will also be available.

So, when will this new Sportage be hitting the streets? We have been told that it will first go on sale in South Korea in February 2010. [Source: bobaedream]

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Motortrend has been on a visit to our Korean friends at Kia Motors and they were revealed some interesting information. Their yesterday’s news, relating to Kia Forte and it’s 2,4L engine for the US market, has been quite a surprising one (in a positive way), but here is another one.

In their first-drive report, they state the Soul will be available with two different engine options when it goes on sale in North America. The 2,0L gasoline engine, available from the beginning, will be later joined by a less potent, but more fuel-efficient 122hp 1,6L engine.

Rather than summing up Motortrend’s first drive report, I’d like to invite you to head over to their official website and read their interesting article. Read more…

Next generation Kia Sorento has made it’s public appearance again. A crossover that we already talked about in the past and also provided a test drive report, was caught again somewhere in South Korea.

What we know about the 2010 Kia Sorento so far is that it’s exterior design will bring many styling cues from the KND-4 concept car, which was first unveiled at the 2007 Busan Motor show. It will be larger than the current model and will offer seating for five or seven people.

As several reports suggested, we were also confirmed that next generation Sorento will be moved from a sturdy truck frame to a unibody platform. It’s powertrain will also be far more advanced than on the existing model. The 2010 Sorento will feature a frugal 2,2L four-cylinder diesel engine with an estimated rating of 200 horsepower. Coupled with a brand-new, in-house developed, six-speed automatic transmission, the engine is expected to provide a class-leading fuel efficiency.

Codenamed XM, the new Kia Sorento is scheduled to make it’s world premiere in the spring of 2009, with sales commencing later in the same year. [Source: Bobaedream]

Some of the UK automotive media has already test drove and issued a brief reports regarding the future Sorento crossover. If you’re interested to find more information about it, please, follow this link: 2010 Kia Soul test drive

Kia Soul US-Spec

Here we have the first official images of the 2010 US-spec Kia Soul model. The Soul urban crossover will make it’s official US premiere at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.

Engineered to accommodate an array of diesel and gasoline engines, the US-spec Soul model will only be available with a potent 2,0L in-line four engine. Developing 142 horsepower, the engine should provide plenty of punch, while still delivering a respectable gas mileage. When going on sale in US, the Soul will be available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions.

Out of 136,000 Souls that Kia intends to produce annually at it’s Gwangju manufacturing facility in South Korea, 50,000 units will be shipped to the North American market. The Soul is expected to reach US market early next year with sales commencing in April 2009.

Below, you can see exclusive US-specs Soul pictures. In addition, I have enclosed a Canadian Soul accessory brochure, that first appeared at Canadian National Kia dealer meeting a few months ago. As you know, Soul crossover will be available with a range of exterior customizations. Many of them you can see here and possibly several others will not only reach Canadian, but US market as well.

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Early next year, US market will get a new four-door compact sedan from Kia, which will replace the current generation Spectra model. Available in two variants, as a four-door sedan or a two-door coupe, the car will benefit from a more powerful four-cylinder engine! Until it goes on sale, there are still a few months from now, but first information on the US-spec model has just been revealed.

According to Motortrend, next generation Spectra sedan will be packing larger four-cylinder engine. The current 2,0L unit willl be replaced by 2,4L Theta engine, featuring more horsepower and torque than the current one. This engine upgrade will add a noticable 24hp to the current engine numbers in will push it’s final horsepower rating to 162 (hp).

In addition to the four-door sedan, Kia also plans to bring a sportier and more dynamic two-door Spectra model to the US market. Kia’s first coupe will replace 5-door Spectra hatch and is expected to hit the showrooms two to three months later than sedan does.

Those who have seen the production ready two-door model state it looks fantastic and strongly resembles Kia Koup concept. The Koup concept has first appeared at the auto show in New York in April and is currently on display at SEMA auto show in Las Vegas.

Having an all-new architecture, more powerful engine and completely new design, Kia’s new compact sedan presents a dramatic departure from the current generation Spectra. Therefore, Kia has also been considering to replace the Spectra name with either a Forte (current Spectra name in South Korea) or Cerato (current Spectra name in Australia and other markets overseas). But the Spectra name is not out of game just yet and it’s possible Kia will stick with it’s current name. [Source: Motortrend]

Do you think Spectra needs a new name? Which one do you think fits this car the best?

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The 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association -SEMA auto show opened it’s doors yesterday and on the same day Kia has also revealed what models had been brought to the show. Just in case you missed our yesterday’s report, Kia has put four striking concept models on display to it’s Las Vegas stand and for sure each of them will be gaining it’s fair share of attraction.

Since we know pretty much everything on the Soul Burner and the Koup concept, we will first focus on Borrego Limited concept and a modified version of the Rio5. Starting with the first one, here we have a set of official pictures from Kia Motors America.

Making it’s official debut yesterday, the Borrego Limited concept brings a host of chrome exterior features with plenty of bling on the custom shaped H-grille, front bumper, side mirrors, door handles and fender vents.

To project an assertive and sophisticated stance, Borrego Limited concept has been lowered and equipped with fancy five-spoke alloy-wheels in the size of 285/45 R22! Along with all the chrome bling, monochrome black paint and limousine-tinted windows, Borrego has been perfectly outfitted for, as Kia says, cruising down the Vegas strip.

Inside, Borrego Limited concept benefits from leather upholstery with alligtor skin pattern and a sound system backing up a TV and navigation system. 

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Eight out of ten car buyers in South Korean market who bought themselves a new vehicle last month have bought either a Kia or a Hyundai model. October car-sales reports reveals that Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group acquired more than 80% of new car market.

Combined market share last month for Kia and Hyundai stood at 81,8 percent, which is the highest mark the company has ever achieved. It has also happened for the first time that Hyundai-Kia broke the 80% market share. Previous highest domestic market share was 79 percent, achieved in January this year, after Kia released facelifted Picanto and Mohave SUV on Korean market.

Thanks to a successful launch and great demand for Forte sedan and Soul urban crossover, Kia Motors increased it’s domestic sales by a third compared to last year, while Hyundai’s sales was stagnant! Also for the first time, Kia took more than 30% of domestic market share. The company has sold 33,609 vehicles in South Korea last month.

Related link: November ’09 Kia market share…

Ready to rave at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Kia Motors America (KMA) goes extreme in Sin City with its in-booth activities and tricked-out concept vehicles for the 2008 SEMA Show. Appealing to aftermarket fanatics and concept car enthusiasts alike, KMA dials in the DJ-spun tunes for a sweet showing of the following concepts:

1. Borrego Limited concept extends from the all-new 2009 Borrego midsize SUV, offering four-wheel drive and a sexy stance perfect for urban excursions.

An extension of the all-new Borrego midsize SUV, the Borrego Limited SEMA concept offers a stealth-looking version of the midsize SUV with a monotone black exterior enhanced by limo-tint windows.

Lowered for a sleeker profile and outfitted with flashy 22-inch Avarus Chrome Wheels and Spec-X 285/45R22 tires, this Borrego concept projects an assertive and sophisticated stance fit for a motorcade as much as cruising down the Vegas strip.

2. KOUP concept offers a look into Kia Motors’ evolving design direction with its slanting exterior shape and debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

3. Soul Burner, designed with a hardcore attitude meant for those who live freely and enjoy life – one of three Soul variation concepts debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

4. Rio5 designed specifically for SEMA is truly a tuner’s car with a KMA-genuine body kit, cat-back exhaust and side sills. Prepared by Mobis Parts Los Angeles (MPLA), the Rio5 concept vehicle based on the 2009 production model is a tuner’s dream.

Evoking the true spirit of customization, the sporty hatchback is complete with a custom Kia-genuine body kit featuring: a revised front mesh grille; blackened headlamps; custom rims; revised strut brace and cold air intake system; a cat-back exhaust and stainless steel door sill plates. The lowered frame sits wrapped around larger wheels and tires by TSW and Goodyear.

“We always enjoy attending and displaying at the SEMA Show as it really lends us the creative and artistic license to push the envelope of our ‘Power to Surprise’” mantra, said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. “The vehicles displayed this year represent not only possible directions for design evolution of the Kia brand, but also express the passion we pour into both our concept designs and production vehicles.”

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Most of automakers, including Kia Motors have experienced another slow sales month in US market. Kia Motors America has just published it’s October 2008 sales report, which reveals it’s sales have fallen sharply compared to the same month of last year.

In October 2008, Kia sold 15,483 vehicles, a decrease of 38 percent over the 25,185 vehicles sold in October 2007. Kia Motors America also reported year-to-date sales volume of 243,571 vehicles, down 5,5 percent, compared to 257,228 vehicles in the same period of 2007.

The best selling Kia model in USA last month was again the Spectra with 3,265 units sold. It was closely followed by a body-on-frame built Sorento SUV, which sales are holding pretty well in these difficult times. An award winning Sorento has increased it’s sales from previous month by 2,5 percent with sales topping 3,101 units.

With exception of Amanti and Borrego, all other Kia models managed to sell above 1000 unit mark. The most successful among them was Rio with 2,291 units sold.

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Kia Forte has seen a remarkable response from South Korean consumers since it went on sale in August. Already in it’s debuting month, with sales of 8,900 units, the Forte outsold Hyundai Elantra, which was the best-selling compact vehicle in South Korea for several years.

In response to a huge success Kia has had with the Forte, GM Daewoo launched a Lacetti compact sedan last week and with it, the company is aiming directly at Forte sedan with the goal to steal as many buyers as possible away from Kia!

Known also as Chevrolet Cruze in some overseas markets, the Lacetti is the first member of the next generation GM Daewoo cars that is expected to hit the roads in the next few months. Designed and engineered in South Korea, Lacetti will initially be powered by a 114 horsepower, 1,6L gasoline engine, mated to the six-speed automatic transmission.

In Korea, Lacetti will be available in six trim levels and will come competitively priced. Starting at really low of 10.9 million won or $7660, the price should be one of its biggest selling points.

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Here we have another new Kia Soul report. Autobild, Germany’s most renowned car magazine, has published their own video report and their first impresions on the funky Kia Soul seem pretty good. You can check it out by clicking on the image above.

Boris sent us an interesting SUV comparison report from his homeland, the United Arab Emirates. Their very popular auto-magazine issued a comparison test among three popular body-on-frame built SUVs. One of them was Kia Mohave, known as Borrego in USA, and they pitched it against it’s two main rivals, the second generation Honda Pilot and the good old Ford Explorer.

Compared in several different areas, such as exterior design, interior styling and driving. Kia Mohave beats or equals both contenders. It also offers better off-roading capabilities, packs more standard equippement and is competitevily priced. It’s a clear winner among compared SUVs. Thanks for this report Boris!

Verdict
All three SUVs are fairly accomplished, but they have their share of drawbacks too. The Honda isn’t very capable off-road but it’s very well built and packs a load of kit. That said, it is also the most expensive. On the flip side Honda will hold it’s value better than the Kia or Ford.

The Mohave, meanwhile, is a fine first attempt from the South Korean Kia and packs a huge amount of kit as standard. It’s fairly competent off-road, but suffers from poor brakes.

It’s cheaper than Honda, but costs more than Ford. Although it comes with Kia’s bullet-proof warranty, it’s too early to determine it’s resale value compared to it’s rivals.

Finally, Ford explorer is the cheapest, but doesn’t get much standard kit. It has acceptable dynamics, but is let down by staid styling and a dull interior.

If I had to choose, I’d pick the Mohave. It’s more expensive than the Ford, but you get a lot more for your money. All-around, it offers the best compromise in terms of price and performance.

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