Showing posts with label Kia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kia. Show all posts
Friday, 30 August 2013
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled a significantly redesigned version of its popular Kia Sorento CUV at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. Just three years after U.S. production of the CUV began in West Point, Georgia, the Sorento comes to market as no mere refresh or facelift, boasting instead an all-new chassis, a new Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) V6 engine, a substantially redesigned interior and a next-generation infotainment system. Expected to arrive in showrooms during the first quarter of 2013, the redesigned Kia Sorento also adds a top-of-the-line trim level to its lineup - the SX Limited - which delivers an impressive roster of premium features and amenities."With each new vehicle launch Kia is advancing the concept of value to new levels of sophistication and with significant chassis, suspension, powertrain and comfort and convenience upgrades the new Kia Sorento continues that trend," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing and communications, KMA. "With more than 80 percent of Sorento including new or significantly redesigned parts, it's obvious that the improvements are not just skin deep; including technological enhancements such as UVO eServices, the next generation of our voice activated telematics system, and Kia's first-ever blind spot detection system."If the engine is to be considered the heart of any vehicle, it's safe to assume the Kia Sorento has a powerful ticker beneath its sculpted hood. New this year, the all-aluminum 3.3-liter GDI V6 produces a smooth 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and a stout 252 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,200 rpm. It's available optionally on the LX and EX, while residing as standard equipment in the LX V6, EX V6, SX and SX Limited. Power is routed to either the front wheels or, optionally, to all four using an enhanced Torque On Demand all-wheel drive system that seamlessly directs power to the tire with the most traction and now includes the benefit of Torque Vectoring Cornering Control (TVCC) that aids stability under certain driving conditions.The 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder engine returns, now as standard equipment in the LX and EX, and replaces the previously-standard 2.4-liter MPI 4-cylinder. With 191 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 181 lb.-ft. of torque on-hand at a low 4,250 rpm, the lightweight all-aluminum powerplant is efficient while still providing enough grunt to perform yeoman's duty day in and day out.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
Regardless of engine or driveline choice, the Kia Sorento comes standard with a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission. Also standard in the new Sorento, Electric Motor Driven Power Steering replaces the hydraulic unit from the 2013 model, which improves steering feel and reduces weight to aid efficiency. New available FlexSteer offers drivers a choice of three steering modes: Comfort, Normal and Sport.Just three years into its product lifecycle, Kia's engineers saw fit to bring the new Kia Sorento to market on an all-new chassis that increases torsional rigidity by 18-percent. A major focal point in designing the new chassis was to improve ride and handling. Within the engine bay, a strut-tower brace increases chassis stiffness and provides a solid platform for the new independent front suspension that incorporates a stiffer H-shaped sub-frame cradle which offers improved vehicle tracking. Around back, a reinforced multi-link setup utilizes new bushings and mounts to better isolate road noise vibration, while its compact design allows for more interior space.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
In a segment more often known for bland utility, Sorento sports dynamic and sophisticated design elements, inside and out. Redesigned front and rear fascias enhance the Kia Sorento's road presence with a lower, broader appearance up front and a visually wider stance at the rear. The ubiquitous Kia tiger-nose grille is enhanced with an anodized silver metal or black mesh appearance and the lower valance has been opened to expose an aggressive cross-hatched maw. Front LED positioning lamps create dramatic eyebrows while projector style headlights peer from behind tapered clear lenses. Available fog lights on all trim models have been upended and pushed to the far corners of the front bumper for better forward and side visibility. Horizontally positioned rear LED combination lamps embrace the turn signal and back-up lights, emitting a warm corona that makes the Kia Sorento instantly recognizable from behind. The new Sorento rides on redesigned 17-, 18- and, a first for Kia's best-selling CUV, larger 19-inch wheels.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
To step inside the Kia Sorento is to experience a new level of sophisticated elegance. A redesigned instrument panel deftly combines technology with proven ergonomics. On EX trims and above, the large center gauge cluster features a 7-inch TFT LCD that projects a digital speedometer flanked by easy-to-read analog instruments for the tachometer, fuel level and engine temp. The TFT LCD readout also displays trip and vehicle information, along with navigation updates (optional). The center stack's appearance and layout has been modernized and button positions have been rearranged for a more user-friendly experience. The new design also provides room for Kia's new larger touch screen. Diagonally spanning eight inches, the optional screen integrates navigation, SiriusXM Traffic™ with real-time road information updates, a premium Infinity® audio system, SiruisXM™ Satellite Radio, Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity, vehicle settings and UVO eServices, Kia's next generation of infotainment and telematics. Other new available features in the Sorento include Kia's first-ever programmable power liftgate, a redesigned panoramic sunroof with a one piece power-operated shade, integrated 2nd row sliding sunshades, available dual ventilated air-cooled front seats, a 115-volt power inverter, and illuminated door handle pockets.Using advanced sonar sensors, Kia Sorento is also the first of many Kia vehicles to begin offering a blind spot detection system. The system continually monitors traffic around the Sorento and if another vehicle is detected within a set distance, audio and visual elements alert the driver to the issue.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
Shortly after the arrival of the new Sorento, the Sorento SX Limited is destined for market within the second quarter of 2013. With the success of the Optima SX Limited launched earlier this year, offering a similar appearance package on the Kia Sorento was a logical follow-up.Offered only in Ebony Black, Snow White Pearl and Titanium Silver, the SX Limited is set apart visually from the Kia Sorento SX by unique self-leveling Xenon HID head lights, exclusive 19-inch chrome wheels and sporty red painted brake calipers. Exclusive SXL badges adorn the exterior to complete the look. Inside, unique and luxurious Nappa leather trimmed seats, a wood-trimmed, heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats are all standard. The exclusive soft-touch head liner and pillar accents make the Kia Sorento SX Limited an inviting respite from the stress and strain of urban existence.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul has become a star on YouTube: in a television advertisement, the small, angular Kia Soul is driven by hip-hop hamsters through a world of dull cardboard box cars. The Kia Soul stands out as the only cool one a trucklike car with a pugnacious appearance whose offbeat, almost cartoonish character appeals to young drivers.When my wife first laid her eyes on the Kia Soul at the auto show, right then and there she wanted one. I was intrigued, but not overly thrilled at owning one (I don’t have a vehicle of my own – that’s what road test vehicles are for). To stop my ears from bleeding because of my wife’s incessant nagging, I asked the Kia Soul department for one to test at the earliest possible moment. That time has now arrived.Here is an article about Kia Soul 2011 Pictures. We know that the articles that we present is far from perfect but at least you'll get what you are looking for on this topic. OK happy reading and look around, Do not forget your comments and suggestions.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia Soul in 2010 brings a new approach to the scope of Korean society. It is not boring Lovers sedan, station wagon with five doors, the soul, that can influence the Kia Soul Cube and Scion urban confused with a stand and impressive light and spacious, well equipped and a complete list of safety features and fun. In 2010, Alma-style wins hands down. Back boomerang resembles some In-N-Out Burger fast, for others it is a strong, sleek design, working on something, above.The front features a new grille and headlights Kia Soulfriendly in terms of business, the back is less appropriate But square shoulders and a large, bright high score of petrol almost vertically to a great attitude Kia Soultreated casually. The interior is a mix of round shapes and plastic products and variety of sophisticated colors and textures, if you like a shell of red plastic seat material Pool track line. In 2010, Kia Soul is a new small car from the Korean manufacturer.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
When the Kia Soul appeared in 2009, it turned the entry-level market on its ear. It had a funky style, a ton of utility and it was one of the first true entry-level rides to arrive with all the desirable safety aids. Along with air bags and anti-lock brakes, it boasted electronic stability control and Bluetooth. Much of this wasn’t available, never mind standard fitment, on many far more expensive cars. Though the Kia Soul is set for sale in North America a bit later this year, Kia Soul has just shown a spin-off concept at the North American International Auto Show. Their highly rumored Soul 'pickup' variant, the Kia Soulster, isn't just a model repackage, either. Kia Soulsays that it shows the flexibility and versatility of the original Soul design.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia Soul's urban 'crossover', the Kia Soul, is being eagerly anticipated by shoppers after an affordable, stylish and practical machine with both street smart looks and flexibility. Set for a European launch in early 2009, the Kia Soulwill start sales overseas with diesel power and a selection of customization and personalization options including a moonroof, fog lamps and an audio system upgrade.Our design teams in Korea, California and Europe can be very proud Kia Soulhas achieved this prestigious recognition. Kia Soul’s design strategy is focusing on distinctive product solutions and the development of a unique Kia Soul family look. This recognition is a clear reward for Kia Soul’s determination to establish design as one of the key components of its corporate DNA,” says Kia Soul’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. It remains faithful to the concept car revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at the start of 2006. That concept was the inspiration of Kia Soul’s North American design studios in California, led by Tom Kearns. Eight months later, when Peter Schreyer became Chief Design Officer at Kia Soul, he was immediately full of enthusiasm for Soul and has personally overseen the project through to the final production stage.He was intimately involved with the Kia Soul concept ‘trio’ of Burner, Searcher and Diva, which appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Design teams in America, Europe and Korea have collaborated to bring it to fruition.The Kia Soul is all about creating a car that demonstrates Kia Soul’s passion for automotive design. The Kia Soulwill get Kia Soul talked about and generate customer appeal that will translate into strong sales,” projects Zian van Heerden, sales director for Kia Soul Motors South Africa.Style-wise, the front fascia has been reworked to emphasis the Kia Soul’s wide stance the fog lights are larger and the previous two-bulb headlight system makes way for a new four-bulb system that’s now available with projector headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED turn signals (sadly, only on the range-topping Luxury). Kia Soul At the rear, the new bumper reinforces the stance, while the tail light lenses are sharper and, again, are available with s. It all serves to freshen the appearance and add some visual refinement.Aside from a couple of niggles, the original Kia Soul proved to be a very likeable vehicle that combined space and utility with sharp looks. It was, and still is, the best-looking of the so-called “box” cars. Kia Soul The 2012 edition takes a huge step forward. It has a more refined interior, a better ride, significantly more power and improved fuel economy. It was attractive when it arrived; it is more so today after the rework.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia
Kia
Kia
Kia Motors is a South Korean automaker that's relatively new to the United States. In its early years, Kia largely catered to budget-minded consumers with well-equipped vehicles priced below competing models. More recently, this growing brand has kept value a priority while also emphasizing technology and sportiness.Founded in Korea in 1944, Kia started as a producer of steel tubing and bicycle parts. The company's name has its roots in the Chinese language, and means "to arise, to come up out of Asia." By the early 1950s, the company had produced Korea's first bicycle; by the latter part of the decade, Kia had branched out into motor scooters, with the rollout of the C100.The 1960s saw Kia expanding its lineup to include motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo vehicles. Naturally, the next logical step was automobile production, and the company began moving in this direction in the early 1970s. By 1973, Kia had built a facility designed to make its automotive dreams a reality; its Sohari plant held the distinction of being Korea's first fully integrated automobile production facility, and went on to spawn Korea's first internal-combustion gasoline engine. A year later, Kia unveiled the Brisa, Korea's first passenger car. By the end of the decade, Kia's technology was being used to manufacture vehicles like the Peugeot 604 and the Fiat 132.By the late '80s, Kia's lineup included new models like the Concord, Capital, Potentia and Pride. In 1987, Ford brought the Pride to U.S. shores, rebadging it as the Ford Festiva. Seven years later, Ford dealers got a replacement for the entry-level, subcompact Festiva in the form of another Kia constructed product, the Aspire.Kia finally began selling vehicles in the U.S. under its own name in the early '90s, trumpeting its presence with the introduction of the compact Sephia.
Kia
Kia
The car's rollout was gradual; in the early days of its production, the Sephia was only available in select Western states. By the mid-'90s, SUVs had emerged as a phenomenally popular and profitable vehicle segment. Kia responded with the 1995 Sportage, a compact SUV. By the end of the '90s, Kia's nationwide rollout was nearly complete.Financial difficulties in the late '90s prevented Kia from expanding its lineup beyond those two models. Hyundai, South Korea's other major automaker, acquired the company in a merger in 1998.Kia has been on a major upswing since its purchase by Hyundai, with improvements in build quality, performance and overall refinement. Reliability, previously a weak point, has also improved markedly and consumers' confidence was further bolstered by Kia's substantial warranty program. Today, Kia is on a dramatic upswing and offers a broad lineup of well-built coupes, sedans and crossovers that stand out for their value, performance and sporty styling.
Kia
Kia
Kia
Kia
Kia
Monday, 5 August 2013
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
Despite quality and reliability to match or better some of their Japanese rivals, sister companies Hyundai and Kia have struggled to shed their "cheap and cheerful" images in Australia.In October 2007, the launch of the all-new i30 small car lifted Hyundai to a new level - delivering a car that had the ability to play at the top end of the field. But the three models that followed failed to keep the car maker in the same league. The ix35 soft roader and i45 large car both had the looks but didn't deliver the drive experience to make an impact in the competitive Australian market. The recently-released i20 light car was also not the huge leap forward of the i30. So, while Hyundai was forced back to the ride and handling drawing board, Kia spent time and money investing heavily in a car that was tuned specifically for our demanding market. Enter the Sportage. This is Kia's version of the Hyundai ix35, and could well be the best car Korea has produced to date. The Sportage not only looks the part but, from our first drive, appears to deliver a drive experience unmatched by any Korean counterpart. It will even put some Japanese and European rivals on notice. The i30 kicked a goal for Hyundai, but the new Sportage has kicked the ball out of the park for Kia. Given its huge leap forward we are surprised Kia didn't take follow the lead of Hyundai and change the Sportage's name. The third generation Sportage is on showroom floors now and is longer, wider, and lower, than the model it replaces. It also uses less fuel and is better for the environment than the previous generation. There are three engine choices - a 2.0-litre (122kW, 197Nm) petrol, 2.4-litre (130kW, 227Nm) petrol and 2.0-litre (135kW, 393Nm) diesel - and three equipment levels, the Si, SLi and Platinum. Prices start from $25,990, $1000 cheaper than the ix35, and stretch to $38,990. All models come with ESC, six airbags, active head rests (front), ABS, a rollover sensor, hill start assist and downhill brake control. A rear camera is standard on SLi and Platinum models. The all-wheel-drive models feature a new on demand system developed by Magna. For better fuel consumption, the Sportage operates as a front-wheel-drive unless the conditions dictate the need for AWD.But the highlight of this new car is the ride quality, steering and dynamics. The suspension is a UK-tweaked European version and the steering rack is unique to our market. The Sportage will rival the Holden Captiva 5, Hyundai ix35, Nissan Dualis and Mazda CX-7.
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
There is nothing subtle about the all-new Sportage.Its design is bold and hints that there is more about the Sportage than meets the eye.The new car has lost the teddy-bear looks of the previous generation model - replaced by a sleek, elegant SUV that has the sort of aesthetics to entice buyers to the brand.Step inside and it's a no-fuss affair with clean lines and an ergonomic layout.We got behind the wheel of the Si 2.0-litre 2WD manual and the flagship diesel Platinum.The Si does feel a little cheap compared with the Platinum. While the interior is all black, the different plastic surfaces break it up although in the base model there is a lot of hard plastic.You can't change the passenger seat height which was a little annoying.The driver, however, has a height-adjustable seat and steering wheel so finding a comfy seating position was easy.Four adults will fit comfortably in the new Sportage with good room for all limbs front and rear. Five adults is squeezy and the piggy in the middle will have an uncomfortable journey on a hard/narrow seat with a hard seatback. Still there are three point seat belts to keep everyone safe.The rear seat squab may be a bit short for passengers with longer legs.Move into the cargo area and the boot is longer and wider than the previous model. There is 740 litres with the rear seats in place, growing to 1547L with the rear seats folded. The rear seats fold almost flat, splitting 60/40.The Si model won't win any traffic light dashes but gets along ok once up and going. The sweet spot is around the 3500rpm. The clutch and accelerator pedals are not evenly weighted so requires the need for dancing with the stars-style foot work to take off smoothly.Wind and road noise was noticeable on country roads but was not overly intrusive.Up hills you need to be in the right gear to pull with two on board and we think it might struggle when loaded with a family and luggage.Cruise control keeps your speed on the right side of the law.Given its family focus a rear camera should be standard in this model too as rear visibility is not the best. The difference between the Si and the Platinum diesel was like chalk and cheese. The diesel model gets all the bells and whistles including leather seats, front seat warmers, rain sensing wipers and daytime running lights.The diesel engine was surprisingly smooth, quiet and refined. We've sampled this engine in the ix35 and didn't remember it being as quiet. It has loads of torque and works well with the six-speed automatic.The diesel model is 150kg heavier than the Si model but the extra torque of the engine easily masks the extra fat.We didn't get behind the wheel of the 2.4 on launch but the figures, on paper, suggest that while performance will be better than the 2.0, the diesel will be the pick of the engine choices.We drove the diesel Platinum model which costs $39,000 but there will also be an SLi version available with the diesel engine. This model is priced from $34, 990 - $2500 more than the previous entry-level diesel model. On all models the large front pillars and side mirrors block vision. While I was not the only one to encounter this problem we'd recommend you see for yourself. Different driver's seating positions can alter front vision.
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage
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