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Stop by Paramount Kia Asheville for the affordable 2012 Kia Forte LX!

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"My experience with Paramount Kia was absolutely fantastic. I submitted an online application on a Monday afternoon and heard from John Keefe almost immediately afterward. After speaking with me on the phone to get a little more information, John started to work right away." Jennifer

 

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Kia Ray: Korean brand’s first-ever production EV

Kia Motors’ first-ever production vehicle has debuted at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Kia Motors took the wraps off its Ray production electric vehicle and Naimo EV concept car. The two vehicles are powered by advanced lithium polymer battery packs, while the Naimo features a groundbreaking User Centred Driving (UCD) telematics system, which demonstrates future technology around safety, media and in-car entertainment technologies.

“With the Kia Ray, which is Korea’s first production electric vehicle, and the Naimo concept’s forward-thinking UCD telematics, Kia is demonstrating leadership in the area of advanced technology development as our global R&D team pursues the goal of taking the vehicle-driver relationship to new levels with facial recognition technology and a number of interactive features,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing and communications, KMA. “Where the Naimo EV concept looks into the future of zero-emissions vehicles from Kia, the Ray EV is the first realisation for the brand and represents exciting new possibilities for the future in the North American Market.”

The UCD system on board the Naimo concept car is a fully working prototype that features a ‘glass cockpit’ style interface, with a digital ‘heads up’ display, which replaces the traditional cluster display for battery life, speed and distance. Also featured, are navigation directions and innovative downloadable apps for easy parking manoeuvres.

The main screen grows from 4.3 inches found on Kia’s UVO system, to a massive 12.3 inches, while increasing resolution to 1280×480 for ultra-clear images. The new screen also allows ‘swipe’ and ‘flick’ multi-touch interactions, simplifying inputs.

The advanced safety technology boarders on futuristic, with a driver status monitor and Colour Night Vision. Using an infra-red LED and camera, the system is able to detect changes in the driver’s eye movements and recognise inattention and if the driver is about to fall asleep.

The CNV system is the next generation of Kia’s ‘Smart Night View’ system, which combines two infra-red lamps and a colour infra-red camera and is able to detect pedestrians that appear in the camera’s field of view. Once detected, those objects are highlighted on the 12.3-inch screen, which triggers an audible warning for the driver.

Pronounced “Neh-mo” meaning “square shape” in the Korean language, the Naimo EV is the third electric vehicle design by Kia in the last twelve months, which is said to explore the possibilities of introducing a zero-emissions, five-door city car into specific markets.

The high-tech features continue on board the Naimo with a revolutionary style ‘air wiper’ (much like the Dyson air dryer) that replaces the traditional wiper blades. You’ll also notice the wrap-around windscreen, front and rear LED dot headlamps and the complete absence of door mirrors. The small cameras mounted in the A-pillars have replaced them.

Powering the Naimo is a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) electric motor producing 80kW and 280 Nm, which provides a top speed of 150km/h.

Equipped with a twin 27 kWh battery pack, the Naimo has a range of 200 km riding on 20-inch low-rolling resistance tyres.

Full charge recharging for the Naimo will require five hours on the normal 3.3 kW cycle, but fast charging via a 50 kW cycle will mean a 25 minute charge to 80 per cent in 25 minutes.

The Kia Ray EV is actually built on the same production lines as its petrol-powered sibling, and at this time, is produced exclusively for the local Korean market.

Although slightly heavier than the combustion-engine Ray, the EV version produces 167 Nm of torque and is said to provide sufficient response and performance, with a top speed of 130km/h.

The Ray EV utilises an automatic transmission with two modes; ‘E’ (eco) which maximises torque delivery with minimum battery consumption, and ‘B’ (brake) for downhill or highways to maximise braking power.

Powered by a 50kW eclectic motor, working in concert with a high capacity 16.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack (10-year lifespan), a full charge on a regular 220V outlet takes just six hours. Using a ‘fast charge’ facility, that period is reduced to 25 minutes.

Almost identical to its petrol sibling, the Ray EV can be identified by a flap in the grille for the 220V power supply for the slow charge. The fast charge outlet is where you would normally find the petrol cap. The car also features “Zero Emissions EV” decals and clean design 14-inch alloy wheels that reduce drag.

Inside the Ray EV the instrument cluster features graphics displaying the electric motor status, battery charge, along with distance remaining until next charge.

There is also a 7-inch ‘EV-specific’ navigation system that shows the driver where the nearest charging station is, and where the car can travel on its current charge.

 

Courtesy of CarAdvice

 

 

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Makeover puts more Soul in this Kia

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON—General Motors’ head of design in the eighties, Irwin W. Rybicki, once said “designing a good-looking car doesn’t cost any more to build than an ugly car,” a maxim that’s become one of the tenets of Kia’s recent success.

In the eleven years Kia has been selling cars in Canada, it’s blossomed from offering a handful of poorly-made, forgettable cars to today’s lineup of robust, stylish, technically up-to-date (and dare I say) desirable vehicles, becoming in the process the fastest-growing automaker in Canada.s

Much of Kia’s design renaissance dates to the day former Audi designer Peter Schreyer signed on in 2006 to lead the Korean automaker’s global design team.

Schreyer’s first vehicle to be sold was the 2010 Soul, arguably also the first that Kia buyers could consider for its looks alone, instead of considering its used-car pricing or extra-long warranty.

Still competitively priced, the front-wheel-drive, five-passenger Soul’s square-back profile and thick wheel arches gave it quasi-crossover, not-quite-sure-what-it-is looks.

And despite the Korean brand’s previous lacklustre offerings, the Soul quickly found an audience. Through the end of November this year, the Kia has outsold the combined sales of small, funky-looking tall-wagons like the Chevrolet HHR, Honda Element (both discontinued for 2012) , Nissan Cube and Scion xB.

Not getting complacent, for 2012 Kia is giving its Soul a subtle exterior and interior makeover, and a not-so-subtle redo if its powertrain lineup, including the availability of the market’s least expensive vehicle with a stop/start fuel-saving system.

As before, you can get a 2012 Soul (on sale now) with either a 1.6 L (starting at $16,595) or 2.0 L four-cylinder engine (beginning at $18,995).

For 2012 the displacements remain the same, but both fours have been thoroughly massaged and can be hooked up to either a new six-speed manual transmission (one more gear than last year’s stick) or a new automatic with the same number of cogs (two more than the 2011’s autobox).

Significant for its segment, the Soul 1.6’s mill receives direct-injection this year, a feature the Nissan Cube and Scion xB don’t offer.

It now delivers 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, up from 122 and 115. But it sips less fuel.

Rated at 7.4 L/100 km in the city and 5.6 L on the highway with the new stick, (the auto sips a near identical 7.5 L and 5.6 L, respectively) the Soul 1.6 is more frugal overall than the most parsimonious Cube and xB models.

It’s the same “more power, less consumption” story for the Soul’s new 2.0 L four.

It now makes 164 hp (up 22) and 148 lb-ft (an increase of 11). Yet fuel economy is now 7.9 L/100 km in the city (with either manual or auto) and 5.8 L on the highway for the stick and 5.9L for the auto.

To visit gas stations less often, all 2012 Souls with automatic transmissions come standard with what Kia calls “Active Eco” — a driver-selectable feature that softens the throttle response for less fuel use.

Want to potentially use even less fuel?

Later this year Kia will introduce its new Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology, available only on the $19,995 Soul 1.6 Eco model and the all-new 2012 Rio subcompact.

Commonly found in gasoline-electric hybrids, Kia says ISG temporarily turns off the gas-only engine when the vehicle is not moving, like at a stop light or in traffic.

The engine restarts automatically when the driver releases the brake pedal.

Combined with the mandatory six-speed automatic and enabling the Active Eco mode, the Soul 1.6 Eco scores a meagre 7.0 L/100 km in the city and 5.4 L on the highway.

During our three-day media drive in and around the Seattle, Washington area, I got the chance to drive all three new Soul powertrains.

Performance-wise, the new engines and transmissions move the reinvigorated Kia down the road with more authority.

The new six-speed automatic is a huge improvement over last year’s woeful four-speed slushbox, enabling the Soul 1.6 to deliver 0-100 km/h acceleration more in line with last year’s 2.0 Soul, around the 8.5 second range.

The new Soul 2.0 is roughly one second quicker.

What hasn’t improved is the Soul’s less-than-class-leading ride and handling characteristics.

While the 2012 Rio benefits from an all-new platform, the Soul still uses the last Rio’s underpinnings, first seen for 2006.

So like the 2010 original, the 2012 Soul drives like a taller and heavier 2011 Rio, never feeling truly confident when taking corners aggressively, while at the same time delivering a floaty ride.

The Soul ride never seems to settle down on the highway. Its new electric steering is light in parking manoeuvres, but delivers little feel when attacking corners. And there’s still a lot of road noise.

But for many urban small-car buyers these days — more focused on features (new for 2012 is Kia’s Uvo hands-free infotainment system) than “attacking corners” — the updated Soul is more appealing than ever before.

And so far, none of Kia’s rivals have stepped up to the plate to offer any real competition.

By getting more power yet better fuel economy, with the same funky good looks, and generous interior space (almost twice the cargo room of the Cube or xB), for 2012, the Soul should continue its segment sales dominance.

Courtesy of: strategyone.net