Korea: 2010 Kia Carens Adds New Features

Kia Motors has commenced sales of the 2010 Carens (Rondo in North America) multi-purpose vehicle in South Korea today. The 2010 model adds a myriad of appealing new features including new 17-inch "Black Luxury" alloy wheels, Supervision cluster, ETCS (Electronic Toll Collection System), and integrated Bluetooth hands-free system. Also new for 2010 is an available gasoline-powered model.

The exterior of the 2010 Carens is highlighted by a set of redesigned side mirrors with LED turn signals that adds both elegance and safety. The new 17-inch "Black Luxury" alloy wheels, standard in the top trim, pay homage to Kia's new penchant for high-gloss black in the brand's domestic line-up.

For 2010, Kia also introduced two new trim levels: GX Family and GLX Family. The GX Family adds a front passenger airbag, ABS, rear parking assist, and Carmel Beige seats. The GLX Family trim adds active headrests, VDC, rear parking assist, and Carmel Beige seats.

Under the hood, the 2010 Carens is now available in either gasoline or LPI configurations. The former is powered by a 2.0L Theta I 4-cylinder petrol that produces 151 horsepower and 19.8kg·m (143 lb.ft) of torque. The latter is propelled by a 2.0L 4-cylinder LPI that offers 141 horsepower and 19.0 kg·m (137 lb.ft) of torque.

Pricing remains the same for the 2010 model. The 2.0L LPI range is priced from 17.15 million Won to 22.08 million Won, while the 2.0L Gasoline range is priced from 16.35 million Won to 21.28 million Won.

[Source: Kia Motors]

Kia Forte Koup to Join 2010 GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge

Kia Motors America (KMA) announced its official its U.S. motorsports program at the 2009 SEMA Show. KMA has teamed with the Kinetic Group to build and campaign two Forte Koups in the 2010 GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge Series in the Street Tuner (ST) class.

“The Forte Koup is the latest chapter in the dramatic Kia brand transformation story, and the decision to enter into the motorsports arena was an easy one to make,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. “The Forte Koup’s performance-inspired styling and outstanding driving dynamics make it a natural fit for road racing, and competing in GRAND-AM’s KONI Challenge Series enables us to reach an entirely new and passionate base of automotive enthusiasts.”

As part of its motorsports team development, KMA identified and partnered with the Kinetic Group to develop, build and campaign the two Forte Koup KONI Challenge spec cars. Based outside of Atlanta, Kinetic provides a comprehensive array of in-house services, including fabrication, composites, paint and body, engine, and electronics departments. Completing the team, decorated drivers Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson have been secured to drive the two Forte Koup entries in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series in 2010.

The GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class utilizes production-based race cars and has a wide variety of vehicles from the U.S., Europe and Asia, using weight and intake restrictions to maintain a level playing field for all entrants.

[Source: Kia Motors America]

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USA: Kia Announces October Sales, Reports Gains

On the heels of its best quarter ever in company history, Kia Motors America today announced October sales of 22,490 units, a 45.3-percent increase over the same month last year. Year to date sales totaled 261,060, a 7.2-percent increase over the same period last year. October sales were led by the all-new Forte compact and Rio subcompact, selling 4,984 and 4,005 units respectively. The Borrego SUV posted its best month ever with 3,919 units.

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic transformation of its line-up, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share. The upcoming launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA and the first vehicle to be built at the company’s first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia, is set to further enhance the line-up.

[Source: Kia Motors America]

Spied: 2011 Kia Optima/K5 (TF)

Hot on the heels of the forthcoming domestic launch of Kia's K7/Cadenza, we bring you the latest spy shots of Kia's upcoming replacement for the mid-size Optima sedan, to be called K5 in the Korean market. The current-generation Optima, badged as Lotze in Korea, made its debut in November 2005 and was significantly revised for 2009 with major styling updates.

Scheduled to make its Korean debut in April 2010, the upcoming Optima/K5 (code-named "TF") will be a complete redesign. As indicated by spy shots, Schreyer's latest work will also be substantially larger compared to the current model.

Stylistically, the K5 is a stunning departure from the mundane style of the generation it will replace. The front end will feature Kia's sleek corporate fascia(for reference, see the new Sorento and Forte) incarnated by Peter Schreyer. As evident in a close-up shot, the K5 will also be available with LED headlights in the Korean market. The side profile is highlighted by a sweeping chrome window sill that extends to the trunk lid. The rear-end will ostensibly resemble the K7/Cadenza.

As of now, we have no confirmed details on what engines will be available for the new K5. The 2.4L Theta II 4-cylinder will certainly be one offering, as well as the 2.4L GDI (gasoline direct injection) 4-cylinder with an output of 201 horsepower. In addition, we expect an array of diesel and LPI engines to be offered in various markets. The North American model will likely be available with a 3.5L Lambda II V6 as well.

Stay tuned for more information and spy shots in future posts.

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Kia Releases Soul Tempest Limited Edition for U.K.

Kia Motors has launched a limited-edition Soul "Tempest" for the UK market today. Replacing the outgoing "Samba" model, the Tempest is the latest addition to the automaker's Original Collections line-up in the UK.

The Tempest comes in a Titanium Silver finish with black high-gloss bumper inserts and door mirrors, and is fitted with unique black 18-inch alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Tempest gets 'Soul-Shine' black seat trim with metallic center fascia and chrome accents on the dashboard and instrument clusters.

Other key features of the limited edition model include a reversing camera system with electrochromic rearview mirror and an upgraded audio system featuring a dash-top centre speaker, rear sub-woofer and external amplifier.

The Soul Tempest is available with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines with prices starting from £12,845.

[Source: Kia Motors]

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Kia K7/Cadenza: More Info and Images

Kia Motors has been receiving a flurry of attention after it recently released the first images of the K7/Cadenza premium sedan. Soon after, Kia also pulled the camouflage off its running prototypes of the K7 (so, if you are located in South Korea now, be on the keen lookout) and a cascade of amateur images have since been posted on the web. In this post, we bring you a new set of images, this time rocking in high-resolution (and a white K7 too), as well as new information we received from our inside sources.

In a recent post, we informed you that the K7 will be powered by either the new 2.4L GDI (gasoline direct injection) 4-cylinder engine or a more potent 3.5L Lambda V6. Well, according to our sources, the 2.4L GDI engine, which is projected to produce over 200 horsepower, will not be available at launch, but in October of 2010 for the Korean market. The 3.5L Lambda II V6 will be available when the K7 goes on sale next month, and our sources now report that it will produce an impressive 290 horsepower. Other engines to be available are a 2.4L Theta II 4-cylinder that churns out 180 horsepower and a 200 horsepower 2.7L Mu V6, also found in the Hyundai Grandeur (Azera). Engine options for the export-market Cadenza have not been detailed, although the 3.5L V6 is a certainty for North America.

Other details we received include the delayed availability of the panoramic roof for the K7 (February 2010), and the availability of two navigation systems (6.5" screen and 8" screen). Pricing for the K7 will range from 28 million Won (US$23,805) to 40 million Won (US$34,000), which is similar to the Hyundai Grandeur's in Korea. In North America, we expect the Cadenza to be priced similar to the Amanti that it is replacing in that market.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

[Source: K7Club.net]

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First Live Shots of Kia K7/Cadenza - Updated

As Kia had officially unveiled the all-new K7 (Cadenza) sedan yesterday, the automaker has followed suit by uncloaking all test prototypes of the premium sedan and has set them loose in the streets of Seoul for public viewing. As a result, we have the first live shots of the K7, and these images give us a better look at the style and presence of the car. Continue to check by this post and TheCarBlogger for more shots as they come.

[Source: VGClub.net]

UPDATED with new live shots after the jump!

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