2010 US-spec Kia Spectra

[Source: Motor Trend]

Click image to enlarge!

A trio of Hyundai and Kia prototypes, including a super-luxury Hyundai Equus sedan and a pair of Kia “cee’d plus” pre-production vehicles has been captured on digital camera by the spies when running some final rounds of testings in the wild.

In-line with these latest spy shots, we also have learned some exciting information and more details about the forthcoming Kia YN! Built as a competitor to the all-new Opel Meriva and Honda Fit, the YN mini MPV will first be launched as a concept vehicle at the upcoming Geneva auto show.

Featuring a striking exterior design, the YN concept car has been penned by Peter Schreyer and his European design team. Reportedly, the concept will display a real up-market, premium style, but strip away some of the glamour-items and the real production car is there.

Prior to the official YN concept unveiling, we will most probably be getting some teaser shots released by Kia Motors Europe. It is believed that the first teaser image will likely pop up to the web as early as next week!

Click image to enlarge!

The all-new Kia Cerato

Modern and dynamic styling under the guidance of world-renowned Kia global design chief Peter Schreyer, class-leading power, class-leading 4.5 stars Green Vehicle rating, six airbags standard in every model, iPod® compatible audio system, European-standard ride and handling, 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers, great value and a low entry price – the all-new Kia Cerato has it all.

Many commentators believe that, more than ever, new car buyers want vehicles that reflect positively on them as owners and fulfill wide-ranging applications. Cars need to perform, only lightly touch the environment, look good, deliver on safety, be reliable and be well-appointed.

Kia will bring a range of new and revamped models to the Australian market this year, well-endowed with features, stunning looks and impressive value for money – in essence, cars that deliver on their promise.

First to arrive is the handsome new Kia Cerato, a compact sporty sedan that will meet the needs of many Australian car buyers. The new Cerato is the first Kia released in Australia to feature the new ‘Schreyer line’, a family corporate grille design from the pen of Kia’s global chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, who joined the company in 2006 from the Volkswagen Group.

The new Cerato is the first mass production Kia that embodies his thinking, and introduces a look that is sporty with an element of aggression.

Eye-catching integrity of design is just one factor in new car buyers’ minds. Customers want quality, safety, reliability, value and low total cost of ownership. That’s where the efficiencies of Kia’s highly-developed production facilities are displayed in the all-new Cerato, building cars in a smarter way with more efficient use of materials.

Available in Australia as an entry-level S model or a generously-equipped SLi model, the new Cerato bridges the gap between small and medium cars with the space, performance, features and value that many Australian car buyers are seeking, without having to pay more for a medium-sized car with a larger and less economical engine.

New Cerato features an all-new, efficient 2.0-litre engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for class-leading power and torque, delivering the pulling power and responsiveness of a 2.2-litre engine without the fuel consumption of a bigger engine.

Like all new Kia vehicles now sold in Australia, the new Cerato will be covered by Kia’s 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers (5-year/130,000kms for fleet buyers).

(more…)

If you think the sun-lovin’, soft-top Soulster has been the sole concept car from Kia Motors at this year’s North American International Auto Show, I can prove you wrong. Kind of unexpectedly, another “Kia” concept vehicle bowed in the middle of the Cobo Centre in Detroit and you can see it here.

To demonstrate it’s latest car-technology development, Johnshon Controls, a Wisconsin-based supplier of interior elements like seats and electronic gadgets, unveiled its own green concept vehicle at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Called RE3, the Johnson Controls’ concept car features a plug-in hybrid powertrain, lithium ion battery pack, and eco-friendly renewable interior materials that are lighter in weight than conventional materials found on cars these days.

Of course, the most interesting part of this concept vehicle is it’s eco-friendly technology, but for us, Kia fans, it’s also interesting to see the concept using body shell from five-door Kia cee’d.

Click image to enlarge!

(more…)

Kia Motors announced today that it’s net profit nearly doubled in the final, fourth quarter of the 2008 as sales of it’s popular new cars rose.

Kia Motors, which with it’s parent Hyundai Motor Company forms the world’s fifth-largest automotive group, reported net profit of 74.8 billion won ($54.7 million) in the October-December period, reversing a net loss of 22.1 billion won ($16 million) in the previous quarter.

Kia’s 2008 full-year sales rose to 16.4 trillion won from 15.9 trillion won a year earlier, while it’s annual net profit soared more than eightfold to 113.8 billion won ($82 million), from 13.6 billion won in 2007. Its 2008 operating profit stood at 308.5 billion won, turning around from an operating loss of 55.4 billion won in 2007.

“Despite the economic crisis, Kia Motors was able to reap both an operating and a net profit last year, thanks to the brisk sales of new models such as Forte and Soul crossover and the weaker won,” the company said in a statement.

The South Korean won fell 25.7 percent against the dollar last year. A weaker won boosts profits of the country’s exporters when their overseas sales are converted into local currency and also makes South Korean products cheaper in overseas markets.

(more…)

The 2010 mini-MPV from Kia Motors, has shown up again, this time in the snow. A prototype vehicle, heavily disguised with black camo covers, has been spotted in Northern Scandinavia during some cold weather durability testing.

The upcoming “cee’d plus” will go on sale across the Europe late this year, as a 2010 model, and to make sure that the car feels home in any climate, Kia engineers have taken the testing to cold and snowy northern parts of Europe.

As we mentioned before, the 2010 Kia YN will be manufactured by Hyundai Motor’s at it’s high-tech European manufacturing facility, located in Czech Republic, together with it’s sibling model from Hyundai.

Since the car is riding on the same platform that underpins the recently released Soul crossover, both vehicles will use the same propelling powerplants. The new “cee’d plus” engine range will consist of a fuel-sipping 1,4 and 1.6L four cylinder diesel and gasoline engines, each achieving a clas leading fuel economy.

The 2010 Kia YN will also feature an eco-friendly ISG (Idle Stop&Go) system, which achieves up to 15% fuel reduction during the city driving. The system has just recently been successfully incorporated to the cee’d ISG, which will go on sale accros the Europe by the end of the next month. [Source:Globalmotors.net ]

Would you like to receive latest Kia news to your e-mail? Subscribe to KIA-WORLD news!

The Geneva International Auto Show will offer us the world premiere of one of the most anticipated future Kia vehicles: the 2010 Kia Sorento. With Geneva Auto Show less than two months away, the future Sorento, codenamed XM, is undergoing through some final testing rounds on the roads of South Korea.

What we learned so far about the 2010 Kia Sorento is that the vehicle will undergo some major, not only design, but also technical changes. Gone will be the body-on-frame platform, and replaced by a unibody architecture, which is expected to provide better ride, but unfortunately, also limited maximum towing capacity and off-roading capabilities.

On the other hand, Kia engineers are confident the 2010 Sorento will be a lot more exciting to drive while offering improved handling and more comfortable ride at the same time. In addition to that, new diesel engines and upgraded gasoline ones are expected to deliver class leading horsepower ratings and fuel efficiency.

According to Whatcar( yes, they are the one who got behind the wheel of 2010 Sorento!!), upcoming Kia’s midsize crossover seems to be improved in just about every area. It feels more refined on the road, it handles better and new engines also bring a lot more power. If interested, you can read a sum-up of their exclusive Sorento test-drive report here. [Source: luv-xm.net ]

Click image to enlarge!

The new Kia Soul, on sale in the UK at the beginning of March 2009, is the first Kia to have been developed specifically with UK roads and drivers in mind.

Detailed work to create a bespoke ride and handling package was completed by Lotus, the renowned automotive consultancy, based in Norfolk, East Anglia.

Kia Soul has been secretly on test in the UK during late 2008 and the constant evaluation has been fed back to the factory in Korea as well as the research and development teams in Europe.

The work undertaken by Lotus on the ride and handing package has resulted in changes to the overall suspension settings and bump stops. These changes have allowed the Soul to become more compliant with UK roads, adding a touch more refinement to the ride, yet allowing the dampers to do more ‘work’ under the chassis.

The result is that the Kia Soul is now one of the most complete cars Kia has ever produced as it is available with specific suspension packages for Europe, the US and UK.

Paul Philpott, Managing Director, Kia Motors UK, said: “Soul is a very exciting product for Kia and for our customers. It has a unique look and style and will bring something fresh to the UK market with several innovations. We firmly believe that customers who have never considered a Kia before will look at Soul and see it as a viable option when it comes to buying a new car.”

He also added; “The result of our partnership with Lotus is a more composed ride which we think is much more suitable to what our roads can throw at Soul, and additionally, it is also a more exciting car to drive.”

One of the show stoppers at this year’s, still ongoing, Detroit auto show was most definitely the Soulster concept car from Kia Motors. The Soulster is a small-footprint, front-wheel drive truck, derived from Kia’s new 2010 Soul crossover.

With it’s simple, yet attractive exterior design, the Soulster reminds us of Suzuki Samurai equipped with soft-top, but in a much funkier package. Whether this exciting two-door concept car ever enters the US car market has not been announced, but the right amount of positive feedback could eventually bring it to production sometime in the near future.

Those of you who haven’t seen enough of the topless Soulster yet, here are two more videos from Detroit auto show.

(more…)

We have another interesting Kia car sales report for the 2008 year. This time, you’ll get some interesting numbers and facts about Kia sales and plans for China where Kia experienced the largest sales growth in the 2008.

Although automobile output and sales of China’s car giants fell sharply during the 2008, Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, managed to increase it’s sales.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Kia Motors, and Yueda, has become one of the fastest growing carmakers in China with sales experiencing 40% rise compared to the year earlier. In December, China returned a significant year-on-year increase, selling 16,909 units (a 36.2% year-on-year increase), while overall 12-month sales has reached 151,085 units, or eightfold above the industry growth rates!

To push it’s sales even further, Kia’s soon going to strengthen it’s China market line-up with two brand new vehicles. First scheduled to debut is the all-new Soul crossover, while later during the year, four-door Forte sedan (Spectra in the USA) will be brought to the market. Both models will be made locally with an estimated production of 40,000 and 60,000 units respectively.

Many automakers have also been looking to tap the China’s MPV market and Kia is no exception. It was reported by Gasgoo.com that Kia has also been considering to add the 7-seat Carens (Rondo) to it’s expanding range of China-built vehicles by 2010.

“We have been discussing about producing the Kia Carens MPV in China,” said an insider of Dongfeng Yueda Kia Auto recently to reporters. The Kia Carens is positioned as a family-use seven-seat MPV, which should be a market segment not fully explored yet in China. The Kia Carens MPV will be made at the second plant of the venture by 2010.

Korean carmaker Kia Motors sold 37,520 vehicles on Canadian market in 2008, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.8 percent and the best result in the company’s history, Kia Canada reported a few days ago.

Higher fuel prices contributed to increased sales for the compact and fuel efficient Rio, achieving 34.6% increase in sales over 2007 volume, and a 42.6% increase for the month of December.

Also showing strong growth in 2008 was the popular Rondo urban utility vehicle, achieving a 29% increase over 2007 sales, and the Sedona minivan achieved an increase of 14% in sales for the year as well.

In addition, Kia Canada also increased it’s market share to 2,3 percent from previous year to tie up with the European brand VW, which also holds the same share of Canadian car market on it’s hands.

Kia realizes that the upcoming months will be challenging and difficult economic conditions will be affect car sales, but the company is confident about it’s future and plans to achieve another, already the sixth, year of growth.

A lot of hopes are placed in the new models, such as an exciting Soul urban crossover and next generation Spectra compact sedan. Attractive design, affordable pricing and impressive 5 year powertrain/5 year bumper to bumper warranty are expected to move these new cars from dealer’s lots pretty quickly and should help Kia achieving another record year in Canada.

Kia has announced it has began a full scale production of the Cee’d ISGs at it’s European manufacturing plant in Slovakia. Kia cee’d ISG models are already underway, while deliveries to European customers are scheduled to begin during the next two months.

At the beginning, Kia will build 6 different cee’d ISG models, while later, during the year, ISG technology will be expanded to diesel engine equipped cee’ds as well. Furthermore, Kia also promised to expand it’s innovative technology to other models in the range, while in the 2010, the ISG technology will also spread to markets outside of Europe.

Kia’s innovative ISG system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in traffic and restarts the engine instantly when the driver wishes to move again. When city driving, in typical heavy traffic conditions and constant stop-start motoring, the ISG system cuts the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 15%compared to the standard cee’d model, while everyday driving over town, country and motorway routes, the officially measured fuel saving is 6% on the combined cycle. (See the table!)

The Kia cee’d ISG also benefits from a significantly improved, new-generation 5-speed manual transmission, which weighs 5 kilograms less than previous unit and features new selector mechanism.

Pricing details for cee’ds sporting the fuel saving ISG technology is yet to be announced, but we were told that it will vary across Europe to suit individual market conditions.

(more…)

We are continuing our coverage from the Detroit Auto Show where Kia Soulster concept car made it’s official public debut yesterday.

Sleek, elegant and sporty, the Kia Soulster concept is a two-door vehicle with some roadster genes, designed especially to appeal to the younger crowds.

Spiced with some very unique design elements such as LED technology equipped lamps at rear and front fascias, side vents, circular door handles, side-mirror turn signals, LED accent lighting, dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fibre and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, the Soulster features a beautiful and eye-catching design inside& out. It also incorporates a two-piece canvas top and a roll-bar, which includes a place for slider tracks.

There are no words out there yet, whether this cool looking Kia concept will ever make it to production. Vice president of sales at Kia Motors America, Tom Loveless, said Kia had not made any decisions on a production version as of now, but was studying the possibility.

Here’s the first video preview of the Soulster concept taken during it’s official unveiling at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. (Watch the video after the jump.) (more…)

Kia Soul’ster concept

Bringing a sunny beach feeling into Cobo Center on a cold day in January, Kia Motors America (KMA) arrives at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with the Soul’ster open-air concept, a variation of the highly anticipated Soul, arriving at Kia Motors retailers this spring.

With young buyers’ budgets in mind, the Soul’ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the production model Soul, recently introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

“Soul’ster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today’s buyers – a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, KMA. “Defying categorization and providing utility and practicality, the Soul’ster exhibits distinctive design cues and satisfies multiple consumer needs.”

A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul’r yellow Soul’ster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet.

The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance. A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.

Click image to enlarge!

(more…)

First official image of the upcoming Kia Soulster concept car has leaked to the web just a few hours ago, making it’s early public unveiling ahead of Detroit auto show.

With it’s pick-up-like styling, large 5-spoke alloy wheels and LED technology equipped headlamps, the Soulster sure does look attractive. To be honest it’s hotter than any Soul concept we have seen by now, and there were five of them!

Since Kia has released a few Souslter teaser shots prior to it’s unofficial unveiling, we have been expecting to see a cool looking two-door concept car. Now it’s here, and it fully lives up to our expectations. If Kia has the nuts, it should bring it to the market as soon as possible. I bet it would sell like crazy!

The Soulster will be making it’s official auto show unveiling within two days, so stay tuned to get the official press release and a series of exciting Kia Soulster images.

Thank you for the tip CaptMal!

Click image to enlarge!