Kia Motors America releases its newest TV advertising campaign for the Kia Soul, called “This or That.” It’s a sequel. Kia brings back the lovable singing hamster dudes who ushered Kia Soul’s popular entry into the US automobile market.

“Given the success and popularity of the hamsters in the initial Soul launch with a spot that won Nielsen’s Automotive Ad of the Year, it made sense to bring them back for a new campaign,” said Michael Sprague, marketing vice president of KMA. “We know the Soul target audience is digitally savvy and that they viewed the first commercial multiple times online, so the newest experience is rich with details in the hamster world and integrated Soul content for them to discover during repeat viewings.”

The TV “This or That” commercial shows the cool and savvy hamsters in hood singing a popular 90′s hip hop track, “The Choice is Yours.” The break-dancing, hip-hopping hamsters groove around suburban city blocks cleverly singing “You can get with this,” pertaining to the suave and shiny Alien Green Kia Soul, “or you can get with that,” pointing to washing machines, toasters and cardboard boxes being driven by “un-cool” hamsters as though they were automobiles. The commercial hints a very obvious choice.

The cool, loud, and MTV-ish commercial is what Kia Soul is all about – young, hip, and highly personalize-able. It can be what you want it to be. For real, this versatile five-door produces great audio sound with available Audio Upgrade Package, which includes speaker lights that dance and pulse to the beat of the music, mood lighting to produce a lounge feeling, and funky black cloth seats with “glowing” Soul logo.

Kia Soul hamsters comemrcial:

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The 2010 Kia Soul is one of the “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″ according to Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com.

Isn’t it cool to be one of the coolest cars around? Ask Kia’s 2010 Soul. Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com just named the Soul urban passenger vehicle as one of the “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″.

Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com is a popular and respected site for the information it gives out on new cars and used cars in the market. Kia Motors America (KMA) recognizes the significance of kbb.com’s citation. Michael Sprague, KMA’s vice president of marketing said,  “It’s reassuring to know one of the largest and most credible automotive consumer sites recognizes Soul for all it has to offer to a wide array of consumers, including design, practicality, technology features, fuel economy and the Kia brand’s core, standard value package.”

The Soul has caught people’s attention for its fun and funky design. It has personality, versatility, and techno-savvy, as it is affordable. Mr. Sprague also said, “Soul continues to draw more customers into Kia showrooms because of its cool factor and overall value package.”

The criteria to be included in the list of Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 are the same things that people look for when purchasing a car. These are safety, interior size, comfort, fuel economy, technology, and the X-factor, something that cannot quite be quantified but sets a car apart from the rest.

The 2010 Kia Soul has all of the above, according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com who did the selection.

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Can Kia K5 replace Hyundai’s 2011 Sonata as the most popular mid-size sedan in Korea?

Hyundai Sonata sedan has been the top-selling vehicle in Korea for decades. Recent sales success (110.000 units sold since launched in September 2009) of a completely redesigned Sonata has helped the model to further strengthen its position as the most popular car on the local market.

For years it seemed like none of vehicle available on the market could change the map of Korea’s mid-sized sedan market and beat the long-unrivaled leader. But things have changed and dominating Sonata sedan has finally gotten a respectable rival which could pose a threat to its long-time leadership.

First previewed at the New York Auto Show in April, the all-new Kia K5 (known as Kia Optima in the USA), which boasts impressive styling and state-of-the-art powertrain technology, could spell some trouble for Hyundai’s Sonata.

Recent sales report revealed that since K5 was first unveiled a month ago, Kia Motors Korea received 9.000 orders for the model, while at the same time sales of new Sonata declined 23 percent! This suggests that the all-new K5 may be affecting Sonata’s sales. Continue your read on Kia Optima sales here.

The 2010 Kia Soul is named to the “Best Family Cars for 2010″ list in the “budget” category!

A proven consumer and media favorite, the 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle recently was named to the “Best Family Cars for 2010″ list in the “budget” category by leading automotive research site Edmunds.com and family-favorite Parents magazine, adding to an already extensive list of prestigious honors and recognitions for the funky hatchback.

The 2010 Kia Soul was highlighted for its safety features, appealing styling, overall family-friendly features and its attractive starting price below $14,000.

“Soul is such a unique and versatile car, suitable for drivers in any stage of life with its extensive array of safety features, style and overall value, including parents and families,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America.

“The fact that this award is given by two well-respected outlets and based on direct consumer feedback is invaluable and a testament to our continuing commitment to providing attractive vehicles loaded with an abundance of safety features, technology and value.” added Michael

Taking all current model year vehicles into consideration, Edmunds.com and Parents magazine selected the top 15 vehicles – three each in the budget, crossover, minivan, sedan and SUV categories – based on performance, reliability, safety, and family-friendly features.

In addition to analyzing, test-driving, and comparing specifications, Edmunds.com and Parents took into account feedback from parents who own and drive these vehicles every day.  All of the cars on the list also are good values, and the winners must have a strong track record for reliability and performance.

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Kia Soul sales increase 62 percent to 5.223 units in April, while Kia Motors America posts 17 percent higher overall sales.

Kia Motors America today posted April 2010 sales of 30.036 units, an increase of 17.3 percent over the same period last year. According to the automaker’s monthly report, Kia’s year-to-date sales are up almost 13 percent compared to 2009. In the first four months of fiscal year, Kia sold 106.732 new vehicles in the US market.

Kia sales last month were led by US-built Sorento crossover with sales of 8.486 units. Kia Forte compact car, which recently received a “Top Safety Pick” award from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, posted sales of 5.807 units, while funky Soul crossover recorded monthly sales of 5.223 units.

The good old Rio sub-compact car posted strong sales of 3.020 units, while the outgoing Kia Optima, which will soon be replaced by the 2011 Optima sedan recorded sales of 2.912 units last month.

Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia said that Kia’s exceptional sales results reflect how US consumers are noticing the brand’s quality products with unparalleled design.

With three all-new vehicles on the horizon this year, including the 2011 Sportage, Kia Forte five-door and Optima sedan, Kia’s confident to continue its sales momentum through the rest o the year.

Kia sales table:

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