Thursday, August 30, 2012

Kia Motors America and DonorsChoice.org form Partnership to Benefit more than 125,000 Public School Students Nationwide in 2012

Los Angeles, August, 28, 2012 - DonorsChoose.org, the online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need, announced today that Kia Motors America (KMA)has made a $1million commitment to public schools as part of the citizen philanthropy organization's first-ever national partnership with an automotive brand. Kia's donationlaunches a Double Your Impact campaign with DonorsChoose.org, designed to fund 50 percent of classroom projects near Kia's network of more than 755 retail showrooms across the country as well as the company's U.S. headquarters in southern California and assembly plant in southwest Georgia. By matching community donations, KMA will bring more than $2 million of classroom projects to life and the offer is available until all funding is applied to classroom projects.

"Kia Motors is the fastest growing car company in the U.S. over the last five years1, andone of our company's core values – 'Globality' – teaches us to strive to become a respected global corporate citizen, which drives our company tocontribute to a better future," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. "Kia is committed to making a difference and is proud to be the first automotive brand to establish a national philanthropic partnership with DonorsChoose.orgtohelp provide school supplies for children most in need, while supporting all of the communities across the country that we call home."

Public schools in these areas nationwide are encouraged to post projects in need of funding with a total value of $600 on www.donorschoose.org. The goal is to fulfill needs and foster innovation in public schools. Kia will match all donations made to these public and charter school classrooms by citizen philanthropists until funds have been exhausted.

"DonorsChoose.org engages the community in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. "Our new partnership with Kia Motors will deliver badly needed resources to more than 125,000 public school students across America."

Classroom projects that will be funded include requests for books, microscopes, field trips, and musical instruments among others. Anyone can visit DonorsChoose.org to find a classroom project that inspires them. Once the project reaches its funding goal, donors receive photos of the project taking place, a thank you letter from the teacher and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent.

Courtesy of Kia Media

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Made in Europe – Production of the New cee’d SW Begins

Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia began the production of the new cee’d Sports Wagon (SW) on Wednesday becoming the second new model to be built at the facility this year. Demand for the new cee’d SW is expected to boost production at Zilina to 285,000 vehicles in 2012.

The previous cee’d SW accounted for more than 20% of the Zilina plant and this year, Zilina has produced 167,000 vehicles and 266,000 engines in the first seven months, recording 11% and 52% year-on-year increases respectively.

Kia’s new cee’d and cee’d SW were introduced at the 82nd International Motor Show in Geneva earlier this year, and the reaction from fans and auto enthusiasts alike has been more than welcoming. Like the new cee’d five door, the SW combines a sophisticated exterior styling with high-quality interior materials and class-leading levels of refinement. It offers a selection of two gasoline and two diesel engines, and the SW also provides impressive practicality, boasting a load space of 528 liters with the rear seats upright, and 1,642 liters with the rear seats folded down.

Kia’s Zilina manufacturing facility is also preparing for the launch of the new three-door pro_cee’d, which will begin production in early 2013.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz.com

Ceed

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday Maintenance Tip: Replacing Your Timing Belt

Replacing your timing belt regularly is essential

A significant element of the “brain” of a car engine, the timing belt (aka cam belt), controls your vehicle’s valve timing. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the opening and closing of valves necessary during the internal combustion process. On some engines, it may also turn the water pump. According to Wikipedia, the first car to use a timing belt was in 1945, and the timing belt first went into mass production in 1962 with the German Glas 1004 car. It hit America with the 1966 Pontiac Tempest, and the 1966 Vauxhall introduced the modern-day use of the timing belt with the four-cylinder overhead cam design that is common to most cars today. Auto manufacturers recommend that the timing belt be replaced at regular intervals, so it is wise to consult your owner’s manual and keep accurate records.

Make changing the timing belt part of regular maintenance

All automotive belts are important to an engine’s proper function, and the timing belt is no exception. It’s made of rubber, so it’s relatively inexpensive. However, it can also snap without warning. Depending upon whether you have the “free-wheeling” type of engine (as AutoMedia.com puts it), a snapped timing belt can cause the engine pistons to bend the valves, which requires the head to be removed. That’s an expensive repair procedure, so have your timing belt replaced regularly. As the timing belt is typically covered up and not easily visible, it’s generally a good idea to have a trained professional perform the inspection and replacement. However, mechanic-savvy consumers can perform the procedure at home. See About.com’s detailed instructions for more info on the procedure, and be careful not to over-tighten.

How long will a timing belt last?

This varies by manufacturer. It could be about 10,000 miles for a belt tension check, or as many as 100,000 miles before total replacement. If there’s any doubt, preventative maintenance is better than waiting until it snaps and the valves warp. If you drive hard and live in a warm climate, you will probably have to change the timing belt more often, as excessive heat causes rubber to crack over time. Exposure to oil or antifreeze can also wear down the rubber, so if you have a leak, you’ll want to inspect the belt. Since the cost of a new water pump is relatively low compared with the cost of having a mechanic go in and check the timing belt, many experts recommend replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt.

 

Courtesy of CarDealExpert.com

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Road Tripping with the Kia Rio SX

When the Kia Rio arrived, the first words out of my mouth were, “It’s so cute.”… And by “cute”, I really meant small – much smaller in size than the SUV we currently drive. I was a little concerned at first because I was driving down with my husband, daughter and mother, for a total of four passengers with luggage.

Once the car was loaded up and we were all inside, I realized there was plenty of space. It’s almost an illusion because on the outside the Rio looks very compact, but the inside feels quite roomy.

The Kia Rio SX has all the extra features you want in a car. Starting with the In-dash Navigation System with Rear-Camera Display. Being that this was our first trip to the Florida Keys, I had no clue how to get there. Driving through Miami (for me) is a challenge in itself, and I don’t think I would have been able to navigate the trip without GPS. I just plugged in the address of our resort at the start of our journey and received turn-by-turn directions the entire way. I seriously don’t know how I drive anywhere without this feature – I LOVED having the navigation system in the dash, because the display was large enough that I didn’t have to look away from the wheel while I was driving. The Rear-Camera Display was a super-added-bonus; especially when I had to parallel park near the Southernmost Point in Key West!

Also included with the Kia Rio SX is SiriusXM radio. If you’ve ever driven for an extended period of time you know just how boring FM radio gets after a few hours. SiriusXM has over 140 channels of commercial-free radio in dozens of categories. We joked on our ride down that we were going to listen to “Jimmy Buffett Radio”, and sure enough, there was a channel with just Jimmy Buffett songs! The Kia Rio SX comes with a free trial subscription to SiriusXM, and then optional packages are available for purchase (around $16 month).

Needless to say, our trip each way was super smooth and comfortable. The most valuable feature to me, and the main reason I would consider purchasing the Kia Rio myself, is the incredible gas mileage. Most of our trip was highway and we easily clocked in almost 400 miles for each full tank of gas, which cost around $30. Yes, you heard me correctly — $30 to drive nearly 400 miles! I also loved tracking the “Distance to Empty” display on the steering wheel, which was very handy when deciding where we should stop for gas.

The Kia Rio has a ton of safety features that come standard on every model, including: dual- front & side airbags, 3-point seat beats, anti-lock brakes, stability control, LATCH tethers,  front & rear crumble zones and child-safety locks.

The base Kia Rio model starts at $13,600, with the Rio SX, with all the extras, at around $20,800 — still quite a value when you consider the gas mileage the vehicle gets! The Kia Rio is most suitable for small families with 1-2 children, or as a second family car.

Why Kia Rio is Great for Road Trips … or any Trip!

  1. EXCELLENT Gas Mileage
  2. In-dash Navigation System with Rear-Camera Display
  3. SiriusXM Satellite Radio
  4. Roomy Interior Despite Being a Compact Sedan
  5. Distance to Empty Display
  6. USB Input Jacks
  7. Push Button Start with Key-less Entry
  8. Buttons on Steering Wheel to Adjust Audio and Cruise Control
  9. Split Folding Rear Seat
  10. Active Eco System

Courtesy of Mommy Musings

Rio

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Kia Motors earns environmental certificates from TÜV Nord

Nowadays, ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘green’ are becoming cliché marketing terms used by numerous brands across multiple industries. However, Kia Motors has always respected the responsibility that these terms suggest, and believes that earning non-biased and accredited environmental certifications gives our customers a reason to believe not only in our brand, but also in Mother Nature.

 

Kia achieved an important environmental milestone this month by having three of its newest models earn renowned certifications for their minimal impact on the environment. Today, three bright researchers from our research and development center have contributed a special guest post that illustrates what it takes to earn these certificates and to be truly ‘green.’

It’s been a scorching summer with the heat wave, typhoon and all kinds of unpredictable weather phenomena happening here in Korea. Experiencing varying weather conditions brings to mind the underlying environmental issues that affect our planet’s climate such as global warming.

 

 

When Kia undergoes the development of new vehicles, we pay close attention to minimizing their impact on the environment. The ability to incorporate light weight and fuel efficient technologies while avoiding heavy metals can tremendously reduce the ecological footprint of automobiles on our planet. That’s why we continue to focus on being more environmentally friendly and going beyond just saying we’re “green” by actually showing results that our environmentally conscious customers can believe in.

 

With that said, we’re proud to announce that three new Kia vehicles have earned environmental certifications from TÜV Nord Group, the renowned independent technical inspection organization.

 

These environmental certifications are in accordance with the environmental policies of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). They are achieved according to two major ISO standards: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on the ISO 14040 series and Design for Environment (DfE) based on ISO 14062. We’ll explain the contents of the certifications briefly below.

TÜV Nord Group is an international certification organization with more than 10,000 engineers from approximately 70 different countries and is headquartered in northern Germany. They supervise the international certification process of all industries and are well known in the automotive sector. Accordingly, many top automotive brands in Germany have their environmental certification testing conducted by TÜV Nord Group.

 

Kia’s first TÜV Nord certification was earned in 2008 with the first generation cee’d, and this year’s certifications bring the total number of Kia models with ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) certification to ten. Furthermore, both the first and second (current) generations of Kia’s cee’d C-segment vehicle for the European market have earned DfE: Design for Environment (ISO 14062) certifications, giving Kia certifications in all of major environment-related certifications from TÜV Nord.

 

What Does Environmentally Friendly Really Mean?

 

You might be wondering, “How can we define a standard for ‘environmental friendliness’? Is there really a clear solution to finding out if a new vehicle is ‘environmentally friendly’?”

 

This is where the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) test comes into play.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

 

In order to find out the exact rate that shows the environmental improvement from newly developed vehicles, Kia Motors has been utilizing a method called LCA. The LCA inspection examines the environmental impact of both the car and its overall manufacturing process throughout the course of its lifetime, taking into account factors such as choice of materials, engine exhaust emissions and recycling. So Kia’s new product development process includes the following five major steps that cover the development, production, repair and disposal phases of all Kia vehicles.

 

  • Application of an eco-friendly check-sheet throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle
  • Utilization of 3D drawings at the design stage for verifying recyclability
  • Breakdown of the product during the development process to verify recyclability
  • Usage of eco-friendly materials
  • Streamlining the manufacturing process through improvements in materials and parts design simplification
  • Calculate the input and output amount of substances used at all steps
  • Multiply the amount of substance by its factor for causing environmental problems
  • Calculate the environmental impact of the product during its entire life cycle

Kia Motors started applying LCA on vehicle parts in 2006, and we have building more experience over the years.

What about Kia Motor’s new vehicles in 2012?

cee’d, Quoris, and Upgraded Sorento

Kia Motors has continued to produce attractive new vehicles in 2012, which have all utilized LCA, such as the second generation cee’d, luxury Quoris sedan; the upgraded Sorento R; and the Optima Hybrid, which will soon be available in the European market.

 

So how much improvement does the cee’d, upgraded Sorento, and Optima Hybrid show in terms of environmental impact? Let’s take a look at the results.

With great looks and technology, the cee’d has captivated the European market, and compared to the previous model, its environmental friendliness has improved significantly. For instance, its Global Warming Potential (GWP) has improved by 15.6% over the previous model. The GWP is a measurement used to show the effects that the life cycle of a product has on global warming. In other words, this means that the cee’d produces 4.5 tons less greenhouse gases than before.

Acidification Potential (AP) measures the acid gases that are released into the air and potential for falling “acid rain” which is absorbed by plants, soil and surface waters leading to leaf damage that can negatively affect the growth of plants.

 

Photochemical Oxidant Creation Potential (POCP) is the scientific term for the amount of smog created in the overall product life process. Both AP and POCP improved by 13% and 7.5%, respectively for the cee’d.

The reasons for such significant gains in environmental improvement are better mileage and a reduction in exhaust gas emission.

Next is the upgraded Sorento, which was released this past July. Compared to its predecessor, the Sorento also improved significantly in terms of environmental friendliness. Its Global Warming Potential improved by 10.5% and its Acidification Potential by 7.3%.

The reason for its improved environmental friendliness is due to its mileage improvement and reduction of exhaust emissions.

The Optima Hybrid also improved dramatically over its previous models by a whopping 24.5%, and demonstrated Kia’s excellence in hybrid technology. This means that 8.9 tons of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide have been reduced.

As you can see, Kia vehicles are increasingly becoming environmentally sound, and this has been proven through LCA testing and further validated by respected organizations such as the TÜV Nord Group.

 

Kia Motors will continue to strive for environmental sustainability and you can continue to count on us.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz..com

Kia

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Kia picks up the product pace

LOS ANGELES -- After a slow 2012 for new products, Kia will be back on the gas in 2013.

A redesigned Forte compact sedan will be launched in January, followed by a five-door hatchback and a coupe by next summer. The upscale Cadenza sedan arrives at Kia's U.S. dealerships next summer.

A rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan, known as the K9 in South Korea and the Quoris in overseas markets, arrives stateside for the 2015 model year.

Here's the rundown for Kia for the 2013-15 model years from company and other sources.

Cadenza: Kia will launch the Cadenza sedan next summer as a 2014 model. The upscale, front-wheel-drive sedan shares a platform with the current generation Hyundai Azera and is expected to be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine used in the Korean version of the Cadenza, known as the K7.

The Cadenza, nearly five inches longer than the Optima mid-sized sedan, will sit above the Optima in Kia's lineup. Pricing is expected to be between the high $30,000s and low $40,000s, Kia Motors America's sales boss Tom Loveless has said.

Forte: Kia's compact sedan will be redesigned for the 2014 model year. A modified version of the Hyundai-Kia compact platform, used by the Hyundai Elantra and the European Kia Cee'd compact, will underpin the second-generation Forte.

The redesigned Forte sedan will be launched in January. The two-door Forte Koup and a five-door hatchback are scheduled to go on sale next summer.

A source says Kia is aiming for at least 40 mpg on the highway with the Forte's 1.8-liter four-cylinder base engine.

GT Concept: Kia is wrestling with whether to build a production version of its head-turning GT Concept car shown at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.

The rwd concept car is powered by a 395-hp, 3.3-liter turbocharged V-6 with gasoline direct injection.

Peter Schreyer, Kia's global design boss, is pushing management to green-light the project. But a source says a business case strong enough to put the car into production has yet to materialize fully.

Optima: The Optima mid-sized sedan was redesigned for the 2011 model year. A freshening is planned for next summer for the 2014 model year.

Rio: The subcompact was redesigned in 2011.

Quoris/K9: Kia has given the green light for U.S. sales of its rwd flagship, known as the K9 in South Korea and the Quoris in overseas markets, according to a source with knowledge of Kia's plans.

The large sedan should go on sale sometime in mid-2014 as a 2015 model.

Kia says a 3.8-liter V-6 engine with gasoline direct injection producing about 330 hp will power the flagship in overseas markets starting in its second year of global sales, which begin in the fourth quarter. The engine will be paired with a new eight-speed transmission.

The car will boast active safety features unseen on Kia vehicles to date, such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection and other systems.

Sorento: Kia's top-selling crossover gets a freshening for the 2014 model year, and the next-generation Sorento should arrive two or three years later, but the precise timing is uncertain.

The redesign will place the Sorento on the chassis underpinning the upcoming 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Soul: The next generation of Kia's funky subcompact crossover is slated to arrive stateside in late summer 2013 as a 2014 model. The redesigned Soul will be built on a modified version of the Hyundai-Kia subcompact platform underpinning the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. The current Soul is based on Hyundai-Kia's older subcompact platform.

The 2014 Soul's sheet metal will be new, but the car's proportions will remain intact to maintain its distinctive look.

Sportage: Kia engineers updated the Sportage's suspension for a smoother ride for the 2013 model year.

A freshened Sportage is scheduled to arrive in the late summer of 2013 with a new grille and fascia for the 2014 model year.

New sheet metal and major platform changes are in the works for either the 2015 or 2016 model year, but a source says the launch timing has yet to be determined.

Courtesy of autonews.com

Optima

Monday, August 13, 2012

Monday Maintenance Tip:Preserve your car during long-term storage

If you are not going to use your car for more than a month, store it properly to prevent unnecessary damage and repairs upon your return.

  • Fill the gas tank to help prevent condensation from accumulating in the gas tank. Add a fuel stabilizer and drive the car around a bit to distribute the additive to engine parts.
  • Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
  • Place a vapor barrier on your garage floor. A 4-mil polyethylene drop cloth will do.
  • Disengage the parking brake to help avoid brake corrosion.
  • Put the car on jack stands to take the weight of the vehicle off the wheels and tires.
  • Disconnect and remove the battery to keep it from draining. Place the battery on a trickletype charger. Or periodically drain the battery, using a small light bulb, and then recharge it with a low-volt charger.
  • Plug the tailpipe with a rag to prevent moist air from infiltrating into it.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest

Monday Maintenance Tip:Preserve your car during long-term storage

If you are not going to use your car for more than a month, store it properly to prevent unnecessary damage and repairs upon your return.

  • Fill the gas tank to help prevent condensation from accumulating in the gas tank. Add a fuel stabilizer and drive the car around a bit to distribute the additive to engine parts.
  • Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
  • Place a vapor barrier on your garage floor. A 4-mil polyethylene drop cloth will do.
  • Disengage the parking brake to help avoid brake corrosion.
  • Put the car on jack stands to take the weight of the vehicle off the wheels and tires.
  • Disconnect and remove the battery to keep it from draining. Place the battery on a trickletype charger. Or periodically drain the battery, using a small light bulb, and then recharge it with a low-volt charger.
  • Plug the tailpipe with a rag to prevent moist air from infiltrating into it.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest

Car

Thursday, August 9, 2012

2012 Kia Soul Tops “10 Best Back-to-School Cars” List by Kelley Blue Book KBB.com

IRVINE, Calif., August 8, 2012 - The award-winning Kia Soul has been spotlighted once again, this time being named as this year's No. 1 vehicle on the coveted "10 Best Back-to-School Cars in 2012" list by Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, a leading provider of new and used car information. Lauded for its exceptional value, reliability and style, the Soul is a uniquely eye-catching and affordable way for students to get to class this fall. The funky urban passenger vehicle also was praised for its roomy interior, responsive powertrain and frugal fuel economy. The KBB.com accolade comes on the heels of the Soul being honored as class best by two major back-to-back J.D. Power and Associates Studies: IQS and APEAL.

"The Soul being named to the top spot on the '10 Best Back-To-School Cars of 2012' list by Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com shows just how relevant the Kia brand has become with the younger consumer," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. "This honor recognizes the Soul for a host of attributes ranging from innovative styling to smart personalization options to outstanding safety, all of which make it a favorite among students and their parents, alike."

Editors from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com evaluated the most affordable vehicles of 2012 and then selected the 10 offerings which best met the needs and wants of students. All vehicles on this list are available for under $16,000.

"With a low price tag, roomy interior and singular looks, the Kia Soul charms with a practical but youthful exuberance," asserted the editors of Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. "And it gets even better for 2012, gaining direct injection technology and six-speed transmissions that yield bumps in power, responsiveness and fuel economy. Stir in tastefully refreshed exterior and interior bits, and the Soul convincingly grabs the top spot on our list of Best Back-to-School Cars for 2012."

Courtesy of kiamedia.com

Soul

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Explore All Things Sportage with this New App

Sportage
If you’re a past, current or potential Kia Sportage driver who enjoys exploring car info interactively then you’ll love our new Kia Sportage iPad app. It’s developed by the same award winning app team that brought you both the Picanto and Rio iPad apps.

First Impressions

We were scratching our heads when we first downloaded this app, and wondered if our mobile app team could top themselves again. After all, they set a high standard with the Kia Rio app, which recently received the highly sought-after “best of the best” award in the communication design category from the Red Dot Design Awards, one of the largest and most-acclaimed international design competitions.

At a quick first glance you might think it looks like an ordinary e-publication app, but once we started to navigate the content, we were surprised. The Sportage iPad app has answers to absolutely everything one needs to know about the vehichle, from detailed tech specs to design philosophy. We realize apps are said to be ‘interactive,’ but after playing with this app, we really liked its realistic simulations and sharp viewing quality.

You can definitely lose track of time exploring the ins and outs of the Sportage through this app, but don’t take our word for it. Check it out for yourself and give it the full hands-on review.

App features:

  • Available for iPad
  • European and general market specification
  • 360° exterior / interior view
  • Customization tool to view available colors and wheels options
  • 3D intro movie and interactive elements to experience features & benefits
  • Photo & video gallery
  • Kia company and design story content

The app starts with an awesome featured video, of an orange Sportage racing through a Gotham-like city.

Going ‘underneath the hood’ is an understatement to describe the interactive x-ray cutaways that show off some of key performance features of the Sportage.

Check out some of the Sportage’s safety features such as the rear-view camera display (RCD) and electro-chromic mirror (ECM)

As the old safety belts commercials used to say, “You can learn a lot from a dummy” and this one is demoing some the unique seat protection features of the Sportage.

 

If you think this Sportage app only features the latest model, you’re mistaken – there is a groovy little video highlighting its design history and transformation from 1996 –

A must see for any Sportage owner.

 Want to learn more?

 If you still have not checked out the Sportage app, download it for free from the iTunes store.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz..com

Thursday, August 2, 2012

All-new Cerato (Forte) Images Released

Last week you might have spotted our design sketch post on the all-new Cerato (Forte), which will go on sale later this year in Kia’s domestic Korean market. Named the K3, the longer, lower and wider version of Kia’s global best-selling model will add another member to its  domestic market’s K series of passenger cars: the K5 (Optima), K7 (Cadenza), and  the K9 (Quoris),  Kia’s  flagship luxury sedan.  We know that design renderings can be quite a tease,  so we wanted to follow up with actual images of our all-new compact sedan, which were released globally less than 24-hours ago. Check them out below and let us know what you think.

Kia
Longer, lower and wider than the current car, with an extended wheelbase to add more cabin space, the next generation Cerato will be manufactured with an all-new bodyshell structure.

Here’s the earlier design sketch for comparison

Featuring futuristic and dynamic styling, the all-new Cerato features a sleeker profile, LED front and rear lamps and a chrome-finished beltline.

All-new Cerato will also boast improved quality, upgraded equipment, a more spacious cabin and a revised engine line-up that delivers class-leading fuel economy.

After going on sale in Korea later this year, the all-new Cerato sedan will appear at Kia dealerships in many overseas markets during the first quarter of 2013.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz