Check out this Kia Sorento that opened San Diego Comic-Con!

This and seven other custom built Kias will be on display at the Interactive Zone! Click HERE to read more.

Wallpaper‬ Wednesday! Here's a cool ‪Kia‬ Opirus for your desktop.

Kia global sales up 2.6% halfway through 2013

Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles through June 2013, recording a total of 1,383,759 units sold. This figure represents a 2.6% year-on-year increase for the first six months of 2013.

China experienced the highest cumulative gain to date in 2013 of 23.1% (291,125 units sold), followed by Europe with 3.7% (296,543 units sold). Korea, North America and general markets* experienced cumulative decreases of 5.3% (226,404 units sold); 4.3% (313,976 units sold) and 1.3% (255,711 units sold), correspondingly.

“Halfway through the year Kia is still posting positive sales results, and we are particularly pleased with the strong sales momentum in China, which further demonstrates the market as a rising star for the Kia brand,” said Thomas Oh, Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors International Business Division.

For the month of June, Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets was the B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2′ in China) with 43,586 units sold. The Sportage compact CUV was the second best seller with 33,388 units delivered, while the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3′ in some markets), Optima D-segment sedan and Sorento mid-size CUV followed with 32,696, 23,197 and 18,090 units sold, respectively.

Courtesy of AutomotiveWorld.com.

4th of July Photography Tip!

Who's excited for 4th of July festivities?! Here's a little photography tip for capturing fireworks:

Choose a vantage point upwind from the blowing smoke. This makes for more comfortable shooting conditions, and from the right vantage point, the reflective quality of the smoke can add an element of interest to the shot.

Kia Motors America Extends Partnership with DonorsChoose.org to Benefit Public School Students Nationwide in 2013

After providing educational resources to nearly 500,000 public school students across America last year, Kia Motors America (KMA) today announces a significant extension of its philanthropic partnership with DonorsChoose.org, the online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.

As part of the continuing relationship, Kia is launching a major funding campaign in 2013 that will raise the company’s total impact to $5 million in just two years. To date, Kia has matched the support of 21,000 citizen philanthropists to collectively deliver more than $2.1 million in resources to classrooms nationwide. “Kia Motors America (KMA) has grown to become the eighth largest brand in the U.S. by volume, and as we grow, our culture and core values compel us to give back to the communities that we call home and contribute to a better future for all,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. “The overwhelming response to last year’s collaboration with DonorsChoose.org was truly inspiring, and we are determined to help even more children – and teachers – in need in 2013.”

“Kia’s support has helped bring books, chess sets, butterfly gardens, guitars, basketballs, microscopes, and many more resources to America’s high-need classrooms,” said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. “DonorsChoose.org is grateful for Kia’s renewed commitment to helping thousands of students access the materials they need and the quality education they deserve.” -more- The announcement coincides with the unveiling of a new racing livery for the No. 36 Kia Racing Optima featuring DonorsChoose.org at a VIP “Stars and Cars” promotional event in New York City.

Kia will match consumer donations to classroom projects at public schools near Kia’s network of more than 765 retail showrooms across the country as well as the company’s U.S. headquarters in Irvine, Calif., and assembly plant in West Point, Ga. Earlier this year, Kia highlighted the valuable work of DonorsChoose.org in a marketing integration with NBC’s hit show “The Voice” and made a substantial contribution to the charity’s efforts to rebuild 60 Oklahoma classrooms destroyed by tornadoes. Kia: One of the World’s Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.

Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand’s “Top 100 Best Global Brands,” and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013. Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company’s first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built Optima and Sorento in two of the industry’s largest segments has fueled Kia’s rapid growth and is complemented by Kia’s comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza flagship sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.

Courtesy of The Auto Channel.

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Is Kia working on a sporty convertible?

It's been a number of years since we last heard rumors about a drop-top Kia, but as the South Korean automaker continues to grow into new segments, why not stir things up again? Fan site Kia-world.net got its hands on what is claimed to be an exclusive drawing (click to enlarge) of the Kia Pro_cee'd GT Cabrio.

This rendering looks exactly like what we'd picture a topless version of the three-door hatchback to look like, but until there's any official information, we'll keep this filed under "we'll believe it when we see it." The idea of a Kia convertible sounds good to us, especially if it looks like this, but we're still waiting for the sporty model that lead designer Peter Schreyer said could happen "sooner or later" back in 2010.

Courtesy of Autoblog.

It's the start of a new week! Who likes to build cars? Who's working on one currently?

Time for some Throwback Thursday! Check out this funny Kia Sportage commercial -- "Grow up, not old".

Wallpaper Wednesday! Who thinks their mom or wife is Wonder Woman?

Kia Motors Punks, Rattles And Rolls As Official Vehicle Of Vans Warped Tour For Sixth Straight Year

For the sixth year in a row, Kia Motors America (KMA) is touring the country as the "Official Vehicle of the Vans Warped Tour" alongside some of today's most entertaining rock and indie bands. Concertgoers in 39 U.S. cities will be able to enjoy live music performances and visit the Kia Soul Lounge to participate in a variety of interactive experiences in the spirit of this year's Kia theme, "Rock and Roll. Punk and Soul." Kia will be the official sponsor of the tour's two main stages -- the Kia Soul Stage and Kia Forte Stage -- for the second year in a row, and an exclusive Kia VIP riser will allow select concertgoers to stand above the crowd and enjoy their favorite bands from an elevated, shaded platform.

"Music, pop culture and having fun drive today's youth culture, and the 2013 Vans Warped Tour couldn't be a better embodiment of those core, coming-of-age lifestyle elements," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Our partnership with the tour allows us to showcase the all-new Kia Soul and Forte, which have always relied on youthful spirit as a cornerstone of their appeal. We're excited to continue connecting with the young and passionate fans around the country through yet another summer of great music and fun."

This year, concertgoers will be able to enjoy hours of live music, including exclusive acoustic sets with tour headliners "We Came As Romans" and "Sleeping With Sirens" in select concert locations. Fans also can visit the Kia Soul Lounge, an interactive tent featuring a DJ, daily band autograph sessions, "Show Your Punk" body painting and hair styling stations, and a "Rock and Roll" photo booth where concertgoers can scream and rock out to their heart's desire. An interactive app will register participants via Twitter and Facebook, and each photo will be made into an animated image that can be shared via the participant's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

"It is only with the continued support of people like Kia that the Vans Warped Tour is able to offer such a value to the fans," said Kevin Lyman, founder and producer, Vans Warped Tour. "Warped is the lowest-priced ticket in town for the amount of show it brings the audience."

Visitors to the lounge also can view and learn more about the all-new 2014 Soul, which boasts more passenger and cargo room than ever before along with a new, more aggressive appearance. Also on display will be the all-new 2014 Forte 5-door, which offers more room, fun-to-drive performance and cutting-edge technology.

Festival participants will be encouraged to "Share their Soul" through an interactive photo sharing game in which concert attendees are tasked with capturing their favorite moments of The Vans Warped Tour in real time based on the tagline "Rock and Roll. Punk and Soul." Concertgoers are turned into roving reporters, snapping pictures of people rocking out, pretending to drive Kia vehicles and anything else they feel captures the Vans Warped Tour experience. Concertgoers also have the unique opportunity to receive Kia VIP passes, which allow them access to an exclusive private riser near the main stage, or in some cases, on the two main stages themselves, where they can enjoy spectacular views of the day's biggest performances.

The Vans Warped Tour kicks off on June 15 in Seattle, and will feature more than 125 rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, indie rock and electronic artists, including current chart-toppers and the hottest up-and-comers.

Select tour dates and destinations of the tour include:

• 6/15 -- Seattle
• 6/16 -- Portland
• 6/19 -- San Diego
• 6/20 & 6/21 -- Pomona, CA
• 6/27 -- Phoenix
• 6/28 -- Los Vegas
• 7/10 -- Washington DC
• 7/11 -- Boston
• 7/13 -- New York
• 7/19 -- Detroit
• 7/20 -- Chicago
• 7/28 -- Orlando
• 8/2 -- Dallas 

Courtesy of The Auto Channel.

Car safety tip: Never engage an aggressive driver.

Car safety tip: Never engage an aggressive driver. Avoid eye contact and ignore gestures. You never know what could happen on the road!

Come in and get a tire rotation for only $12.99!

Come in and get a tire rotation for only $12.99!

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Who went to their high school reunion?

Which is better: Manual or Automatic?

Who thinks the Blake Griffin Kia commercials are hilarious?

Our monthly special is almost over -- buy 3 tires, get 1 FREE! Hurry in!

Our monthly special is almost over -- buy 3 tires, get 1 FREE! Hurry in!

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A great car just got better this Memorial Day… check it out!

Check out our current specials, including tire rotations for $12.99!

Check out our current specials, including tire rotations for $12.99!

See them here: http://bit.ly/17ykzq7

Boyz II Men And Kia Sorento Help A Super-Fan Proposed To A Loved One

When was the last time you were really surprised?  How about the last time you got a big surprise delivered by a legendary recording artist like Boyz II Men?

If you were Stephen, winner of the Sorento Serenades with Boyz II Men contest, you had a chance to deliver the ultimate musical surprise to girlfriend Nikki over a romantic dinner that featured a very important question.

The Boyz delivered of course, and Nikki got a proposal she won’t soon forget — with a little help from Nathan, Shawn and Wanya.

Courtesy of The Frisky.

Learn how turbo works! Check out this short video.

Figure out your monthy car payment using our calculator!

Want to figure out an estimated monthly payment for a car? Use our Payment Calculator!

Check it out on our website here: http://bit.ly/YJGyHW

Kia Forte offers style, comfort at a nice price

 

The new Kia Forte is roomier, quieter, more comfortable, and generally more advanced than its predecessor. But what grabs you initially is the styling. The car was sculpted under the watchful eye of Peter Schreyer, the talented former Audi designer who was hired to enhance the potency of Kia's styling steroids. And it is a looker.

Happily, the exterior design's good vibrations reverberate inside the new Forte. There is nothing too busy or too schmaltzy about this interior. It is a handsome monument to minimalism. Terms like understated and Bauhaus come to mind.

At the moment, the new Forte is available only as a sedan. A five-door hatchback is slated to debut this fall.

The Forte comes in two flavors: the base LX and the more deluxe EX model I checked out. Both are good values. The base LX, powered by a 1.8-liter, 148-horsepower four, starts at $15,900 with the six-speed manual gearbox and $17,400 with an automatic. The more heavily equipped EX, which is fitted with a more powerful, 173-horse, 2-liter engine, and comes only with the automatic, opens at $19,400.

The Forte is quite decently equipped in base form and offers some unexpected premium features in EX form, namely a direct-injected engine and a six-speed automatic, not a four- or five-gear job.
Both the 1.8- and 2.0-liter engines are new for 2014. The 1.8 is borrowed from the Forte's corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. The 2.0 in the EX is a slightly stroked version of that engine with higher compression and direct injection.

A third engine - a 1.6-liter turbo developing 201 horses - will be available in the sporty SX version of the hatchback due this fall.

Reduced ground clearance contributed to the new car's one-inch height loss. Since the new Forte is a tad longer and wider than the old one, the interior's aesthetics are complemented with a tad more room. Someone 6-foot-2 has plenty of legroom in the backseat, and just enough headroom in the two outboard seats. Sit in the mildly raised middle, however, and you are out of luck.

Trunk space, nearly 15 cubic feet, is excellent for a compact.

As pleasant as it was, the Forte EX's interior still reminded one of the often subtle ways manufacturers keep down costs. While the front window sills were soft touch, the rear ones were hard plastic.

The Forte's designers used a lot of high-strength steel to enhance the structural rigidity of the new model, and injected foam between structure and body panels to diminish noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The result is a much quieter car.

The increased quietude teams up with enhanced ride comfort, thanks in part to the tweaking of the torsion beam rear suspension.

The EX's 2-liter engine doesn't provide paste-you-back-in-the-seat acceleration, but it's quite adequate for the real world and gets along well with its six-speed playmate. The suspension provides cornering competence as well as ride comfort but, like the engine, isn't going to leave boy racers hyperventilating. That chore probably will be assigned to the turbocharged SX.

The nicely equipped EX sports an appealing price tag in base form. But, like any other car, you can plump up that sticker with optional moves such as powering, leathering, heating, and ventilating the seats. The tester is a case in point, going from $19,400 to $24,715 plus shipping.

Courtesy of Philly.com.

Tips to Stay Awake When Driving

According to Drivers.com, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve drowsiness and/or fatigue as a principal cause. Those crashes result in an estimated 1,500 fatalities and 71,000 injuries each year, costing approximately $12.5 billion.

Here are some of the best tips to avoid falling asleep while driving.

Before a trip, do the following:

• Get adequate sleep the night before (7-9 hours).  When you don’t get enough sleep, your body will try to make it up somehow.
• Schedule breaks every 2 hours during long trips.
• Arrange to travel with a companion -- someone to talk with and share the driving.
• Avoid driving between midnight and the early morning hours -- this is usually the time I have the most trouble, especially driving home after a late night flight.
• Avoid alcohol and sedating medications -- check your labels or ask your doctor.
• Avoid having a large meal and then setting out to drive.

Even with the best intentions, you may still find yourself falling asleep while driving.  If you do, watch for the warning signs:

• Yawning
• Heavy eyelids, frequent blinking, watery eyes and rubbing the eyes
• Cannot keep your mind focused
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven
• Drifting from the lane, hitting the rumble strips
• Head bobbing

If you do find yourself getting drowsy while driving, here are some countermeasures to prevent an accident:

• Take a nap -- find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.  Again, I cannot emphasize enough that this is the only guaranteed way to combat drowsy driving.  Taking a rest may get you to your destination a little bit later, but as the video says, think of it as the "rest" of your life. 
• Stop driving and find a place to sleep for the night.
• Consume caffeine -- 2 cups of coffee or equivalent can increase alertness for several hours.  Remember that caffeine may take some time to take effect.
• Try consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both.

Courtesy of BlogHer.

Throwback Thursday! Who can tell us the model of this Kia? Bonus points if you guess the year correctly!

Car tip: Lighten up your key chain

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest.

Wallpaper Wednesday! Here's a cool Kia Soul picture for you.

LeBron takes 2013 Kia Most Valuable Player award

LeBron James of the Miami Heat is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the NBA announced today. James earns the honor for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in five seasons. The only other player to win the award in four of five seasons is Bill Russell (1961, 62, 63, 65), and the only other players to win at least four regular-season MVPs are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four).

James totaled 1,207 points, including 120 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 voters that consisted of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada as well as an NBA.com MVP fan vote. For the fourth consecutive season, the NBA and Kia Motors America gave fans the opportunity to submit their votes by ranking their top five choices through a dedicated Web page on NBA.com. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 120 media votes to determine the winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for each third-place vote, three for each fourth-place vote and one for each fifth-place vote received.

Rounding out the top five in voting are Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (765 points), the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, (475 points, one first-place vote), the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul (289 points), and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (184 points).

James, who led the Heat to a league-best and franchise-record 66-16 mark, was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in scoring (26.8 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg) and assists (7.3 apg). He shot a career-high from the field (.565) and from three-point range (.406). He produced a record streak of six straight games with at least 30 points and a .600-or-better field goal percentage (Feb. 3-12). Additionally, James led the NBA score differential (+9.5) and player impact estimate (22.1 percent), according to NBA.com/Stats.

James scored 2,036 points, in the process becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post eight different 2,000-point seasons, and the youngest player to reach the 20,000-point plateau. Additionally, he became only the third player in NBA history to total at least 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 500 assists and 100 steals during a single season, and only the second player to do so more than once after eclipsing those totals in 2008-09. Larry Bird accomplished the feat three times (1984-85, 1985-86 and 1986-87) and Jordan achieved it once (1988-89).

The winner of five Kia NBA Player of the Month honors in 2012-13 (October-November, December, January, February, and March), James became the first player in NBA history to receive the honor in five straight months during a single season. He was named Player of the Week five times (Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Dec. 23, Feb. 10, and March 24).

The NBA MVP trophy is named in honor of the late Maurice Podoloff, the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.

As part of its support of the Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Motors America (KMA) will donate a new 2014 Kia Sorento LX CUV to the Akron Public School After School Program benefitting the Wheels for Education Program. This marks the fourth new vehicle that Kia Motors has donated to charity on behalf of James, including previous donations to the Urban League of Akron (2009), the SUMMA Foundation (2010), and the Akron Public School After School Program benefiting the Wheels for Education Program (2012). Kia Motors presented a Sorento to the charity of choice of each of five 2012-13 season-end award winners as part of "The Kia NBA Performance Awards." Following this season, Kia Motors has now donated a total of 26 new vehicles to charitable organizations since its support of the NBA's prestigious season-end honors began in 2008.

The 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award is part of a series of on-court performance awards called "The Kia NBA Performance Awards." The series, currently in its sixth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between KMA and the NBA, and includes five of the league's most prestigious season-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, Most Improved Player Award, and Rookie of the Year. For the first time, the series also included the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month during the regular season. Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the Kia Optima is the league's Official Vehicle. For more information on "The Kia NBA Performance Awards" visit NBA.com/Awards.

Courtesy of NBA.com.

Current Service Specials!

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Monday Maintenance Tip: How To Safely Jumpstart Your Car

Be kind to your battery

If you inadvertently leave your lights on and drain your battery, take the following precautions to prevent damage to the battery and the starter when jump-starting your car:

• Don’t risk causing the battery to explode. With both cars off, connect a positive cable end to the positive battery terminal of the dead battery.
• Connect the other positive cable end to the positive terminal of the source battery.
• Connect a negative cable end to the negative terminal of the source battery.
• Attach the remaining negative cable to unpainted metal on the car engine (as far from the dead battery as possible).
• Wait a few minutes and try to start the disabled car. If it doesn’t start, start the source car and then try starting the dead one again.
• When the car starts, be careful to disconnect the cables in the reverse order.
• If the car still doesn’t start, don’t keep trying to charge it or you are liable to damage the starter. Bring the battery to an automotive shop to see if it can be recharged.
• Even if you’re successful, ensure a full recharge by hooking up the battery to a charger overnight or by driving the car for 5 or 10 miles (8 to 16 km).

 

Courtesy of Reader's Digest.

Kia Launches Chinese Horki Brand with Forte-Based Concept

Kia’s Chinese market joint venture Dongfeng Yueda Kia (DYK) has selected the “Horki” name for its new Chinese-market brand.


The automaker says Horki brand vehicles will be aimed at customers looking for reliable, efficient wheels, while Kia-badged products will skew more to the sporty and stylish side. A pair of Chinese characters represent the Horki brand, the first one “Hor” signifies China and the second one “Ki” relates to driving. So Horki literally means “driving in China.” (That literally covers a lot of territory.) Even before adding Horki to the mix, the expanding Chinese domestic market was awash with hundreds of brands, most of them unknown outside Sino borders.

The as-yet-unnamed (no word as to whether Horki Pokey is in the running) four-door sedan concept shown here is based on the current Kia Forte platform, but appears to share little or no sheetmetal with that model, instead sporting some details, such as the front fascia, A-pillars, and rear decklid that seem to have been inspired by the larger Kia Optima. Dongfeng Yueda Kia didn’t confirm that it would build the car, but did say it will release some sort of vehicle in the latter part of 2015. DYK’s full range of products will also include alternative-powered vehicles. If the Chinese aren’t interested in hybrids and EVs for efficiency reasons (although everybody likes better mileage), maybe they’ll buy them to help alleviate the country’s notorious smog problem.

Courtesy of Car and Driver.

Kia cars to get Google Maps integration

 

Google is partnering with at least two Korean car makers to integrate its Google Maps and Place services into Kia’s new UVO eServices telematics system, a tech site reported this week.

 

The Next Web said Google's new services may roll out later this year for Kia's new 2014 Sorento models, with the Sorento going on sale in the first quarter.

 

It said the system will provide turn-by-turn directions and assist the location of nearby points of interest.

 

Kia also developed its own UVO smartphone app, which will connect to the Sorento’s telematic system via a Send-to-Car feature.

 

The feature beams mapping data from the handset directly to the car. The Android app is expected to launch in the second quarter.

 

Google Maps will also be integrated into Hyundai via Google's Send-to-Car feature, as well as Hyundai's Blue Link technology, though it is not immeditely clear which car models will sport the services.

 

Courtesy of GMA News.

Kia Dealers to Give Customers Three-Month SiriusXM Subscription When Buying Pre-Owned Vehicles Equipped with Satellite Radio

 

NEW YORK, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) and Kia Motors America today announced that Kia dealers will give customers a three-month SiriusXM subscription when buying pre-owned vehicles equipped with satellite radio.  Participating Kia dealers join more than 9,000 auto dealers across the country enrolled in the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle Program.

Customers buying pre-owned vehicles with a factory-equipped satellite radio, regardless of manufacturer, from any Kia dealer participating in the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle Program will automatically receive a three-month SiriusXM subscription offering commercial-free music, premier sports talk and live events, comedy, news, and exclusive talk and entertainment.

"We are very excited to add Kia dealers to our growing list of dealerships across the country participating in the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle Program," said Joe Verbrugge, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Remarketing and Retail Sales, SiriusXM. "We look forward to working with Kia dealers to demonstrate our wide array of entertainment options for their pre-owned vehicle customers and make the buying experience better than ever."

"SiriusXM's unique combination of commercial-free music, unparalleled sports events, and exclusive entertainment has been a popular feature for customers buying new Kia vehicles," said Adam Perlow, Executive Director of Retail Sales for Kia Motors America, Inc.  "We are pleased our dealers will be able to demonstrate SiriusXM to their pre-owned vehicle customers and the addition of a satellite radio subscription will strengthen the dealer's ability to offer high-quality vehicles with the latest audio entertainment features and amenities at an incredible value."

Kia dealers interested in enrolling in this program can enroll at www.siriusxmpreownedtrial.com.
For more information on SiriusXM, please visit www.siriusxm.com.



Courtesy of Yahoo Finance.

Maintenance Monday Tip: Spark Plugs

Spark plugs do need changing!
 
The advent of electronic ignition and on-board computers has eliminated the need for regular tune-ups, but you still need to change your spark plugs. Many manufacturers recommend changing plugs every 30,000 or 40,000 miles (48,000 or 64,000 km) to ensure good fuel mileage and engine performance. Some new cars come with long-life plugs (sometimes called double platinum plugs) that can last for 100,000 miles (160,000 km). If your car isn’t so equipped, make the switch after 30,000 miles. The extra cost is only a few dollars per spark plug. While you’re at it, change your spark plug wires as well. Their typical life is 50,000 miles (80,000 km). Deteriorated wires can cause those high-tech new spark plugs to foul.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest.

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Kia plans rear-drive BRZ/FR-S-fighting sports car

Kia is apparently working on a two-seat, rear-wheel drive sports car to rival the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S twins. The Korean carmaker has done a lot to revamp its image.

Granted, the potential Kia sports car isn’t coming anytime soon. Designers have just begun working on it, England’s What Car? reports.

“We have made a model of an affordable, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive coupe,” Kia designer Tom Kearns told What Car?.

Since they debuted last year, the BRZ and FR-S have been the darlings of the car world because of their simplicity and focus on driving fun. By co-opting the popularity of these cars (and the equally petite Mazda Miata roadster) Kia could find a profitable niche and there could be other benefits as well.

A small, two-seat Kia coupe would perfectly complement parent company Hyundai’s four-seat Genesis Coupe. The choice of two sizes of rear-wheel drive sports coupe would make for a dynamic duo unmatched by any other mainstream carmaker.

It would also add some fun to Kia’s competent but serious lineup. With the exception of the fabulously frivolous Soul, Kia doesn’t really take on projects that won’t win it plaudits in the pages of Consumer Reports.

Right now, Kia builds some of the best looking cars on the road, and they’re faultlessly reliable to boot

A Kia BRZ/FR-S competitor would give the brand an air of sportiness, and it would give enthusiasts another choice for their next drift car. Maybe, in the process, some of that sportiness will rub off on Kia’s other products, too.

Courtesy of DigitalTrends.com.

Senate committee votes to ban gassing shelter animals

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to ban the use of carbon monoxide gas to euthanize shelter animals.

Senate Bill 360 by Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, will go to the full Senate for consideration. Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Harlingen, is carrying a similar bill in the House.

Watson said killing animals in the gas chamber is “cruel, expensive and unsafe.”

Death by injection is easier for the animals and for shelter staff that must carry out the procedure, and it’s cheaper, said Watson and experts in shelter management and animal care who testified.

Twenty-nine shelter in Texas currently use carbon monoxide gas to kill shelter animals, according to testimony.

Texas would become the 21st state to ban the practice if the bill becomes law, Watson said.

Courtesy of MySA.com.

Kia Partners With Univision For Reality Show

Kia Motors America, in its ongoing effort to shift from being seen as a low-cost "rational" brand to a more emotionally driven "fun" brand, has signed on with Univision. The partnership is around the beauty pageant reality show, "Nuestra Belleza Latina," of which Kia will be the official automotive partner. 

Besides a season-long, on-air brand integration with the show, there will be digital activations that include sponsored challenges for the show's contestants using various Kia vehicles, with season winner getting the redesigned 2014 Forte compact sedan.

Michael Sprague, who last June was promoted to EVP of Kia from VP of marketing and communications, said raising consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand is key. "And sponsoring 'Nuestra Belleza Latina' is the latest effort to communicate and interact with the Hispanic community in authentic and meaningful ways," he said, in a statement. 

The company's integration includes segments in which contestants spend leisure time with a Kia vehicle. Digital activations include 11 custom pieces for Univision.com with the contestants, and a custom photo shoot of this season's winner with her Forte and social media promotion. The automaker tapped la Punto as Hispanic creative agency back in 2005.

Kia, whose advertising is lighthearted and offbeat, with Hamsters and grown up toys as starring characters, has also moved to get the brand in front of younger auto fans who like to customize cars. The company last month signed a 10-month deal with DC Entertainment and buff book Super Street. The automaker, which has been showing off super-hero themed cars for the last year or so, used the 2013 Chicago Auto Show to show a Superman-inspired Optima Hybrid. The partnership is to support DC's “We Can Be Heroes” charitable relief effort to fund efforts to ameliorate long-standing famine in the draught-wracked Horn of Africa.

The company unveiled a Batman version in New York last fall, a Green Lantern-themed Soul, Forte Coup done up as The Flash, a five-door version of the Forte with a Cyborg theme, and a Rio with an Aquaman theme at last year's SEMA show in Las Vegas. There will be an eighth vehicle meant to represent all seven in one. 

Kia, which is launching a redesigned version of the Soul compact crossover this year also had a big reveal or two in Geneva last week: the Kia Provo Concept, meant to suggest where the automaker's design language is heading and a Euro market compact hatch for the adrenalin set called Pro_cee'd GT.

Courtesy of MediaPost News.

Kia Is On A Roll In The U.S.: 18 Consecutive Years Of Market Share Gains

It scarcely seems possible, but Kia said recently that at the end of 2012 Kia had 18 consecutive years of market share growth in the United States.

“Ah, that’s my favorite slide,” said Tom Loveless, executive vice president of sales, during a recent press presentation, when he got to the market share streak. That streak goes back to Kia’s U.S. debut, in 1994. Kia Motors America is based in Irvine, Calif.

Granted, Kia started out small. Sales in 1994 were only 692 cars, according to Automotive News. Kia broke 100,000 units in 1999; 200,000 units only two years later, in 2001; 300,000 in 2007, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

In 2012, the Kia brand topped 500,000 units in the U.S. market for the first time with record sales of 557,599. That beat Kia’s record set the previous year by 15 percent, in a total U.S. market that gained 13 percent overall.

“Any time you can grow share in a growing industry that’s certainly a good sign,” Loveless said.
The new Kia record in 2012 put the South Korean brand ahead of the Dodge, Jeep and Volkswagen brands. The only brands that outsold Kia in the United States last year were Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and sister division Hyundai, in that order. South Korea’s Hyundai Group controls both Hyundai and Kia.

Kia executives say that U.S. sales really went into high gear starting with the launch of the Kia Soul small hatchback in 2009. The Kia Soul was the first in a string of new models marked by what Kia calls a “design-led transformation.”

The short version is that distinctive designs stand out in a crowd and provide brand identity. Not incidentally, more attractive designs also convey a higher level of quality, durability and reliability – something Kia’s brand reputation sorely lacked before the latest product generation started arriving. Eye-catching marketing, including an unexpected hit, the Kia Hamsters, also helped.

Less obvious to customers, behind the scenes Kia and Hyundai more closely integrated their product lineups to save development costs. They also built flexible factories in the United States that can produce models for either brand, to meet shifting customer demand.

For example, the Kia Sorento gets almost an entire redesign this year for the 2014 model year after only a little more than three years on the market, because its close cousin under the skin, the Hyundai Santa Fe, got a total redesign for 2013 and it didn’t make sense to keep building the two models on two different platforms. That’s a really fast pace for new-product introductions.

Ralph Tjoa, national manager, car product planning, said the Kia Forte also gets a complete redesign this year after only about 3½ years on the market. He said, “We’ve replaced the Forte twice, within the current generation of the Toyota Corolla.”

Courtesy of Forbes.

2013 Kia Sportage Given "Best Bet" Distinction By The Car Book

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With its impressive list of safety features, dynamic styling and advanced technology, the 2013 Sportage has been named a "Best Bet" by The Car Book 2013. 

"We are very proud to have the 2013 Sportage recognized as a "Best Bet" by The Car Book," said Michael Sprague , executive vice president of marketing and communications, KMA. "As Kia's longest running nameplate, the Sportage offers sleek styling, modern amenities and fun-to-drive performance in a capable compact CUV."

The "Best Bet" distinction is based on objective information collected from government and independent sources that evaluate the safety and performance needs of the American consumer. Cars that have ratings in all of the key Car Book categories – safety features, fuel economy, rollover, front and side crash tests, maintenance and repair costs, warranties, insurance costs, and complaints, with the greatest emphasis placed on crash test performance – are potentially titled as "Best Bets."

The Car Book is an annually updated guide to buying a new car, van, truck or SUV. It's the one-stop shop for the latest safety ratings, dealer prices, insurance premiums, maintenance costs, tires and is published in cooperation with the Center for Auto Safety, the nation's leading auto safety advocacy group.

"The Car Book, the consumer's best guide to smart and sensible car buying, analyzes multiple new cars each year and selects the top picks for the American car buyer," said Jack Gillis , author of The Car Book. "We appreciate Kia's commitment to deliver high-value market choices for the American car buyer."

About the 2013 Sportage

The 2013 Kia Sportage offers value-, image- and safety-conscious consumers a striking design and a standout combination of fun-to-drive performance, the latest in-vehicle technologies, and an abundance of comfort, convenience and safety features all at a tremendous value.  The sleek and modern Sportage is available with either a 2.4-liter, 176 horsepower engine or a 2.0-liter, 260 horsepower Turbo GDI engine.  Inside the cabin, the Sportage offers a host of available technology features, including Kia's new UVO Powered by Microsoft^{® [1]} hands-free, voice-activated infotainment system.  The 2013 Sportage features a starting MSRP of $19,000[2].

Kia: One of the World's Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands

Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time.  With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.  Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013.  Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs.  The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.

*The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year.  Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website –www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

[1] Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

[2] Starting prices are manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), which excludes $800 destination and handling fee, title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

SOURCE Kia Motors America

Courtesy of PR Newswire.

Redesigned 2014 Kia Soul To Debut at 2013 New York Auto Show

CHICAGO — The redesigned 2014 Kia Soul will be one of three world debuts for the Korean automaker at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

But the Soul's styling changes are so evolutionary that some shoppers may be hard pressed to notice the difference between the 2013 and 2014 models.

The 2014 Soul's unveiling will take place the last week of March at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center. The Korean automaker also will unveil the restyled 2014 Optima and the 2014 Forte coupe, a new addition to the line. The Kia Optima was last redesigned in 2010.

The coupe is based on the redesigned Forte sedan that was introduced in November at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. A five-door hatchback Forte, also a new addition to the model line, was introduced last week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. Sales begin later this year.
The Soul is a popular vehicle in the United States and globally. Last year it was Kia's No. 2 selling vehicle here with nearly 116,000 sales. The Optima held the No. 1 spot here last year with nearly 153,000 sales.

The Soul's styling has been essentially unchanged since its introduction here in 2009. After four years of sales here, Kia's U.S. operations were expecting the redesigned Soul would have noticeable changes in styling that still preserved the character of the car, according to a Kia source who asked not to be identified. Additionally, the introduction of a second model was favored by Kia's U.S. operations, a model that would bring new buyers to the brand.

Neither is planned by the automaker's headquarters, the Kia source said. The car is assembled in Korea.

So subtle are the styling changes, the Kia insider said U.S. shoppers and current Soul owners may fail to see the design differences between the 2013 and 2014 model cars until they are placed side-by-side. Kia's headquarters in Korea decided that more noticeable styling changes might hurt Soul sales outside the United States.

In an effort to help maintain U.S. sales momentum, Kia's U.S. team requested that a second Soul model be added to line, a model that would create a buzz for the brand. Kia has been sending signals over the past several years that an expansion of the Soul line is imminent. Today, only one model is offered, a five-door hatchback. In past years, Kia has shown a three-door hatchback concept as well as a pickup-like concept for carrying surfboards or an all-terrain vehicle. There also has been talk about a convertible.

The source said an additional Soul model has been put on the back burner and the odds of approval are unclear.

Courtesy of Edmunds

Kia Hotbots Super Bowl Commercial 2013

Kia made a statement with its Super Bowl ad for the 2014 Forte with a little help from former Miss USA Alyssa Campanella and a handsy, disrespectful media reporter.

The futuristic Forte is unveiled at a media event by a group of sexy cyborgs born from the likeness of Campanella as a slovenly news writer smears his greasy paws all over the vehicle's pristine body. The cyborg unleashes a fury of quick strikes that send the reporter flying from the pedestal as she offers him a warning to "respect the tech."

It's probably safe to say he'll never make that same mistake twice.

As the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens battled for the right to lift the Lombardi Trophy, Super Bowl advertisers competed for another prize: your attention. Each time that CBS cut away from Super Bowl XLVII to pay the bills (or because the lights went out), another group of blockbuster commercials and movie trailers were unveiled (although many had been teased). At your Super Bowl party, were people paying closer attention during the game or the commercial breaks?

While memorable Super Bowl commercials like Apple's '1984' and Snickers' spot that featured Betty White will be remembered, so many more are soon forgotten or, even worse, ridiculed as super fails. Will this ad make this year's best list? Is it controversial? Or, even worse, destined to be forgotten?

Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

It's A Bird! It's A Plane! Nope, It's Another Superhero-Themed Kia Optima!

Kia made an impression at last years SEMA show (open the week of Halloween) with one-off Justice League-themed vehicles including a Batman-themed Kia Optima. For Kia, Halloween isn't over yet; the automaker has just released a sneak peek at the latest Justice League-themed car, the Superman Optima Hybrid.

The Superman Optima Hybrid joins a Kia-fied Justice League consisting of the Batman Optima, Aquaman Rio hatch, Cyborg Forte hatch, Flash Forte Koup, and the Green Lantern Soul. The teaser of the Superman Optima Hybrid shows Kias stylish four-door wearing Superman's signature blue, red, and yellow, with a proud Superman shield painted on the hood. Other Man of Steel touches include a custom grille with Superman's shield, red accents, and red-tinted headlights.

While some may feel the Justice League Kias are getting a bit played out, they all benefit a good cause each custom Kia is built in support of DC Entertainments "We Can Be Heroes" charity, which helps families affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa. The Kia Superman Optima Hybrid will debut on February 7 at the Chicago auto show.

Courtesy of Google News

Monday Maintenance Tip!

 

 Tires 

 

A car tire inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) can lose one psi every month or for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, so your car maintenance checklist should include checking tire pressure. Find the recommended level in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. And don’t forget the spare. 

Rotate tires every 6,000 miles to prevent uneven wear, replace them when they become worn and have the alignment checked if the car pulls to either side when driving or if you notice uneven tire wear. 

Thank you for this tip, Nationwide.com! 

Kia Hamsters Host Virtual Dance Party With Auto Show Guests

There is plenty of hamster-themed fun to be had at the Kia Auto Show exhibit this year. Tracy Horn, Product Specialist for Kia gave a demonstration of the video system allowing guests to virtually dance with their brand ambassadors, the hamsters.

"They create the culture of our company and what we stand for and its fun, youth," said Horn.

After dancing with the hamsters, the video can be sent via email.

Each hamster represents a car at the Kia exhibit including themes like Rastafarian, renaissance royalty, hip-hop dancer and a composer dressed like Mozart.

Courtesy of Google News

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Clean brake dust off regularly

Brake dust contains all sorts of nasty stuff. If you leave it too long, the combination of road grime, moisture and heat from your brakes will bake it on to your wheels. Brake dust normally clings to wheels with static electricity so a damp sponge and clean cold water is the best way to get it off.

2013 Kia Optima Blake Time Travels - 1997 Football

Check Out this 5-Star Review from Cars.com

"I have been a customer of them for about a year now. I used to get my other Kia serviced there and they were great. I bought another car there and have using them for that one also. Their service and sales department are great and very helpful. If you want to do business with them then your making a very good choice!!:>) The sales person was Shane he is very good at his job ask for him, he is a big guy you can't miss him. He was not pushy and is an excellent sales person. He knows the vehicles and can compare them to other cars like the Camry and Altima. I purchased an Optima from him and it was a great experience  I will use them even when they move. I wish the Kia department would stay on Jackson but I will make the drive to the new dealership it is very nice I stopped by and talked to Shane one day and it is not very often you stop and visit with a sales person but that is how they are!! great people to be around!!! I have purchased very many vehicles in my life i'm 46 and I have never stopped at a dealership to visit.."

Check out more reviews on our Cars.com website!

High Praise For Low-Cost Ride High Praise For Low-Cost Ride

It's time for a bit of re-education. We're definitely living in an era where there's no such thing as a truly "bad" new car, but the two cars that have come closest to earning this distinction in recent memory are the Chevrolet Aveo and Kia Rio.

Both of them were entry-level compacts that had the general misfortune of being in the room when the whole class suddenly got a lot better with the arrival of cars like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Ford Fiesta.

Well, the choice was to adapt or die. The Aveo went away pretty quickly. The Rio, on the other hand, has successfully evolved, and can be counted with the rest of the class as a great little commuter. A thorough makeover in 2012 gave it a face like a downsized Forte and interior appointments to match.

That's not condemning with faint praise.

Make no mistake, the Rio may have a base price of just $13,600, but it has stepped decisively out of the cheap-car ghetto. The upgrade is immediately obvious, thanks to fresh exterior styling that stands out on the road. Kia's family look translates well to the smaller Rio. A chrome-trimmed grille is flanked by large quad headlamp units and a sizeable lower air intake. The Rio is available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Both versions feature a large greenhouse with A-pillars that dip below the level of the windshield to bring more light into the interior and emphasize the human-space inside. The fivedoor is the cuter of the two thanks to a

cut-off tail and nearly vertical hatchback.

Gentle side sculpting and available body-colored mirrors provide a more upscale look to the exterior.

Interior appointments are equally comfortable. Two-tone trim shows that Kia's paid attention to detail rather than cheaping out on the interior bits, and it's comfortable on the road thanks in part to a comparatively long wheelbase. With four passengers aboard, the Rio got compliments on its interior comfort from folks who didn't have a clue

what it cost. Available amenities include Bluetooth phone connectivity, a rearview camera, satellite radio and Kia's UVO infotainment system, which enables voiceactivated control of paired smartphones. UVO is accessed through a 4.3-inch touch screen. There's even a navigation system available.

The sedan's 13.7 cubic-foot trunk is decently sized, while the five-door's 15 cubic-foot cargo area provides an underfloor cargo tray and almost fifty with the rear seats folded. It's not a hybrid, but the frugal Rio has a measure of environmental friendliness nonetheless. Kia uses a high percentage of recyclable materials in this car, including biodegradable seat foam.

A138-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine provides motivation.

The Rio gets high-efficiency gasoline direct injection, which improves emissions as well as enabling more thorough burning of fuel for maximum power. Astop-start function is available, enabling the Rio to shut off the engine at traffic lights, automatically restarting when the brake pedal is released, for additional fuel savings. Stopstart systems have previously been the province of hybrids and high-end luxury vehicles, but Kia changes that. Achoice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions is offered.

On automatic-equipped Rios, paddle shifters on the steering wheel enable manual gear changes.

The suspension is straightforward in its design, using MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. The Rio's light weight makes it responsive and easy to pilot around town; it's a friendly commuter, giving up a bit of refinement to competitors like the Ford Fiesta perhaps, but otherwise comfortable and competent. It doesn't feel fragile, which is an admirable trait in a vehicle that barely weighs a ton.

Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on the Rio five-door, as well as anti-lock brakes.

The Rio five-door is an inexpensive and delightful little errand-running companion. Entry-level cars are best when they're fun and practical at the same time, and Kia's done a good job of creating that balance. The low starting price is a great incentive in these tough times as well. The Rio starts at $13,600, and the five-door at just $200 more. Afully equipped Rio five-door with navigation and all the toys stickers for just over $18,000.

Courtesy of Lowell Sun (Online)