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!

NiroBot: The All New Way To Learn About The 2017 Kia Niro

Kia Motors America took a big step into the tech world last week when they launched NiroBot, an interactive bot for Facebook Messenger which delivers fast and comprehensive information for the all-new 2017 Kia Niro.

Roughly 1 billion consumers use Messenger monthly and NiroBot provides great access to those interested in learning more about the vehicle. Kia is among the first automotive brands in the U.S. to utilize Facebook Messenger.

“The all new Niro is like nothing else on the road today, and kicking off our pre-launch strategy by breaking new ground with our bot for Messenger that will make the new car research process much easier and more efficient for shoppers,” stated Kimberley Gardiner, director of marketing, KMA. “The user friendly interface combines the experience of being in a showroom with the convenience and mobility today’s car buyers are looking for as most users interact with NiroBot at their own pace and focus on the specific areas that interest them most.”

Developed and implemented by Ansible, NiroBot has tons of features, like full-screen galleries, guided vehicle discovery, informative product specification menus and step-by-step tutorials. It even gives users the ability to schedule a test drive and connect to a live Kia representative at any time throughout the chat.

“Word of mouth remains the most influential, and coveted, form of brand communication. However, when launching a car and building awareness in a crowded marketplace it’s hard to achieve,” said Travis Johnson, global president of Ansible. “We created the NiroBot to be everywhere our customers are - in chat platforms - and allow them to have a natural conversation about the Niro enhanced throughout by multimedia such as videos, images, links and even the ability to register for a test drive.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the 2017 Kia Niro, give NiroBot a go by clicking here. Afterwards, be sure to stop in the showroom at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO to give the all-new Niro a test drive!

2017 Kia Sportage Named Kelly Blue Book "Best Buy Of The Year"

The Kia Sportage, Kia Motors America’s longest running nameplate, has been named Kelly Blue Book’s KBB.com Best Buy of the Year among small SUVs/crossovers. Following substantial yearlong data collection, which also included testing and evaluation, the Sportage was one of 12 winners out of the 300 total new-car models included in the process.

“The new-for-2017 Kia Sportage offers versatility, ease-of-use and laudable utility in a fun-to-drive package,” stated Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Its value-price and the length of comprehensiveness of its warranty were also keys to its 2017 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award win in the red-hot Small SUV/Crossover category.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage was designed with flexibility in mind- with tons of safety features, innovative packaging, a turbocharged engine and a completely driver-friendly interior.

“The all-new 2017 Sportage has improved in all the right areas, from its expressive styling and functional interior to its refined performance,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “To be recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book as a Best Buy among some of the toughest competition demonstrates the all-new Sportage is a breed apart from the CUV segment.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage has also been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

These awards speak volumes and you can’t deny that you want to check out the 2017 Sportage for yourself… Visit us at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO- we’d love to help you find your next car!

Turn Up The Power With The 2017 Kia Soul Turbo

As if the 2017 Kia Soul wasn’t awesome enough, Kia Motors America decided to take it up a notch by adding a 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI engine, which produces 40 more horsepower and 45 more lb.-ft. of torque. Pair this with the new 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) and alas, we have the 2017 Kia Soul Exclaim.

“We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option,” stated Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up.”

The turbocharged engine offers 201-horsepower and has a fuel economy of 28 miles-per-gallon, city and highway combined. This is slightly better than the 2.0-liter 161-horsepower engine, which is found in the Soul Plus and the 1.6-liter 130 horsepower engine of the Soul Base.

The exterior features some sporty additions too, like exclusive 18-inch wheels, red-accented body trim, chrome grille surround, Soul tailgate badge and a dual chrome twin-tip exhaust. Inside, you will find pushbutton start with smart key, UVO with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Harman Kardon premium audio system with eight speakers, an 8-inch touchscreen display and even more.

Dying to give it a test drive? So are we. We’ll let you know when it arrives to Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO!

5 Tips To Get Your KIA Winter-Ready

As hard as it is to believe, it’s already November and winter is right around the corner! With the new season and change of weather ahead of us, it is essential to prepare our cars for the cold weather too. Winterizing your KIA will keep things running smoothly this season and could save your life! Check out the tips below:

1. Check Your Battery

If your battery is over three years old, be sure to have the Jim Butler Kia service department test its ability to hold a charge. If it is not three years old, it is still important to check that the battery’s posts and connections have no corrosion and that the battery has all of the water it needs.

2. Check Your Tire Pressure

As the weather has gotten cooler, it is likely that the air pressure in your tires has dropped. Tires must be inflated properly to ensure the best traction while driving- especially in wet and snowy conditions- so be sure to get your tires checked before the crazy weather kicks in!

3. Change Your Oil (With The Right Kind Of Oil)

With the change of climates and temperatures should come a change of your oil, too! The oil used in your vehicle during this time of the year should have the right thickness and viscosity so that it doesn’t get too thick...if it is too thick, it will fail to keep your engine lubricated properly.

4. Keep Your Windshield Clear
Has it been a year or more since you’ve replaced your windshield wiper blades? If so, you’re due for a new set! Additionally, be sure your windshield wiper reservoir is filled with washer fluid. Though water may do the trick in the summer, it will just freeze this time of the year so actual washer fluid is the way to go!

5. Prepare An Emergency Kit
Whether you’re going on a road trip or not, you never know what could happen! Having an emergency kit on hand will ensure your safety.. Just in case! Some things to include: a blanket, boots and gloves, a flashlight, windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, flares, a bag of salt (or kitty litter) in case a tire is stuck in the snow, snacks and water and an extra set of warm clothes!

Lastly, always keep your gas tank as full as possible to prevent it from freezing!

Our team at Jim Butler KIA in St. Louis, MO wants to make sure your car is prepared for the winter! Visit our website to check out our service specials and schedule your appointment today!