Tuesday, November 27, 2012

High Performance Kia Pro Ceed GT Confirmed

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Kia officially confirmed they are working on a high performance GT version of the new Pro_ceed model. It was almost a given, because it’s not exactly a secret that Kia desperately wants to become more sporty, and also because the new Pro_ceed is too good looking to remain just a family car.

 

Going on sale in the Spring next year, the Pro_ceed GT is a proper hot hatch. It will be powered by the firm’s 1.6-litre turbocharged GDI engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Now, 1.6 doe not sound like a lot, but that’s the way it works these days. Car maker have to compromise on the size of the engine and rely on stuff like KERs or turbos to make up for the lost performance. Otherwise they wouldn’t meet consumption and emissions targets.

It’s hard to tell what the car would look like based on this teaser picture Kia has given us, but you can notice the large wheels, sports grille and bumpers with red accents, and some new form of ED lights which look quite interesting.

(Courtesy to Motorward.com)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Monday Maintenance Tip: Keep an auto log

Keep an auto log

Keep a pad and pencil in the glove compartment and use them to record your gas fill-ups and mileage. If you notice that your gas mileage worsens, mention it to your service man. It may be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your car.

Milage

Courtesy of Reader's Digest

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Kia Optima -Driven

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For the last number of years Kia has really made a name for itself in the soft-roader, family-sized saloon and hatchback markets, yet they haven't quite made the same impact in the large saloon segment, or sedan market as those Yanks prefer to call it. In order to find out just why this might be, I took delivery of Kia's latest offering to this area - the Optima.

When it comes to tarmac real estate the Optima is certainly higher up there, physically it's huge and to be fair it looks the part - not overly exaggerated styling, instead it retains a clean, well proportioned & sharp design that certainly keeps its competitors on their toes - in my mind it's one of the best looking cars in its class.

The interior also has an executive feel to it. From the front seat is clear to see the whole dash design is very driver orientated. The quite vertical facia designs are reminiscent of older Saab design and although offering a high degree of spec, I do feel the interior doesn't quite live up to the quality of the exterior from a design perspective at least.

Inside you will find all the now usual trappings of any decent D segment car. Cruise control, bluetooth & air conditioning all feature in this spec as well as a neat rear view mirror mounted reversing camera that activates when reverse in engaged. It also is linked to the steering to help guide you into those tighter spaces when needed.

Powering this particular Optima is Kia's 1.7 litre diesel engine which produces an output of 134 bhp and Co2 of 133 g/km putting it into tax band B. During my week of living with the Optima I did manage to achieve a rather respectable 5.5 l/100km which turns out to be quite close to the manufacturer's claimed 5.1 l/100km (combined).

One aspect I did feel was worth giving a mention to was the comfort of the Optima, particularly on longer motorway journeys. The suspension is well setup and thankfully Kia didn't go down the route some brands have done in trying to engineer in a 'dynamic' feeling by essentially making the ride overly-firm. Crucially neither does it have a ride that will make you feel sea sick over a long journey.

So what is the rest of the Optima like? Well sitting into the rear you are greeted by quite a degree of space, and although the Kia may not be class leading it certainly has little to worry about on that front while bootspace is right up there with the likes of the Skoda Superb.

So with plenty of space, comfort and toys I'm surprised that the Optima isn't more of a hit. It may be allowing its Hyundai siblings to enjoy a bit more of the limelight but in my opinion the Optima is one of the most underrated cars in its segment. I for one would be very happy if I saw the Kia appearing on my company car fleet, and despite the slightly less that stellar interior, the Optima is a really great all round car perfect for eating those big miles in comfort.

Courtesy of 50 to 70 Blog

Monday, November 12, 2012

Come and get a great deal on some of theyear's best buys!

Make sure to stop by and find out why the Kia Optima, Soul, and Sorento were named Best Buys by Consumer Digest!

Come in for a test drive today!

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Make sure check out our latest eCoupon!

Make sure to stop in this November and take advantage of our $39.99 oil change, tire rotation, and brake inspection coupon!

Head to our Facebook and click on our "Offers" tab, or just follow the link! http://on.fb.me/VFIm5f

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Take a road trip with Kia.

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My family would love to take a road trip across the country together.  What memories that would create for our children!

Until then, we're happy hitting the road visiting Disneyland, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey and Santa Cruz.  Those are our go-to destinations when we need to get out and play!

Here are our no-fail tips when we travel.  Pack light and always bring snacks and plenty to drink in the car.  Be sure to bring your kids' favorite activities to keep them busy such as their Nintendo DS, tablet, DVDs, music, etc.  There's nothing worse than traveling with bored children!

Know where you're going using maps or your GPS and bring a first-aid/roadside assistance kit in case of an emergency.  Don't forget your phone with charger and remember to have fun and stay safe!

Another huge must - travel in a comfortable/reliable vehicle.  Kia can help in that department.  Having the right car can seriously make or break a road trip.

Courtesy of The Funky Monkey (Blog)

Thursday, November 1, 2012