Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Kia's Hybrid Sets a New Commuter Standard
FAITHFUL READERS KNOW I would never bury the lead, so here it is: The Kia Optima Hybrid is my pick for the best commuting sedan under $35,000.
But wait, say the faithful, the Optima Hybrid's base price is only $26,450, including delivery. Exactly.
The Optima Hybrid is not a perfect car, to be sure. The powertrain software is strangely moody at times. The trunk is a little tight. It's about as exhilarating as a bolus of laudanum, thus the "commuting" qualifier. It's just that it is otherwise such a staggering amount of car for the money. Kia's PR team thoughtfully equipped my test car with the Hybrid Premium Technology package ($5,350, for a total out-the-door price of $32,615), a hugely persuasive and Lexus-like list of upgrades including navigation with SiriusXM traffic info; rear-camera display; an excellent Infinity eight-speaker sound system with subwoofer; panoramic sunroof with blacked out B-pillars (those are the roof supports between the front and rear doors that, when blacked out, sleek-ify the car's profile); heated and ventilated front seats; and a heated steering wheel and rear seats.
The Kia Optima Hybrid is my pick for the best commuting sedan under $35,000, says Mr. Neil.
I admit I am susceptible to the euphoric effects of a heated steering wheel, and I don't even live in the Snow Belt. I further concede that all this low-cost, high-tech gear has the power to redeem a harvest-gold 1972 Mercury Montego (pause for wistful nostalgia here). My point is, if you're ponying up for a new car of this size/performance/price, the full-kit Optima is dispositive. It will make you happy. It will make you comfortable. Your butt will thank you.
Honda and Acura trail-blazed the one-price, tech-package approach and it has served those companies well. Kia's doubling down on discount amenities is a beautiful way to get consumers to take the car and the brand seriously, and it seems to be working. As of March, Kia is the fastest-growing car company in the U.S., in part thanks to the record 15,000 Optimas that passed through dealership doors last month.
So that's the rational, arithmetical, bang-per-buck argument. The irrational argument consists of the fact that the Optima is the best-looking car in its class: uncommonly lithe and handsomely proportioned for a front-wheel-drive sedan. A tapering chrome bow arcs fluidly over the roofline from the A pillar to the short rear deck, which helps visually lighten and lengthen the roofline.
Later this year the Optima will get some competition in the swimsuit competition from the redesigned-for-2013 Ford Fusion, a car that, Aston Martin cues notwithstanding, looks an awful lot like the Optima. In the meantime, the Optima is the Miss Venezuela of the mid-to-full-size, C/D segment, which includes the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Buick Verano, Subaru Legacy, Chevrolet Malibu and the furiously styled Hyundai Sonata, which is the corporate sibling and mechanical clone of the Optima.
You could get the Optima's good looks for a mere $21,750, which is the delivered price of the nonhybrid version. The argument for buying a gas-only Optima is purely ROI. The conventionally powered Optima, with a direct-injection 2.4-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder, already gets pretty great fuel economy (24/35 mpg, city/highway). The Hybrid gets a very respectable 35/40 mpg. In round and nominal numbers, assuming a price-per-gallon of $4, it would take not quite five years to recoup the Optima's hybrid premium.
I crunch the numbers slightly differently. Recognizing that gasoline is a problematic fuel and that the U.S.'s reliance on imported oil is bad for our currency and warps our international priorities; and recognizing that we don't have anything close to sufficient domestic reserves to make a dent in our rates of importation; and well aware that the U.S. has constrained refining capacity; and knowing that greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles are one of many drivers of global climate change—I choose to spend a little extra on a more fuel-efficient car, regardless of whether I will financially profit. That's just me, being patriotic. Your priorities may lie elsewhere. And yes, hybrid haters, you're being teased.
As it does with the Sonata Hybrid, the Kia's hybrid system consists of the 2.4-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine producing 166 hp; an integrated 40-hp electric motor; and a six-speed automatic transmission, with these powertrain components connected with wet clutches instead of a conventional torque converter. The lithium-polymer battery pack, situated in the trunk behind the rear seats, stores a total of 1.4 kWh of juice. Total system output is 206 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque.
Among the distinguishing aero enhancements for the hybrid are a grille shutter system that closes at highway speeds; a lower ride height; and air-channeling underbody panels. The standard package includes 16-inch wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires. The Tech package cars get 17-inch tires wrapped around the flush-faced alloy wheels. It all adds up to a coefficient of drag of 0.26, which makes the Optima one of the most aero-efficient cars on the market.
As I said, this is my pick for a commuting sedan, which is a gentle way to say the Optima Hybrid is not particularly sporty. Zero to 60 mph is in the 9-second range and the powertrain's software is intensely interested in limiting the gas engine's workload. Even from a standing start, the Optima responds first with the e-motor and then, if necessary, the system will very reluctantly wake up the gas engine. The software's parameters create a noticeable disconnect between throttle and acceleration, and it's only with a fairly vigorous kick in the slats that you can get the car to full power. Most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission, a stepless CVT; the Optima's six-speed transmission, while more familiar-feeling, tends to fret between gears and then, when one or more of the dry clutches re-engages, judder gracelessly. I'd be surprised if this behavior weren't resolvable with better software.
Once under way, the car will revert to electric power up to 62 mph, as long as there's juice in the battery and the load demands aren't too high. When the batts are depleted, the gas engine fires up again—and again, and again, as you drive down the highway. This sawing back and forth of electrons and hydrocarbons takes some getting used to; the nice part is that, at around-town speeds, the car performs almost like an all-electric EV—so much so that Kia engineers created a prerecorded engine sound to alert pedestrians of the car's otherwise-silent presence. That's kind of cool.
It took about a week for me to adjust to the Optima Hybrid's peculiar gas-electric metabolism. Even so, I was really pleased with the car. The driver-focused dash and instrument layout is friendly and distinctive. The front legroom (45 inches) is excellent. The trunk space, down to less than 10 cubic feet on account of the battery pack, is smallish but certainly within a standard deviation.
There are certainly fleeter and more-fun cars than the Optima Hybrid. To be sure, other cars' hybrid systems are vastly more transparent; and some cars have more electronic conveniences on board, only nowhere near this car's price. But no family sedan gathers up value, looks and efficiency quite like this car. Why, it warms the cockles of my hands.
Source:WSJ
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Named State's "Large Manufacturer of the Year"
ATLANTA, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal named Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) as the state of Georgia's large manufacturer of the year at the annual Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week awards luncheon. The award was presented to Mr. Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and KMMG, Inc., on behalf of the plant's more than 3,000 team members.
Ahn thanked Deal for the prestigious award and noted the importance of the state of Georgia's role in Kia's success during his speech to the 1,200 attendees at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta.
"I want to thank you, Governor Deal, and also Quick Start and the Technical College System of Georgia for this great honor," said Ahn. "We would not be in this position for achievement without the unyielding support of the State of Georgia, the Department of Economic Development, and in particular, Georgia Quick Start, which has been our partner in workforce training from the very beginning."
Ahn also credited the outstanding team members who "work enthusiastically each and every day to build world-class, high quality vehicles."
"We have developed the 'Kia Way' to define the workplace culture and establish a 'one system/one team' approach at our facility," said Ahn. "The Kia Way is built on trust, mutual respect and open communication among all team members to ensure continuous improvement, and in our view, is a key element of the market success of Kia and KMMG."
Deal congratulated KMMG for being the 2012 large manufacturer of the year and said the state looks forward to many more years working together as successful partners.
"Kia's West Point, Ga., plant is a shining example of Georgia's commitment to supporting new industries in our state and how that continued commitment allows companies like Kia to prosper and grow," Deal said after the award presentation. "Kia has continued to invest in our state and has delivered a tremendously positive impact in this region. I am so proud to be presenting this outstanding company with the large manufacturer of the year award today."
Deal was joined by Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson at the luncheon, which marks the culmination of Manufacturing Appreciation Week. The event was co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Courtesy of prnewswire.com
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Car Maintenance Tip: Pump up your tires.
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In honor of National Car Care Month, here’s another tip from us to help you save gas: Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Kia K9: Interior Pictures
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Kia K9 is the Korean car maker’s new flagship model, a rear-drive luxury saloon that features a whole new design philosophy and introduces Kia to a whole new market beyond everything they’ve ever experienced. The car first launches in Korea, before reaching other markets around the world under a different name. Now, Kia just released the first pictures of the K9′s interior.
The cabin too is a first by Kia, both design-wise and in terms fo quality and finish. Up to the minute gadgets, soft touch materials everywhere, luxurious feel and look, a BMW-like gear lever, and a Mercedes-like knob for controlling the infotainment system, these are just some of the evidences Kia K9 features an interior that can rival that of the finest German saloons.
Courtesy of motorward.com
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Kia Racing ready to make its Southern California debut on the streets of Long Beach
IRVINE, Calif., April 12, 2012 - After recording a pair of top-10 finishes in their racing debut in St. Petersburg last month, Kia Racing's two Infinity Audio-sponsored Optimas are heading west to take on the demanding temporary street circuit in Long Beach, Calif., for round three of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships (PWC) on Sunday, April 15. The Long Beach event marks the first "Hometown" race for Kia's third-year U.S. motorsports program and the first opportunity for the hundreds of KMA employees and guests, who work at the company's nearby headquarters in Irvine, Calif., to see in-person the racing Optimas as they compete in the Grand Touring Sport (GTS) class.
"Adding the Optima to our motorsports program was a major undertaking, and our top 10 finishes in the first two rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships are the result of a lot of hard work and dedication from our partner Kinetic Motorsports and the whole Kia Racing team," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "With its proximity to our headquarters, we've had the Long Beach date circled on our calendars almost since we announced Kia's entry in World Challenge, and we are excited to host nearly 200 team members and guests at the event, showcasing our commitment to the team and our growing enthusiasm for motorsports."
The 11-turn, 1.9-mile "concrete canyon" that is the Grand Prix of Long Beach circuit will test the handling of the Optimas and the patience and skill of Kia drivers Michael Galati and Colin Braun, but the tremendous torque from the Optima's turbocharged gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine should offer an advantage to pull out of the tight corners during the 50-minute sprint race at Long Beach.
Round three of the 2012 PWC season on the streets of Long Beach takes place on Sunday, April 15 at 7:15 p.m. ET. Check out live race status, photos and updates at facebook.com/kiaracing, and watch live streaming race coverage at world-challengetv.com. Race fans can also tune in for television coverage on the NBC Sports Network on Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. ET. (Time and date subject to change. Check local listings).
Courtesy of kiamedia.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Kia Motors America Partners with Wounded Warrior Project to provide 2012 Soul to a disabled American Veteran
"Kia Motors understands that it is not only important to show our commitment to the U.S. market through investment and job creation, but also to support the servicemen and women in our country's armed forces," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "The Wounded Warrior Project provides invaluable services to the men and women who have been injured in the line of duty, and it is an honor to donate one of our most popular vehicles to Corporal Melendez as a way to show our appreciation and support for those who have sacrificed so much."
The 2012 Soul, retrofitted by New York-based Bussani Mobility Team was modified specifically to allow Corporal Melendez to continue with his daily activities through modifications that assist when flexibility is limited. The modifications include a steering wheel device that allows him to turn the steering wheel using one hand, while maintaining complete control of the wheel and car at all times, however all alterations are easily removable to allow others who do not need them to drive the vehicle safely.
Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest growing global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality2 and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking3. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan4. Kia's value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.
Courtesy of kiamedia.com
Monday, April 9, 2012
2012 Kia Sportage - $500 Competitive Bonus for Qualified Buyers
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
New 2012 Kia Cee'd Photos Released
Kia says that across most of Western Europe there will be two petrol engines on offer, namely a 1.4 MPI and a newer 1.6 GDI producing 100 and 135 PS respectively. On the diesel front, there are two options available, namely a 1.4 WGT with an output of 90 PS and 1.6 VGT diesel offered in two states of tune (110 and 128 PS). Certain markets in Europe will also offer a 1.6 MPI petrol unit producing 130 PS.
The most powerful of the engines, the 135 hp 1.6 GDI will propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.9 seconds, while also delivering uel consumption of 5.8 l/100 km (5.2 l/100 km with EcoDynamics), and tailpipe CO2 emissions from 119 g/km.
Whichever engine you go for, Kia will give you a choice between manual or automatic six-speed transmissions, while the 1.6 GDI is also available with optional six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
Courtesy of autoevolution.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
No. 10 Infinity Audio Forte Koup finishes Second in Street Tuner and opens the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season with back-to-back podium finishes
"It was great to be back at Barber Motorsports Park and stand on the podium again," said Jönsson. "As usual, our Infinity Audio Forte Koup performed phenomenally. The crew did a great job setting up the car. We're happy with our second place finish and the points we picked up along the way will help as we attempt to defend the championship."
"The Forte Koup handled incredibly well today at Barber Motorsports Park," said Lally. "The race was crazy at the beginning with all the cautions, but Nic did an amazing job at the end to get us on the podium. He is truly a world-class driver."
With the successful result in Birmingham, Kia Racing now sets its sights on April's Kia 200 at Miami-Homestead Speedway and looks to extend the positive early-season momentum. Race fans can watch the exciting 2.5-hour race at Barber Motorsports Park on SPEED on Sunday, April 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Kia Racing fans can catch all the latest news and updates on the team's progress throughout the season at facebook.com/kiaracing.
Courtesy of Kiamedia.com
Monday, April 2, 2012
Car Maintenance Tip: Protect car paint from the sun
Paint does more than make your vehicle look great. It’s also the first line of defense against rusted body panels. Of course, the best way to protect the paint is to park the car in a garage. If that is not possible, park in the shade or purchase a car cover. The sun’s ultraviolet rays break down paint and cause it to fade. Some car covers protect your car from more than sun, moisture, bird droppings, and dust — they also have a thin layer of cushioning that will guard against light impact, such as from a tipped bicycle or small falling tree branch.
Courtesy of rd.com