Record Year End for KIA Motors

KIA Motors finished the year strong, with more 2016 awards for their reliability and quality than ever! KIA Motors also increased their sales by 3.5 percent over 2015, further demonstrating that KIA’s are quickly becoming the “hot” new cars on the road.

“From J.D. Power and Consumer Reports to many other respected third-party experts, KIA has never been more highly rated for quality and dependability, and customers flocked to our showrooms in December and throughout 2016 to experience all that the ‘New KIA’ offers,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “No auto brand has experienced greater growth in the U.S. over the last 20-plus years, and Kia will be on the offensive once again in 2017 with several new products in the pipeline that will continue challenging everything people think they know about this brand.”

KIA’s record-breaking year included several standout performances, including:

• Four nameplates – Soul, Optima, Sorento and Forte – surpassing the 100,000-unit mark for the first time in company history
• The iconic Soul urban passenger vehicle earning the title of best-selling Kia in the U.S.
• Best-ever annual sales for the Sportage compact CUV and Forte family of compact cars, up more than 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively, over 2015
• Double-digit year-over-year increases for Rio and Sedona

To check out any of these award-winning vehicles for yourself, visit us at Jim Butler KIA located in Chesterfield, MO!

Source: KIA Media

Kia Niro Set a Guinness World Record

The 2017 KIA Niro is breaking records with its performance capabilities!

Back in December, the KIA Niro, KIA’s Crossover Hybrid Vehicle, took home a Guinness World Record title for the lowest fuel consumption for driving across the United States. It drove from Los Angeles to New York City with an amazing 76.6 MPG, making this the new record-setting mark!

Wayne Gerdes of Carlsbad, California and Robert Winger of Williamsburg, Virginia traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast in the Niro EX (total of 3,715.4 miles) on just 48.5 gallons of gas – that’s just 4.1 tanks! 

“We’re extremely pleased with the Niro’s record-breaking performance,” stated Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “We set out to build a vehicle that offers real-word utility, great looks and fantastic mileage, and setting the Guinness World Record title confirms our achievement.”

The KIA Niro is the first of its kind. It has closed the gap between outstanding fuel economy and compact crossover utility, as well as creating an ultimate driving experience for all St. Louis drivers.

Its high-efficiency 1.6L GDI engine and a smooth-transitioning dual-clutch automatic transmission contribute to this truly unique driving experience.

The KIA Niro will provide any St. Louis driver with pure fun and fuel efficiency behind the wheel, so be on the lookout because the 2017 Niro should be rolling into Jim Butler KIA soon!

The 2017 Kia Sportage named the “Best New Compact SUV”

And the award goes to…. The 2017 Kia Sportage has just been named the “Best New Compact SUV” of 2017, by Cars.com. It is also in the running for the “Best of 2017” Cars.com award. Kia did not just win these awards for being Kia, they received these awards for their innovation, design, and technology they have continued to revolutionize.

“With all of the improvements made for the 2017 model year, it’s hard to ignore the Sportage” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA.

As our St. Louis drivers know, the Kia Sportage continues to outdo itself each year. The 2017 Kia Sportage is a perfect balance of European and sporty style, with an impressive level of craftsmanship. Not only having a distinctive style, that is more seen in luxury vehicle then the everyday vehicle, it also has a roomy interior, easy-to-use technology, and other upscale features that you would not normal see in everyday vehicles. Not only did it come with a more luxury feel it is also equipped to be top safety pick. It has optional crash prevention wraps, advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD.

“To be recognized by the experts at Cars.com as ‘Best Compact SUV’ and as a ‘Best Of’ nominee represents how far the Kia brand has come in its continued commitment to world-class quality and top-notch design”, said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. With all these awards and upgraded features why wouldn’t the Kia Sportage be your next picked vehicle for 2017! Come check them out at Jim Butler Kia in St.Louis, MO.

The All-New 2018 Kia Stinger

Kia has stolen the spotlight once again, with its 2018 Kia Stinger. The 2018 Stinger made its debut at the North American International Auto Show, January 8, 2017. The Kia Stinger is a dream car that will soon become reality for our St. Louis Drivers. This car is all about journey and passion with a luxurious feel that will make you want to keep driving.

The Kia Stinger is a luxurious five-passenger sleek sports sedan with a muscular design. It has sleek front clips, long hood for the polished and powerful look, and extended wheel base in order to give a more spacious feel. The Stinger is equipped with AWD, a second-generation eight speed rear drive automatic transmission, lane keep assistance, rear cross traffic alert, and much more! This car is definitely pushing the limits for design and technology.

On January 12, 2017, four days after it debut, the Kia Stinger has been honored with an EyesOn Design award. This award goes for having the "best of the best" car design. The Kia Stinger will bring the thrill and adventure back into driving. Be on the look out at Jim Butler Kia, as the 2018 Kia Stinger begins to roll onto our lots.

The 2017 Kia Niro Takes Home Guinness World Record Title

The 2017 Kia Niro, which isn’t set to arrive until early next year, is already breaking records with its performance capabilities. The crossover hybrid vehicle has recently taken home a Guinness World Record title for the lowest fuel consumption driving across the United States from coast to coast (hybrid car) with an astonishing 76.6 mpg.

“We’re extremely pleased with the Niro’s record-breaking performance,” stated Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning KMA. “We set out to build a vehicle that offers real-word utility, great looks and fantastic mileage, and setting the Guinness World Record title confirms our achievement.”

Wayne Gerdes of Carlsbad, California and Robert Winger of Williamsburg, Virginia trekked a total of 3,715.4 miles from Los Angeles City Hall to New York City Hall in the Niro EX on just 48.5 gallons (4.1 tanks) of gas.

Pretty amazing, huh? Be sure to be on the lookout for the 2017 Niro, which should be rolling into Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO in the first quarter of next year!

6 Winter Weather Driving Tips To Keep You Safe This Season

Winter is making its way here, and we all know that with the turn of the season comes the snow. In a perfect world, we can enjoy the snow from the warmth of our home… but we don’t live in a perfect world and there will come a time when we all end up having to drive in it. Driving in snow can be dangerous and our team at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO wants you to get where you’re going safely. Check out the tips below for driving safely in wintery conditions:
 
Clear snow and ice off of your car before driving
 
Clearing any snow from your vehicle is a very important step to take before you head off. Snow on your windshield blocks your view and creates blind spots. If you leave snow on the roof of your car, it may slide down and block your view while driving or fly off and create trouble for the drivers behind you.
 
Reduce speed
 
Though it goes without saying, tires do not have as much grip of the road in icy and snowy conditions. Slowing down gives you more control and more time to react if slippage occurs, and should things go wrong, a reducing your speed lessens the impact.
 
Accelerating, braking and turning should all be separate actions
 
Braking while turning or accelerating while turning are two things that will lead to disaster in snowy conditions. Slowly apply the brakes while the vehicles is going straight and very gently accelerate when making the turn. Remember: Gently.
 
Longer braking distance
 
When driving in winter conditions, always keep your distance from the vehicle ahead of you and apply the brakes much earlier than you would in dry conditions. Use less pressure on the brakes than you normally would, as locking your brakes will cause the vehicle to slide or skid.
 
Steer into a skid
 
If the rear of the vehicle does happen to begin sliding during a turn, do not panic. Let your foot off of the accelerator and steer your vehicle in the direction of the slide. By doing this, you remain in control.
 
Just because the road looks clear, doesn’t mean it's clear
 
Just because a road looks clear of snow does not mean that it is clear of danger. Black ice, a layer of ice on the road that is typically mistaken for wet pavement, is often found on bridges, overpasses and shaded parts of the road. According to one study, trying to stop on black ice takes nine times longer than normal, so you truly have no room for error if you come across it. Remember that if the road is wet and temps are below 32 degrees, freezing will occur and the possibility of black ice increases.

Kia's First-Ever Sports Saloon: The 2017 Kia GT

If this isn’t a teaser, we don’t know what is! Kia’s next big thing is on its way and we are as eager as ever to get behind the wheel. What is this “next big thing”, you ask? The 2017 Kia GT- AKA the brand’s first sports saloon. And considering the timing of the released video, it is likely the vehicle will be making its debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

Though Kia has released very little about the GT, we do know that this car is focused on driver enjoyment and will reach speeds up to more than 150 mph. It has been caught testing multiple times in Nurburgring and is expected to be positioned at the top of Kia’s range.

We’ll keep you posted with more details but we don’t expect to see the Kia GT roll into our showroom until after summer of 2017!

In the meantime, stop by and see us at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO to check out our current Kia lineup!