2010 Kia Sorento -R video

Following it’s successful Korean premiere at the on-going Seoul Auto Show, Kia’s all-new Sorento crossover will now be introduced to the public of North America for the first time. The 2010 Kia Sorento, which has seen a remarkable exterior redesign and vastly improved interior, will be put on display at the forthcoming New York International Auto Show on April 9.

Designed under the direction of Peter Schreyer -Kia’s Chief Design Officer, the new Sorento incorporates simple, linear lines that make it look very powerful and sporty. The 7-seat crossover vehicle now features Kia’s new corporate grille, which has been previously implemented to other Kia models, such as Kia Optima and Forte/Cerato sedan… To find complete and detailed information on the 2010 Kia Sorento follow this link.

Kia Motors America reported it has seen a slight drop in March 2009 sales when compared to the same month of last year, but in spite of that, it’s overall sales in the first three months of fiscal year remain about flat.

In March, the Korean second largest automaker sold a total of 24.724 cars and SUVs, representing less than 1 percent drop from 24.871 units sold a year ago. So far this year, Kia’s US sales totaled 68.893 units, up 1 percent from the 68.214 units sold during the same period in 2008.

Among Kia’s models, three of them posted monthly sales increases. Sales of Sorento jumped 57.8 percent to 3,217 units from 2,039 units, while Sedona experienced a 62 percent increase and it’s sales jumping to 4.426 units.

But leading the charge with sales of 1246 units, was just recently launched, fun and stylish Kia Soul crossover. The Soul debuted in the showrooms across the USA in February this year and it’s sales skyrocketed above 1000 units in March – just like we predicted last month.

“Sales of the Kia Sorento and Sedona are strong and we can attribute that to the right marketing strategy and our strong value proposition,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing at Kia Motors America. “We are also pleased to have the Soul post impressive results right out of the gate with its recent launch in the U.S market; we feel we have the right vehicles for the times.” added Michael.

To avoid the sales slump in the coming months, Kia will intensify the advertising of it’s cars and also add some new models to it’s range. By summer, we will see Forte sedan replacing the old Spectra model, while later in the year, the exciting 2-door Forte coupe is expected to hit the Kia dealers across the USA. In November, the company will also open it’s first US manufacturing plant where it will build the 2010 Sorento crossover in-line with two additional models.

Kia has taken the wraps off it’s latest concept at the Seoul Auto Show today. The VG concept presents the new direction of design that reflects the style of the upcoming near-luxury Kia sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale in Korean market in September this year.

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the VG concept sports an elegant, yet sporty exterior design. Front VG fascia features Kia’s latest family-look and a radiator grille based on a symbolic representation of a tiger’s roaring countenance. It’s refined side profile reveals a strong side character line ending at striking rear lights equipped with latest LED technology.

The 4,945mm long concept car is sitting on 20-inch large-diameter alloy wheels and is equipped with the panorama sunroof, which extends seamlessly from the front windshield to contribute to its open and sleek facade.

The Kia VG concept is a front drive vehicle, outfitted with a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine and produces 277 horsepower. The gasoline powered powerplant is mated to the six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

The VG show car is a near-production concept vehicle, that will go into production later in the year. Initially, the car will only be available in South Korea, but plans to expand it’s sales to international markets, including US, where it will be replacing the aging Amanti sedan.

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Kia has taken the wraps off its all-new 2010 Sorento – the landmark vehicle that took the Korean brand onto the world stage – at the Seoul Motor Show.

Longer and lower, the new Sorento brings sleek styling and a futuristic touch to the world of the urban CUV. With its longer front overhang, wedge profile, crisply defined greenhouse and accentuated wheelarch volumes, Kia’s new CUV looks thoroughly modern and sporty.

The 4.7-metre long new Sorento moves vehicle design in this segment up to a new level of sophistication. As part of Kia’s drive to expand market coverage with its latest CUV, the new Sorento will be manufactured with a total of four engines – with different engines being available in various regions around the world in order to best suit local requirements and with CO₂ emissions from just 173 g/km.

The original Kia Sorento was a ‘landmark’ vehicle which took the Korean brand into a whole new section of the automotive market all around the world. Introduced in 2002, it marked a huge step for Kia, challenging many established 4×4 and SUV brands and starting the process of changing public perception of Kia as a ‘maker of small cars.’

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April the 1st is known to be the fools day. A day when people make jokes out of each other or make up stories similar to that we have posted earlier today (Wind powered Kia Soul). But rather than making fun all-day long, we are going to show you some real pictures of the 2010 Kia Sorento, that leaked to the web only a day before it’s official Korean unveiling.

In case you didn’t know, the 2009 Seoul Auto Show kicks off tomorrow and Kia will use the event to preview the revamped Sorento to the public for the first time!

Speaking in general, a dozen or so of new concept cars and production ready vehicles are expected to be unveiled during the auto show event. Each of the five Korean automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, GM Daewoo, Renault Samsung, and SsangYong Motor will preview at least one new model to it’s domestic consumers.

Taking the front stage at the show will be the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group with Kia making three world premieres while parent Hyundai will also exhibit several new concept cars. One of the main attractions of this year’s Seoul Auto Show will most definitely be the all-new Sorento crossover, which will be displayed to the Korean car fans alongside Kia Forte hybrid and VG concept sedan.

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In a dramatic move aimed at delivering environmental benefits without expensive technology Kia has revealed its new Aero-Soul concept that reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions with a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line.

Although unveiled on the company’s stylish and fun cross-over Soul the patented system can be easily extended to all the company’s vehicles and will even be available as a bolt-on accessory for vehicles already in use.

The system relies on small sensors built into the front and rear bumpers which monitor external wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car’s behaviour.

So at cruising speeds if the wind behind the car is strong – such as in winter gales – the panels will harness wind power to provide forward motion. If the car is slowing or under braking the panels will deploy to provide additional retardation effort. Additionally a small electrically powered baffle can be lowered just behind the exhaust pipe under harsh braking to provide the kind of “reverse-thrust” normally associated with aircraft during landing – this element will only be available as a factory-fitted device.

Systems Manager Avril Babo at Kia’s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, south of Seoul said: “The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn’t cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road.

“Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. In perfect conditions – downhill with a following wind fuel use and exhaust gasses can be reduced to almost zero! Plus, brake-pad life can be extended by anything up to 50 per cent depending on driver behaviour, she added.

The new A.P.R.I.L. system will be available on all vehicles ordered after midnight on March 31, 2010 and the accessory pack will be available the following day. Prices will be announced in due course. [Source: Kia UK]