Kia Straightline Archives

      
Though it represents perhaps the best opportunity in North America for the public to get up close to all the newest models, the Chicago Auto Show can feel anticlimactic for those tasked with covering it as journalists. Manufacturers tend to uncork their biggest debuts at the Los Angeles and Detroit shows, held a few weeks earlier. This can leave the Chicago event feeling a bit stale and picked-over, like a store's clearance bin in the final hours of a big sale. 

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Categories: Acura,Hyundai,Kia

Since Kia launched the Soul, the company has enjoyed a 78 percent increase in sales volume. Is the funky compact hatch the reason for that increase? No, but it did signal a massive shift in Kia's brand philosophy. Besides its sharp new styling, a major marketing makeover sees the brand going for a hip, more youthful demographic.

Now, '80s hair bands hardly typify a youthful demographic, but today's unveil of the Kia Track'ster Concept was certainly the hippest press conference thus far at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. (However, if they were going to honor Kia's Super Bowl ad, I would've preferred an Adriana Lima lookalike on hand than a cover band's take on Motley Crue.)

As for the car, the Track'ster takes the Soul, chops off the rear doors, lowers it, widens it, lengthens the wheelbase and stuffs it with a 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder feeding an all-wheel-drive system.

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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Kia

At some point during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show ( 10:25am Wednesday) Kia will show off a Soul concept described as being "the ultimate Soul." Kia's U.S. design team will be on hand (as will Peter Schreyer) to discuss the new design language.

Unfortunately, there are no plans to ever produce this ultimate three-door Soul. Too bad, 247-horsepower, a de-cubed design and a stance like this could really help us get behind the Soul.

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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Kia

For the second day in a row we have a new Super Bowl ad for a family sedan that features bikini girls. We're not complaining, mind you, especially since one of the bathing-suited beauties here is Adriana Lima, but it does speak to who the main target of Super Bowl ads really is. The first one, of course, was the Toyota Camry's lady couch ad. Now Kia's in on the action with this ad for the Kia Optima.

Besides girls, this ad has Motley Crue (wow, they god old), a cowboy riding a rhino, Chuck Liddell and the main character on a horse.

As a gift to humanity, Kia has provided a FIVE HOUR loop of Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag.

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Categories: Kia,Miscellaneous,Videos

Kia has just released the first teaser for its 2012 Super Bowl commercial "Drive the Dream" featuring Adriana Lima and the 2012 Kia Optima Limited.

Here's what you just read: blahblahblah Adriana Lima blahblahblahblah. 

The spot, directed by Noam Murro, also features Motley Crue (and their song "Kickstart my Heart") and former light-heavyweight UFC champ Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. In the commercial the Optima will drive through a young couple's "wildest thoughts" from Victoria's Secret angel Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag to a rock concert to a UFC fight to a rhinoceros rodeo and even a fairy tale ending. An expanded version of the ad will be available on Kia's YouTube page on Feb 2.

Here's what you just read: blahblahblah Adriana Lima blahblahblahblah.

Judigng from the teaser video after the jump, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Kia wins the Super Bowl. Unless of course Suzuki can bring out Miranda Kerr, Karlie Kloss, GnR and Brock Lesnar.

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Categories: Kia,Videos

Yesterday we brought you an image of the all new, 2013 Kia Cee'd. The stylish new hatchback out of Kia is set for a Geneva Debut and Kia was teasing us with this one front three quarters shot and the knowledge that it will get the new 1.6-liter GDI engine from the Veloster Turbo.

Now, thanks to Kia World we have more photos of the hatchback that could soon wear Forte badging here in the U.S. The overall design is significantly less aggressive than we've seen in other Hyundais as of late and borders on understated. Peter Schreyer will do that.

Previously we've caught images of a Cee'd / Forte sedan testing in the U.S.

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Categories: Hatchbacks,Kia

Kia has been aggressively building brand awareness the last few  years with a slew of new vehicle introductions and innovations including UVO, the company's in-vehicle infotainment platform.

Today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Kia unveiled its future direction in infotainment with the introduction of UVO2, showcased in an Optima Hybrid sedan. It's really no surprise that the latest iteration of UVO (an acronym that stands for "Your Voice"), now features a new layer of smartphone-enabled services, but what definitely got our attention is the extensive suite of capabilities UVO2 promises.

The list of features reads like a greatest hits of telematics services: automatic crash notification, geo-fencing, roadside assistance and parked vehicle locator. The new features are powered by a free smartphone app which enables the system with a whole new level of connected-vehicle management functions in addition to utilizing many of the features of a driver's smartphone or tablet.

Dubbed eServices, the new telematics suite is the game-changer here, putting UVO2 on the same playing field with more mature systems such as OnStar and Ford Sync -- if the automaker doesn't drag its feet getting the system on the road, as it did with the first-generation of the technology.

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Categories: Car Tech,Kia

 This pufferfish looking thing right here is the Kia Ray EV and unlike other EVs that are trying to be all modern and fresh, this one's not. It's being functional, like a mail truck. It's based on the Ray CUV, but instead of the thirsty 1.0-liter, the Ray EV has a 50kW electric motor and a 16.4 kWh lithium ion polymer battery pack. The Ray EV weighs some 412 pounds more than the traditional Ray

Despite the weight penalty, Kia says this version of the Ray is actually faster than the gasoline model as it can hit 100 kph in a scant 15.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 81 mph. This is in part thanks to the EV's 167 Nm of torque which is a 77%(!) increase over the 1-liter. Keep your foot out of that massive power and the Ray has a max range of 86 miles.

There are 500 slow/fast recharge stations in Korea and the government plans to increase that to 3,100 by 2013.

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Categories: Electric Vehicles,Future Vehicles,Kia

Kia world, Your Source for Kia Information, has what they claim are exclusive early renderings of the 2013 Kia Forte 4-door.

The current Forte has been around since 2010 so it's not exactly an old car at this point. It is, however, overshadowed by the larger and much more stylish Kia Optima. A redesign of the Forte is expected for the 2013 model year and we fully expect it to be more Optima-like . This design would fit the bill, but is this legit or just another rendering by a fanboi with some talent at Photoshop?

(Kia World)

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Categories: Future Vehicles,Kia,Sedans

Kia unveiled its GT concept at the Frankfurt show, but showed it for the first time in North America at the L.A. auto show this afternoon. Kia describes the GT as a glimpse into its future showroom, and while there are certainly some engaging elements to it, I'm not sold on the styling overall. More on that later.

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Categories: Kia,LA Auto Show

It may not have anything to do with steering feedback or ride quality, but a good-looking cabin can have a powerful impact on the way you experience your car.

After all, where would you rather spend the night: in a five-star hotel, or that dumpy Motel 6 on the skeezy side of town? Yeah, I thought so.

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Categories: Audi,Jaguar,Kia,Mercedes-Benz,Porsche,Volvo

Last time I posted something about Michelle Wie, I claimed she was far more interesting than goofy hamsters. I was outvoted. I'm still correct. This time I'm not going to mention hamsters at all because this one stands on its own just fine.

Professional golfer Michelle Wie and basketball player unemployed guy Blake Griffin (previously), both hitched to the Kia wagon, have signed up to, with the help of West Coast Customs, help Kia launch six "sports-themed" projects for SEMA.

This 2012 Soul's paint job is based on Wie's artwork she uses for her LPGA bags. This Sou has a flat-screen TV, an Xbox with Kinect and two golf bags. Kia is quick to point out that Wie does drive a Kia Soul when she's at home in (super expensive place to live) Palo Alto.

No idea what Blake's car is going to look like, but we have to assume less anime, more "will throw ball into hoop for very large sums of money" slogans.

Gratuitous picture of Michelle Wie after the jump.

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Categories: Celebrities,Kia,SEMA Show,Tuners and Modifications

Earlier this year Inside Line got a chance to fling around the Mazda 2 and Honda Fit B-Spec racecars at Thunderhill Raceway. We left the event excited for the smal car series, "This dry run of the B-Spec racing concept has people smiling up and down the pit lane...Let's hope the B-Spec concept takes root somewhere and that Ford, Chevy and others decide to play, too."

Well, it may not be Ford or Chevy (yet), but Kia is all in with the new Rio 5. Kia, by way of their racing partner Kinetic Motorsports, will provide all of the necessary stuff -- cage, safety equipment, suspension, etc -- to teams looking to compete in B-Spec showroom-stock events.

"Outstanding value has always been a foundation of the Kia brand, and with the rapid development of the Kia Racing program and the launch of the 2012 Rio 5-door we have a unique opportunity to introduce Kia to a new and passionate racing community by providing an affordable and great-looking race car that delivers best-in-class horsepower in the rapidly expanding B-segment," said Kia Motors America Vice president of marketing and communications Michael Sprague.

More details on the B-Spec Kia Rio will be announced at SEMA on Tuesday, November 1.

Categories: Kia,Motorsports,SEMA Show

 The short list of finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year were announced today with only a few surprises.

For NACOTY we have: Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevy Sonic, Fiat 500, Chrysler 300/SRT-8, Ford Focus, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio/Rio5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, VW Beetle, VW Passat.

NATOTY isn't so simple and has the only surprise of the group with the addition of the Mini Countryman. Other entries in the truck field include the BMW X3, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan Quest and the Saab 9-4X.

The top three in each field will be announced in December and the winners will be announced at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. I've got solid money in iQ / 9-4X, you?

Categories: Audi,BMW,Buick,Chevrolet,Ford,Honda,Hyundai,Kia,Land Rover,MINI,Mercedes-Benz,Nissan,Saab

 Hey, Chrysler, you know that 9-speed automatic you've got in the works for your front-drive cars? Well, sorry, but it's no longer the most or the most ridiculous now that Hyundai is working on a 10-speed autobox.

Automotive News via Bloomberg is reporting that Hyundai Motor Group is working on 10-speed automatics for future luxury vehicles as early as 2014. "Future luxury vehicles" could, of course, include the next-gen Equus and Genesis. You'll remember that the Equus and Genesis just got eight speed automatics for the 2012 model year.

 10AT...At what point to we just go ahead and say the CVT crowd was right?

(Automotive News)

Categories: Car Tech,Future Vehicles,Hyundai,Kia

 "This is a shot at shuffling your way to 10,000 dollars!"

Let's just add this contest, as well as the above photo of the group LMFAO, to the big pile of things that happen on the internet that I just don't understand. The contest itself is simple enough: Submit a 60-second video of you dancing to "Party Rock Anthem," get enough votes on Kia's YouTube site and then win $10,000 AND the chance to dance on stage with LMFAO. I might pay $10,000 to not have to do that.

The promo video, hosted by LMFAO, as well as a random user submission are provided after the jump for your...enjoyment?

Warning: Watching people who can't dance try is extremely addictive. Continue with caution.

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Categories: Kia,Miscellaneous

Edmunds.com's fourth annual Fuel-Sipper Smackdown is in the books. This time around it was all about the Chevy Volt, but taking it on were the Kia Optima Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the Fiat 500. Unlike past Fuel-Sippers, all the cars essentially had the same EPA highway number -- 40 -- so it was an interesting test to see the real-world differences.

But there's a lot that goes on in a test like this beyond the numbers, especially in regards to the Volt. So follow the jump for video and behind-the-scenes photos.

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Categories: Chevrolet,Fiat,Hyundai,Kia,Volkswagen

Another auto show, another big reveal for Kia. This time, however, it's not a radical transformation of some previous humble, who-cares model. This time it's a sharp-looking coupe-ish sedan concept. Follow the jump for video on this possible glimpse into Kia's future.

Teaser: "No one's laughing now."

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Categories: Kia

Kia adds a third Rio to its five-door and sedan lineup, and this one has three doors.

Kia says the new three-door hatchback was designed to primarily attract younger buyers to the Korean brand for the first time, and it expects the new model to account for 20-25 percent of total Rio sales after it hits the market in early 2012.

With the same dimensions as the five-door model, Kia says the three-door will offer the same range of powertrains and equipment as the other hatch.

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Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Kia

Kia unveiled its first four-door sport sedan with rear-wheel drive in Frankfurt. The concept, called simply, Kia GT, sports a long, low hood and a short rear end, and measures 184 inches long and 54 inches high.

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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Frankfurt Auto Show,Kia,Sports Cars