Friday, August 20, 2010

2011 KIA Sportage get Top Safety Rating



2011 Kia Sportage Named '2010 Top Safety Pick' By Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
  • All-New Compact CUV Receives Highest Recognition from IIHS -- Sportage receives top ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection -- CUV is fourth new generation Kia vehicle to be named "Top Safety Pick"
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Joining the 2010 Forte compact sedan, 2010 Soul urban passenger vehicle and 2011 Sorento compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV), the all-new 2011 Sportage CUV has been recognized as a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the small SUV category when built after March 2010. Arriving in Kia showrooms now, Sportage received the organization's top honor by earning "Good" ratings -- the highest achievable -- in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests. The Sedona minivan was the first Kia vehicle to receive the IIHS "Top Safety Pick," along with the "Safest Minivan Ever Tested" distinction from IIHS, shortly after its launch in 2006, and again in 2007, 2008 and 2009. "The Kia brand is committed to providing consumers with the highest levels of passenger safety by providing a comprehensive list of cutting-edge technologies and features for increased crash protection," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). "The 2011 Sportage's sleek and modern appearance continues Kia's design-led transformation while staying true to the company's core philosophy of providing consumers with exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles with high levels of value, quality and safety." Ratings from the Institute are based on results from frontal, side and rear impact crash tests, and for 2010 a good performance in a roof strength test -- to measure protection in a rollover -- also was required to win. Each vehicle's overall evaluation was based on various measurements specific to each crash angle, and overall impact on crash test dummies inside the vehicle at the time of collision. All vehicles must have electronic stability control available to be eligible. Like all Kia vehicles, the 2011 Sportage is equipped with a long list of standard safety equipment. Both trims come outfitted with driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and front active headrests, four-wheel Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a Brake Assist System (BAS), which recognizes an emergency stop and delivers significant braking power. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) also come standard on all models, the former assisting in preventing the vehicle from rolling backward when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient, while the latter locks the vehicle at a slow speed down steep grades so the driver can focus their attention on steering. To assist drivers when the vehicle is in reverse, an available back-up warning sensor helps the driver avoid contact with certain objects in the vehicle's path by triggering an audible warning when the vehicle approaches an obstruction, while an available rear-view back-up camera enables drivers to view certain items behind the vehicle. The 2011 Sportage, which utilizes a completely redesigned platform, comes standard with a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), offering more power (176 hp) and better fuel economy (22/31) than the previous 2.7-liter V6 engine. Sportage also comes equipped with impressive standard technology features throughout, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service(1). Also standard on both trims are auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth®(2) wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls to enable hands-free operation for compatible mobile phones.

[source: KIA Motors America]

Monday, August 9, 2010

Kia Soul Named "2010 Top 10 Back to School Cars" list by Kelley Blue Book


Urban Passenger Vehicle Honored for its Affordability, Versatility, Reliability and Fun
  • Funky hatchback is an eye-catching way to roll for students headed back to school
  • Soul's value driven packaging makes it an attractive ride for students
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 9 -- The 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle was recently named to the "2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars" list for the second year in a row by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a leading provider of new car and used car information. The highly personalizable vehicle was praised for its modern styling, generous interior space and long-list of modern technology features.

"With its unique styling and personalization options and outstanding safety and reliability ratings, the Soul appeals to both younger buyers and their parents," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "The award-winning five-door urban passenger vehicle, along with the 2011 Sorento and Sportage, reflects Kia Motors' design-led transformation and continues to attract new buyers to Kia showrooms."


Compiled by editors at Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, all vehicles selected offer reliability, safety, affordability, practicality as well as the latest and greatest safety and technology advancements. Editors considered all new cars with a New Car Blue Book Value less than $18,000 and all used cars 2005 model year and newer with a Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value of less than $12,000.

A 2010 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Soul has a trophy case full of awards and accolades, including: "Best Family Cars for 2010" by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, "2010 Top Cars for Families" by Motherproof.com, and 2010 "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Soul is available in four trims – Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport. Pricing for the versatile five-door begins under $14,000(1).

Soul stands out from the crowd with modern, unique styling aimed toward the young and young-at-heart and offers a distinctive combination of style, value and personalization options. An available Audio Upgrade Package includes speaker lights that can pulse to the beat of the music or add mood lighting to the interior cabin, enhancing the overall personal lounge feeling. The Soul+ offers funky black cloth seats with "glowing" Soul logo inserts while the Soul! trim comes with a distinctive sand-black interior with houndstooth-patterned inserts, and the Soul sport presents a bold red-black interior trim with red-trimmed cloth seats and metal-finish interior accents.

Kia Motors America in 2010

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand's continued gains in U.S. market share. With three new vehicle introductions and several other key initiatives planned for 2010, Kia is poised to continue its momentum and build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and with new technology such as UVO powered by Microsoft®(2), an advanced hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system (expected to be available in select Kia models in the U.S. later this year).
For more information about the 2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com please visit http://kbb.us/back2school2010.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) 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 700 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

(1)Starting MSRP for base Soul excludes $695 destination and handling fee, and title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.
(2)Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
[Source: Kia Motors America]