Kia Motors’ first quarter profit surges 91 percent to $890 million as sales rise 30 percent!

Kia Motors announced today that its first quarter profits rose 91 percent to $890 million! During the same three month period in 2010 Kia recorded a profit of $466 million.

Kia’s global sales during the first quarter of the year are up 30 percent from a year ago. New models such as Kia K5 / Optima, Sportage SX and Picanto minicar helped the automaker to surpass 600.000 units sales mark in the first quarter of 2011 (619.089 units). Kia’s domestic increased 20 percent, while exports gained 37 percent, reported automaker earlier today.

Average selling prices for new vehicles rose 4.5 percent in South Korea and 10 percent for exports, also reported Kia.

(more…)

Kia Motors sells a record number of cars in the first quarter of 2011…

Kia Motors set a new quarterly sales record in the first three months of 2011 thanks to growing demand for its vehicles in the U.S. market the company announced today.

During the Jamuary-March period, the company sold 565.355 new cars and SUVs globally (+ 20 percent from the same period last year). According to Kia, domestic sales came to 125.631 units, while exports rose to 439.724 vehicles.

The record sales are also expected to raise Kia Motors‘ global market share to over 3 percent for first time in its history. Kia’s market share has been steadily growing from 1,9 percent in 2007 to 2,1 percent in 2008, 2.6 percent in 2009 and 2.9 percent last year.

(more…)

2012 Kia Optima release date set for third quarter of 2011. Kia Optima production moving to Georgia, USA!

Kia Motors America has officially announced it plans to transfer production of its 2012 Optima mid-size sedan to the USA. Starting later this fall, the all-new 2012 Kia Optima will be produced at the carmaker’s manufacturing plant in West Pont, Georgia which currently produces Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe crossover vehicles.

“The success of the West Point, Georgia plant and the high-quality Sorento CUV built there underscores the attention to detail and commitment to quality and craftsmanship exhibited by each KMMG team member and is the primary reason for Kia’s decision to add Optima to the plant’s production line,” told Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America.

(more…)

Kia is celebrating the world-premiere of the 2012 Kia Rio sedan at New York Auto Show. Here are some details about US-market Rio specs, colors, engines, transmission, tires and wheels.

Scheduled to join the KMA line-up in the fall of 2011 – along with its 5-door hatchback sibling unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011 – the all-new Kia Rio sedan ushers in the next chapter of Kia Motors’ ongoing design-led transformation with eye-catching design, advanced technologies and sophistication in the small car segment.

With all-new ISG (stop-start) technology and class-leading horsepower and fuel economy up to 40 miles per gallon (5.8L/100km), Rio promises consumers impressive fuel efficiency without sacrificing power or fun-to-drive performance.

“The all-new Rio brings Kia’s successful combination of world-class styling, outstanding fuel economy, advanced technologies and tremendous value to the smallest and most economical vehicle in the Kia line-up,” said Michael Sprague, vice-president, marketing & communications, KMA.

“With gas prices rising, sub-compacts are becoming increasingly popular and with more power, up to 40 miles per gallon fuel economy and stunning design, the all-new Rio sets the standard in the sub-compact class and becomes a vehicle that is not only affordable, but one that people will aspire to own.”

2012 Kia Rio image gallery:

(more…)

Kia introduces the all-new 2012 Kia Rio 4-door sedan and the 2012 Kia Soul facelift at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

Kia Soul crossover, a vehicle that began the Korean carmaker’s design-led transformation two years ago, comes back to New York with updated styling and upgraded powertrain technology. For the 2012 Model Year, the popular Soul crossover received a significant number of technology enhancements to deliver more power and improved fuel efficiency, says Kia Motors America.

The all-new Kia Soul amplifies the fun-to-drive factor with significant horsepower increases, new six-speed transmissions and the ability to deliver up to 34 miles per gallon on the highway. Under the hood, the Kia Soul 2012 – model year features the carmaker’s new 1.6L GDI Gamma engine, which generates 135 horsepower (11 percent increase from previous engine).

(more…)

Blue Kia K2 sedan makes its official public premiere at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show!

Built on the same platform as the 2012 Kia Rio hatchback, the K2 sedan was designed and engineered specifically for the Chinese market. While sharing the same technical underpinnings as the new Rio 5-door, the B-segment K2 sedan sports a completely different exterior design lay-out.

The front fascia of the new K2 sedan features Kia’s “tiger nose” signature grille and exudes a high-tech and bold image thanks to innovative fog lamp design, large air intakes and dynamic swept back headlamps. A side character line, side air vent and trunk edge line add to the sporty image of the K2 sedan while the rear view features a two-tone bumper and modern combination lamps.

(more…)

Kia K2 sub-compact sedan and Kia K5 hybrid to make official premieres at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show!

Kia plans to showcase two new four-door sedans to Chinese consumers during the upcoming auto show in Shanghai. The 2011 Shanghai auto show, which kicks off tomorrow, will bring together all major international and domestic carmakers as well as hundreds of car parts suppliers from all around the world.

Each of the carmakers presented at the show, including Kia Motors and Hyundai Motor company, will try to win the hearts and minds of consumers in the fastest growing auto market in the world by showcasing their new concept cars, production models and latest environmental friendly technology.

(more…)

The 2011 New York Auto Show to host worldwide premieres of the next-generation Kia Rio sedan and Kia Soul 2012 – model year!

At next week’s New York Auto Show, Kia will unveil a completely redesigned Rio subcompact sedan and slightly updated Soul crossover. As our previous spy reports revealed, the Kia Soul 2012 – Model Year received some mid-cycle styling updates which include a slightly revised front fascia with LED daytime running lights, new signature grille and refreshed front bumper.

According to latest reports, the refreshed Soul crossover also received some of powertrain enhancements for the 2012 model year. The highlight of the new Kia Soul 2012 will be the all-new six-speed automatic transmission. This highly-advanced six-speed gearbox will replace the four-speed automatic transmission, which was available in the Soul crossover since its inaugural launch. Expect the Soul to achieve around 35 miles per gallon on the highway with the new tranny.

(more…)

Today, we are bringing you a new series of Kia K9 spy shots thanks to the fellows from chagal.org. They have caught a heavily-camouflaged Kia luxury sedan while cruising down the highway near Seoul.

Kia K9 luxury sedan has been rumored for quite some time now and several reports have already been published by us and other automobile enthusiast sites in the past. With more spy shots starting to circulate on the interwebs, it is quite obvious that the model is entering the final evaluation phase where the last kinks are being ironed out by the Kia engineers.

Details regarding the new Kia K9 are fairly scarce at this point but rumors are claiming that the K9 will be riding on the same chassis that underpins the Hyundai Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. The highlights of the up-coming luxury sedan will be the all-new 5.0L V8 engine with gasoline direct injection -GDI technology (429 horsepower!) and 8-speed automatic transmission. A less potent V-6 engine option will also be available.

(more…)

Kia Motors announces its global sales figures for passenger cars, crossover and commercial vehicles for March 2011!

Kia today announced its global sales for the month of March 2011 totaling 216.219 units sold. The strong March sales represented a 21.9 percent improvement from the same month a year ago.

During the month of March 2011, Kia posted strong double digit year-on-year sales increases in all regions of the world: 49.573 vehicles sold in North America (+41.8 percent), 46.100 units sold in South Korea (+21.3 percent), 33.951 units sold in China (+17.9 percent) and  45.358 units sold in Europe. Kia also sold well in general markets where the automaker sold 41.237 new vehicles (12.1 percent increase from a year ago).

Cumulatively, through the first three months of 2011, Kia’s global sales have increased by 20.0 percent year-on-year to reach 565.355 units. North America and general markets have experienced the highest gains to date in 2011 of 35.3 percent (117.087 units sold) and 21.1 percent (119.187 units sold), respectively.

(more…)

Watch the video with Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief designer, talking about the Naimo concept car…

The battery-powered Kia Naimo concept car, which made its official worldwide premiere at the 2011 Seoul Auto Show, was one of the stars of this year’s Korean largest auto event. Put on display alongside other Kia cars, including the all-new Optima hybrid, Kia K7 near-luxury sedan, KV-7 and Pop prototypes, the concept vehicle takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, (pronounced “Neh-mo”, meaning square shape).

Measuring 3.890mm in length, the Naimo concept car offers spacious interior with no B-pillars and rear-hinged rear doors that offer easy access to the modern cabin. The interior of the concept vehicle is fitted with natural materials such as Korean oak for the floor and door trim, and han-ji paper is used for the headliner.

Kia Naimo concept car video:

Next-generation Kia cee’d to get a (274-horsepower?) 2.0L turbo engine, which is currently available in the Optima and Sonata Turbo models.

Watch out Kia fans, the South Korean fastest growing carmaker is preparing an assault on mainstream European hot hatches ( VW Golf GTI, Renault Megane RS and Opel Astra OPC) next year, when the next-generation cee’d hits the streets.

While Kia might also release a Kia Rio turbo hot-hatch sometime next year, the flagship model of the automaker’s upcoming hot-hatch family of cars will definately be the all-new cee’d hatchback, which is currently in the pipe-line, and is scheduled to make its official European premiere in late 2012 or early 2013.

According to Autocar.co.uk, the basis for Kia’s hot hatch is likely to be the next-generation Kia Cee’d 3-door, which would feature a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine. The same four-cylinder engine currently propells the top-of-the-range Kia Sportage Turbo and Optima Turbo, as well as Optima’s twin model, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo.

(more…)

Kia announces record breaking sales figures for the month of March 2011 as Kia Sorento and Soul crossover each surpass 10.000 sales mark.

Kia announced yesterday that it has sold 44.179 vehicles in the U.S. market during the month of March 2011. Its monthly sales rose 44.7 percent from a year ago, and nearly 35 percent from February 2011.

Kia sales in March 2011 were lead by Sorento and Soul crossovers, which both surpassed the 10.000 units sales mark. While Kia Sorento has steadily achieved similar sales numbers over the past couple of months, this was for the first time that Kia Soul sales eclipsed the 10.000 unit mark. The two models have been Kia’s top selling nameplates with Sorento taking first spot among Kia cars sold on the U.S. soil (27.828 units sold to date) and Soult taking second spot with 22.057 units sold to date.

(more…)