Kia’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia is open for business and starts production of the 2011 Sorento.

It’s no longer months or weeks until Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia starts production of the 2011 Sorento. It’s now days. Cars have been rolling off the assembly lines for weeks now, but the official start of production is still mid-November, said Randy Jackson, KMMG director of human resources and administration.

That’s what Kia officials have said since the Korean auto manufacturer announced its plans to locate its first American manufacturing facility in West Point back in March 2006.

KMMG opened its doors this week to introduce the national media to the plant and the 2011 Sorento. On Thursday, press representatives from various Web sites and magazines viewed the training center, which is down Kia Parkway from the plant, and the plant itself. The public has not been allowed to tour the plant yet, but officials say they will be offered the chance in the future.

The one part of the plant that was completely off-limits to the group was the paint shop. Danny Gordon, who works in stamping, said the environment of the paint shop is so delicate, even the employees that work there can’t wear certain deodorants or colognes because it could adversely affect the paint process. They must wear lint-free suits and caps, he added… continue your read here.

Local dealership Loughborough Kia recently hosted a visit from a very rare guest – a unique Kia Soul designed exclusively by Jeff Banks for fashion retailer Matalan. The one-of-a-kind car was styled by the celebrated designer for an in-store competition that Matalan will be launching to its customers in the winter.

The ‘Unwrap a car for Christmas’ promotion will run from November 16^th to 24^th December within all 200+ Matalan stores around the country. The promotion with Kia is exclusively available to Matalan Reward Card holders who swipe their card when they purchase in store or online. Reward Cards are free and available in all stores so you can pick one up next time you visit your local Matalan.

Remodelled from the stylish Kia Soul Samba – already a head-turning vision in bright Tornado Red – international designer Jeff Banks was inspired by its bold personality and wanted to adapt the model one step further. He added red alloy wheels, racing seats and an in-car cinema system, complementing its existing sound system with red LED mood lighting. Jeff Banks’ crest features on the roof of the car, plus his autograph on the tailgate.

“The car looks absolutely amazing – very inspiring,” commented Cliff Johnson, Dealer Principal, Loughborough Kia. “One of Soul’s main benefits is the fact that it can be customised to suit its owner. There are many packages available from Kia with all sorts of design options so that anyone can customise their Soul to reflect their personality.”

Starting at only £10.775, Soul’s appeal is more than just its looks. And, with a host of options and accessory packs available, customers can tailor their Soul exactly as they wish. Individual options vary from interior and exterior items, including leather seats, body styling kits, a selection of decals and carpet mats.

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New spy shots of the 2011 Kia Sportage surface to the web…

Spy photographers have caught another prototype of the third generation Kia Sportage crossover. This time, the new-look Sportage has not been spotted in Korea, but near Kia’s R&D centre in Germany, which is responsible to take on Sportage’s design, powertrain and handling development.

Even though the exterior is covered with heavy camouflage, it is evident that new exterior design is a huge step up from the current model. Details that stand out on the 2011 Sportage are a roof line slightly lower than with the current model, short front and rear overhangs, sleeker side profile, stretched headlamps, as well as interestingly shaped windshield!

Codenamed SL, the 2011 Kia Sportage will share its engines with the all-new Hyundai ix35/Tucson, so you can expect to see the power coming from a wide range of four cylinder diesel and gasoline engines.

Gasoline power will come from 2.0L and 2.4L Theta II engines that will generate 166 and 175 horsepower, respectively, while diesel engine line up will include a 2.0L R-diesel engine with class-leading 184 horsepower rating and 15.4 kilometers per liter fuel economy. Smaller, 115-hp 1.7L four-cylinder diesel engine, as well as 1.6L GDI gasoline powerplant with 140 horsepower are also rumoured to find a place under the hood of next generation Sportage.

Latest reports from Kia also reveal, it is very unlikely we will see a gas-guzzling V6 engine in the new Sportage. What will be available in the 2011 Sportage for the very first time is Kia’s all-new six-speed automatic tranny, which will be available in addition to standard six-speed manual gearbox. Just like other new-coming Kia models, the 2011 Sportage will also feature an ISG (Idle Stop & Go) system.

Although the Sportage looks like it was ready for production it’s still some months away from its official introduction. The model will make its official premiere at the forth-coming Geneva Motor Show in 2010 and will go on sale in Europe sometime in the summer next year. US sales are projected to begin towards the end of 2010. [Source: Autoweek.nl]

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While major global automakers struggle, Korean automakers are on a roll! Kia posts record-high Q3 earnings.!

Both South Korean carmakers, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. continue to outperform its main international rivals by posting stronger sales results and higher earnings!

Recently, Kia reported that its net profit swelled to a record $339 million in the third quarter! Kia’s earnings were boosted by weaker South Korean won and higher sales achieved in the most important international markets such as China, US and Europe.

According to Pamela Munoz, a company representative, the Q3 net profit was Kia’s highest ever on a quarterly basis! Just a few days ago, Hyundai also announced its net profit hit a new record of $832 million for the three months that ended in September. Together with Hyundai, Kia now challenges Germany’s Volkswagen to become the most profitable automaker in the world!

Kia posted the largest sales gain in China, where the automaker saw its sales rising  48 percent to 166.869 units sold to date. The automaker has also been successful at its home, Korean market where sales increased to 291.525 units (+ 27 percent compared to last year’s figures) in the first nine months.

In the US, where sales have recently been boosted by introduction of “scrappage programs”, Kia increased both, its sales and market share. So far this year, Kia dealers across the nation moved 274.976 new vehicles from their showrooms (+ 6.5 percent). Cumulatively, through the first nine months of the fiscal year, Kia’s global sales increased to 1.187.795 units (+11 percent).

With a slew of new, exciting products just around the corner, Kia executives expect the growth to continue into next year and beyond. The automaker will soon launch its long-anticipated premium sedan, called K7 in Korea (and Cadenza in other markets), while Kia also has high hopes for the all-new Venga mini-MPV, which goes on sale in Europe within the next two months.

For the 2010, Kia plans to launch other new models including the next generation Sportage SUV and Optima sedan. The automaker will also increase its international marketing spendings and open its first-ever US manufacturing plant! Kia plans to hold a ceremonial first car (new Sorento) roll-out on November 16th.

We have yet another exclusive report on the all-new Kia K7! This time we are binging you the very first set of K7’s interior shots. Once again, pics have been sent to us by members of Korean Kia K7 clubs. Thanks for the pics! [Source: club-vg.net & vgclub.net]

We are bringing you a couple of more images of the all-new 2011 Kia Cadenza / K7 together with some pricing and engine details, provided to us by friends over at Korean Kia K7 club.

Engines: 290-hp 3.5V6, 2.7L V6 with 200-hp and 2.4L Theta II with 180-hp will be available at launch, while 201-hp Theta II GDI (gasoline direct injection) will be available from October 2010.

Estimated pricing: Korean K7 will start at 28 million Korean Won (US$23.800), while the top of the range K7 will go for 40 million Korean Won ($34.000). [Source: K7club.net]

Update: Follow the link to see the very first Kia K7 interior images!

Kia Cadenza / K7 gallery:

The 2010 Forte Koup, Kia first-ever two-door coupe, has been named one of the “Best of the 2009 Orange County Auto Show” by NADAguides.com. One of only five vehicles at the show to be honored, this credit comes on the heels of its sibling, the 2010 Forte sedan, being named “Car of the Month” for August by the same online automotive resource.

The most recent addition to the Kia Motors lineup under the brand’s aggressive design-led product rollout, Forte Koup was acclaimed for its bold styling, class-leading power and exceptional standard technology features.

“This honor by NADAguides.com is just another example of how Kia is moving in the right direction by offering consumers a number of appealing qualities in all Kia vehicles, including comfort, styling, technology and safety,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of KMA. “Forte Koup is yet another huge statement for the brand both in style and in value, and presents us with the exciting ability to reach an entirely new market of automotive enthusiasts.”

NADAguides.com selected the top five vehicles of the Orange County Auto Show based on a concept or production vehicle’s style and features as well as its ability to make an immediate impact on the automotive industry and predict the needs of consumers.

“The Kia Forte Koup follows in the footsteps of the slightly larger four-door sedan with an unprecedented 2.4-liter engine that produces 173 horsepower. Kia is becoming the next big global automotive giant,” said Michael Caudill, automotive expert for NADAguides.com.

Available in two trims, EX and SX, Forte Koup offers consumers an aggressively styled performance-inspired two-door coupe with an abundance of amenities as well as impressive power. All Forte Koup models feature Bluetooth® connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls that enable voice-activated hands-free operation for compatible cell phones and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio.

For added listening convenience, steering wheel-mounted audio controls also come standard on all models, as well as USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod® and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit or steering wheel-mounted controls.

For those looking for extra punch under the hood, Forte Koup is truly a driver’s car with options of either a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine (EX models), producing 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque(2) that features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection, or an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine (SX models), also with CVVT, which delivers 173 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque(3), more than the Scion tC. [Source: Kia]

To buy a used Kia Soul, visit your local Kia dealer or browse through the websites offering used cars information.

If you’re looking for a used car with a different and unique exterior design you might wanna look at the Kia Soul. The Soul is a sub-compact crossover vehicle from Kia, which has been a popular choice among young and “young-at-heart” buyers.

At this point, there might not be a wide selection of used Kia Souls at the market. The model is still fresh and its been only about ten months since it made an official US debut. Still, the model is really attractive and stands out of the crowd, so it might be well worth to waste some minutes and search over the web to find out a reasonably priced used Soul crossover.

The all-new, entry-level, Kia Soul starts at approximately $13.300 to low 20s for the top of the range model. With some luck, you could get a used model priced anywhere from $10.000 to $15.000 (depending on trim level).

But you should know that the Soul is relatively a new vehicle, so it’s unreasonable to expect to find a model priced below $10.000 after only 10 months on the market. Plus, Kia’s are holding up their values much longer these days than they used to be. If you find the current prices too high, I suggest you to wait a few more months before you buy a used Soul crossover.

Before buying a used Kia Soul you should conduct a research to gather more information on the cars history, pricing and recalls. You can browse through various car related websites that offer information on new or used Kia cars. Once you do your “homework” and complete the initial used car research, you can contact or visit your nearest local Kia dealers and begin your buying process.

It is up to you which dealer to buy from. You can even buy from a private seller, but from my experiences, the best way to get a used car is to buy it from your nearest reputable used car dealer. If you get it from a dealer you can be sure that the car has been extensively inspected at the same moment it was delivered to the store. Oftenly, the dealer also gives a car a limited warranty (12 months or in some cases even longer) to make you confident that the vehicle works fine. But the warranty might vary from dealer to dealer.

Before you sign the papers, make sure to take the vehicle for a spin. You can agree with the dealer to allow you to take an hour or more long test-drive (the more the better!). Once behind the wheel, you should try out the vehicle in wet and dry conditions. Pay attention to every detail on the car and notify the dealer if you find anything suspicious.

Buying a used car is not a joke. Since you will be spending a considerable amount of money, make sure you do an extensive research and conduct a test-drive with the car you want to buy.

Buying a used Kia Soul could be a great investment. The Soul is a unique looking car that features a complete safety equipment, up-to-date powertrain technology and high fuel economy ratings. What’s most important, the Soul proved to be a reliable car and there have not been many complaints from the owners. Enjoy your Kia Soul!

Here are a few more shots of the all-new Kia Cadenza/K7 from Korea, where a model has been displayed in fornt of one of the local Kia delaerships. These are also the very first pics that reveal some details, including the rear-end of the car!

The only thing we haven’t seen yet is the interior lay-out of a production Cadenza / K7. I bet it won’t take us long before we get those pics, so stay tuned for more reports on Kia’s new stylish sedan! [Source: bobaedream / VGclub.net ]

Update: follow the jump to see more Kia Cadenza / K7 images!

Kia Cadenza / K7 gallery:

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Kia Cadenza / K7 makes its early debut ahead of its official domestic sales launch scheduled for November 24th!

Kia has released the very first official imges of its stylish upper-end sedan in Korea. In addition to that, the company has also revealed the official export market name of the production version of its KND-5 concept car – an all-new sedan designed to satisfy drivers’ desire for refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction by creating ‘ideal’ driving conditions.

The Cadenza name is derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. It perfectly symbolizes the dynamic sedan’s striking design philosophy and upscale image.

Sporty and sleek in appearance, Cadenza features a bold headlamp design with attention-grabbing LED surrounds and a purposeful, athletic character line. The prominent front grille and stylish taillights emphasize the car’s high-tech feel and are a continuing expression of Kia’s dramatic design DNA.

On the inside, there is a futuristic “floating” dashboard that highlights Kia’s uniquely innovative design approach. The welcome system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to “greet” the car owner, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs along the dashboard to the door trim, creates a warm atmosphere within the vehicle.

Kia Cadenza’s dynamic design and driving performance, allied with a raft of competitive passenger-friendly high-tech features, will make it a leader in the large, luxury sedan market segment.

Available new technologies will include a heated steering wheel (for winter driving in cold markets), powered extendable seat cushions (for extra thigh support), automatic defogging of the windshield and ventilated front seats (for cool comfort in hot markets).

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “New Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language through the harmonious blend of light and lines. It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology.”

Kia Cadenza / K7 gallery:

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The all-new Kia K7 spied again…

Spies have once again caught a heavily camouflaged prototype of Kia’s near-future flagship sedan. Codenamed VG, the prototype has been caught while driving through a heavy traffic in one of the crowded Korean cities.

As we already know, the Korean-market VG sedan is going to become the very first Kia to adopt the brand’s new alphanumeric nomenclature system. When the model reaches to production it is going to be named the Kia K7.

The all-new Kia K7 will retain sporty and emotional look of the KND-5 concept car. The model will sport many attractive exterior design elements, including Kia’s beautiful signature grille, and will be equipped with a plethora of advanced safety technologies and luxury features.

Those will include a heated steering-wheel, along with ventilated driver’s seat with the ability to extend its seating surface, front and rear parking assistance system, rear-view camera, navigation system, tire pressure warning system, panoramic sunroof and lane departure system – first time in a Kia vehicle).

Inside, the all-new Kia K7 will also feature LED lightning, while LED technology is also expected to be incorporated to K7’s headlights, as well as tail-lamps.

The power will be supplied to front wheels with a range of four-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines, including a 280-hp, 3.5L Lambda II V6 and 2.4L four-cylinder unit. According to latest rumours a 2.7L LPi engine (using LPG fuel) will be available as well, while later, Kia could also introduce a diesel-powered K7 sedan. Both, manual and automatic transmissions with six speeds will be available.

The K7 is set to be unveiled for the first time this November, while making its foreign debut at one of the international motor show next year.

UPDATE: A friend of ours informed us about the very first shots of a production-ready and completely undisguised Kia K7! Check out the pics here

The UK fellows at Autocar.co.uk had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the forthcoming 2010 Kia Sorento crossover. Unfortunately they only published a brief test-drive report, with not too many details included, but it seems like their very first impressions with Kia’s all-new crossover have been very positive.

The Autocar crew likes attractive body-shape of new Sorento as much as we do. Fabulously designed exterior, with front fascia featuring a massive H-shaped signature grille, will most definitely be one of the major selling points of the 2010 Sorento, but there are plenty of other features that will help moving vehicles from Kia dealer’s showrooms.

Most definately, the-state-of-the-art diesel engine will be one of them. Kia’s brand-new four-cylinder diesel engine churns out a class-leading 197 horsepower, a number that can’t be matched by any other diesel engine of the same size currently on the market.

According to Autocar, Kia’s 2.2L diesel engine is undoubtedly the best engine in the segment at the moment! It provides the vehicle with plenty of power and low-end torque plus it’s eco-friendly as it meets the Euro5 emission norms.

I hoped to read at least some words about Sorento’s all-new automatic tranny, but Autocar did not provide any details, so we will have to wait for a bit longer to hear the very first real-life impressions on the long-anticipated six-speed gearbox.

Here are some bits from Autocar’s review:

The Kia Sorento looks great. The nose is a winning combination of the Volvo XC60 and Nissan Murano, and it really sells the car.

The Sorento’s star attraction is the new 194bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel. This is undoubtedly the best in the class at the moment, with an easy-spinning character and plenty of low-end torque.

The new Sorento has a comfortable, lightly damped ride that will happily soak up the worst that British roads have to offer. Estate car drivers would take time to adjust to the large amounts of body roll, pitching and fidgeting under hard cornering, but the Sorento maintains its line well in high-speed bends. [Read more: Autocar]

Kia’s global sales in September 2009 skyrocket 40 percent compared to last year’s figures.

With September sales skyrocketing 40 percent compared to last year’s figures, Kia continues to post impressive sales throughout the 2009. Today, the Korean secon-largest carmaker announced it has sold 155.223 units in September 2009 (+40 percent), while its cumulative sales in the first nine months reached 1.187.795 units.

With more than 208.000 units sold in the first nine months of fiscal year, Kia Forte remains the best-selling Kia car in global markets. The all-new Forte leads Sportage SUV and B-segment Rio taking second and third spot with 127.342 and 125.092 units sold, respectively. Completing the group of five best selling Kia models in the 2009 are cee’d hatchback with 92.124 units sold and Kia’s mini-car Picanto with 73.991 units sold.

Last month, Kia experienced the largest sales gain in China where Kia cars attracted 25.356 new consumers (+130 percent). Korean sales totaled 39.006 units (+60 percent), while European and North American sales increased by 27 and 23 percent to 36.037 and 26.138 units.

Cumulatively, through the first nine months the Chinese market experienced the highest gain with 166.869 units sold to date, while Korea and North America showed cumulative year-on-year sales increases of 27.2 percent (291.525 units sold) and 6.4 percent (274.976 units sold), respectively.

“We are pleased to see Kia post sales growth across all markets this month. Although scrappage programs in many key markets are currently being phased out, we are confident that we are well positioned for continued growth with our new, exciting product introductions that will continue into next year and beyond.” said Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation.

Kia sales by model:

Next generation, 2011 Kia Optima/Magentis to bear K5 nomenclature in its home market.

Following our news, and exclusive image of the all-new Kia K7 that we published at our blog yesterday, is another report related to one of Kia’s forthcoming sedans. This time, the news relates to Kia’s all-new, 2011 Optima sedan.

Today, we have learned that a completely redesigned Optima sedan will make its inaugural Korean debut in the first quarter of 2010, while its official sales has been scheduled to commence in May next year.

Reportedly, the all-new Optima (NOTE: Korean market model only!) will be the second model after Kia K7 to adopt the brand’s new alphanumeric naming scheme.  According to latest rumours, the model is expected to bear a K5 nomenclature in its home Korean market.

A dozen of spy shots published on the web lately prove that the 2011 Optima is undergoing final phase of pre-production testing. Although most of the car has been hidden underneath a heavy camouflage, there have been several partly exposed parts, including a roof-line, signature grille, head-lights, tail-lights and side-mirrors, that allowed us to build a clearer picture of what the next-generation Optima will look like when it arrives into the showrooms.

Styling-wise, the all-new Optima will follow the trend of four-door coupes, set by pioneering Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. The model will incorporate Kia’s latest design scheme that will surprise many people yet again like how the all-new Forte and Forte Koup have done so.

Mechanically, the all-new Optima is a twin model of the all-new Hyundai Sonata so both are sitting on the same platform. However, since Kia is considering itself as a sportier brand in the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, it is very likely that Kia’s engineers will modify Optimas platform to offer sportier and more agile handling than its Hyundai counterpart.

The October 2009 Kia Soul of the month contest was won by a forum member RelenaRelena and we had a brief talk about his nice looking ride yesterday. Living in Holland, RelenaRelena became the very first non-North American Soul owner after five Canadian and one US Soul owners that won our monthly contest.

RelenaRelena drives a beautiful Soul crossover, coated in silver paint. Under the bonnet, the Soul features a 1.6L engine with 128 horsepower. The car is equipped with 16-inch tires and five-spoke alloy wheels.

Although RelenaRelena has owned his Soul only for a very short period of time, he already equipped his car with numerous (chrome) accessories. Sidebars, pushbars, chrome door handles, chrome head-lights, chrome rear wiper and other accessories provide his ride with classy and extravagant look.

Congraulations for your win RelenaRelena!

Here’s the honourable interview with the Soul of the month winner:

1. How long have you owned your Soul and what are your experiences so far?
We have owned the Soul for almost 12 days. We find the Soul a perfect car for us. Pleased that we have implemented with 16 inch wheels. Driving behavior is better for us than the 18 inch model in which we have done our test drive and we absolutely love everything about it.

2. If you had to pick one thing what was it that really sold you on the Kia Soul?
Not so sporty shape but rather modern retro exterior style. That makes you feel immediately that this car has something you do not see by other cars. We have not opted for black with this car because we wanted to retain the shape accents. In black you see this less than in bright silver.

3. Did you name your Soul?
Yes we call our Kia Soul “Diva Platinum” that was the first thing we thought after we had made some modifications. On the Internet we had seen a “Diva” Soul with gold accents.

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