Kia-Soul-2012-Autos

Latest pricing for Kia’s Facelifted 2012 Soul Lands in Britain – pictures & details of Kia Soul 2012 Cars: The refreshed for the 2012 model year Kia Soul is on sale in the UK with on-the-road prices ranging from £12,495 for the basic petrol model to the £17,795 for the fully equipped diesel variant.

The most important change for the 2012 Soul is the presentation of a new 1.6-liter petrol engine and a revised version of the 1.6-liter turbo diesel, both hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox that replaces the previous five-speed unit. Furthermore, the diesel model is optionally available with a new 6sp auto in place of the former 4sp transmission.

The new direct-injection petrol unit delivers 138bhp, an increase of 14bhp over the previous 1.6-liter engine for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 10 seconds and an official combined-cycle economy of 44.1mpg UK with CO2 emissions of 149g/km.

The modified 1.6-liter CRDi diesel with the six-speed manual completes the 0-60mph (96km/h) acceleration in 10.3 seconds and is 3mpg more fuel-efficient (57.6mpg UK) than its predecessor. CO2 emissions are also down by 8g/km to 129g/km.

For the 2012 model year, Kia refreshed the appearance of the Soul with some modest styling tweaks to the front and rear bumpers, upper and lower front grilles, headlamps, tail lights and the alloy wheel designs. Kia said all versions are 15mm longer than before to accommodate the new powertrains under the bonnet.

Interior improvements include a redesigned center stack and new color options.

Pictures of  Kia’s Facelifted 2012 Soul Lands in Britain:

Kia-RWD-GT-Sports-Sedan-Concept

Kia’s RWD GT Sports Sedan Concept with New Photos – Latest reviews of Kia RWD GT Sports Sedan Concept: Apparently, the release of the first official batch of photos of Kia’s Frankfurt Motor Show-bound concept car couldn’t keep the floodgates from opening as today, a fresh group of pictures were posted online.

Aside from providing us with a better view of the exterior and a first look at the interior design, the new images also reveal that Kia’s so-called four-door coupe concept is aptly named GT. While Kia is keeping most details under cover, the South Korean car manufacturer has disclosed that the concept sports a front engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

All photos of Kia’s RWD GT Sports Sedan Concept:

Kia-Picanto-3-Door-2012

Kia Three-Door Picanto 2012 Launches in Britain – Latest priced & review of Kia Three-Door Picanto 2012: For the first time since the Kia Picanto was introduced into the market in 2004, the Korean city car is available with a three-door body style.

Revealed alongside the second generation of the five-door model at the Geneva Salon this past March, the three-door Picanto will go on sale in the UK from the 1st of September with prices starting from £7,795 for the base 1.0 ‘1’ and rising to £12,295 for the 1.25 ‘Halo’ with an automatic transmission.

Kia says it created the 3d Picanto because city car sales (referred to as the A-segment in Europe) are rising worldwide and are expected to grow to 2.4 million in 2014 and 3.3 million in 2015, and around a million of these will be three-door cars. In the UK, the split between body styles in the A-segment is 55:45 in favor of five-door models.

While identical in size with its 5d counterpart, the 3d Picanto features new front doors, bumpers, rear panels and glass aft of the A-pillar, along with a larger front grille that’s available with silver or red trim surrounds, visible exhaust tail pipes and different alloy wheel designs.

There are four trim levels available for the 3d model, two of which, the “1″ and “1 Air” are carried over from the 5d Picanto, and the Halo and Equinox that are new.

Standard features on all models include a trip computer, height-adjustable seat, a tilt-adjustable steering column, a RDS radio and CD player with MP3 compatibility, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and emergency brake assist system (BAS).

The Picanto 1 Air gets air conditioning, while the Halo and Equinox both benefit from USB and AUX ports, an iPod cable and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, automatic lights, LED front daytime running lights and LED rear lights.

In addition, the Halo version gets unique 14-inch alloys, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, reverse parking sensors, alloy pedals and a Supervision Cluster.

The Equinox spec features a premium red ‘Chilli’ upholstery with a contrasting high gloss black fascia and gearknob, 15-inch alloys, automatic air conditioning and a smart key with a start/stop button.

The Picanto 3d is offered with two gasoline engine choices, a 1.0-liter three-cylinder unit developing 68bhp and 95Nm of torque, and a 1.25-liter four-cylinder with 84bhp and 121Nm of torque, that delivers 60.1mpg UK with a manual gearbox, 53.3mpg UK with a 4-speed auto, and 65.7mpg UK when combined with a Start and Stop system.

All photos of  Kia Three-Door Picanto 2012:

Kia Soul Hamstar Special Edition 2011

Kia Launches Kia Soul Hamstar Special Edition 2011 in the U.S – Latest photos & price for Kia Soul Hamstar 2011 from $20,295: The success of the popular Hamster advertising campaign that promoted the Soul in the U.S. in 2010 inspired Kia to launch a new special edition model of its boxy crossover model.

Previewed by the Hamstar concept at the 2011 SEMA show, the red and black 2011 Hamstar is the sixth special edition Soul. The car sports unique exterior graphics and interior refinements, including a 315-watt audio system with pulsing speaker lights.

The limited-edition Hamstar Soul is based on the Soul+ trim level and wears custom Hamstar artwork, including a black star graphic with the signature Hamstar script logo on the hood and the tailgate, plus matte black stripes on the sides. It also gets body colored bumpers, fog lights, a rear spoiler, black 18-inch alloy wheels with silver edges, black fender vents with integrated turn signal indicator and a matte black fuel door.

Inside, the Hamstar Soul features bespoke Hamstar floor mats, black leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic climate control, leather wrapped steering wheel and gearshift lever, and push button start with smart key. The Audio Upgrade Package includes a center speaker, subwoofer, 315-watt external amplifier and speaker lights.

The Hamstar Soul is powered by a 142HP 2.0-liter petrol engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and is priced from $20,295 (€14,200).

“The Soul was designed to stand out in a sea of sameness and we are committed to keeping it fresh, fun and relevant in the marketplace and the special edition Hamstar Soul is the latest embodiment of that philosophy,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications Kia Motors America.

Photos Kia Soul Hamstar Special Edition 2011:

KIA-Optima-Hybrid-2011

Kia Optima Hybrid 2011 with New 40mpg Priced from $27,250 – Latest price & photos of Kia Optima Hybrid 2011: Kia is ready to talk pricing on its first ever hybrid vehicle in the States, the all-new Optima Hybrid, which we first saw at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

A sister model to Hyundai’s Sonata Hybrid, with which is shares the same gasoline-electric powertrain, the Optima Hybrid will reach U.S. showrooms in June with a starting price of $26,500, not including a $750 destination and handling fee that lifts the cost to $27,250. By comparison, the hybrid version of the Sonata starts at $25,795, excluding destination charges.

The Optima’s parallel hybrid powetrain makes use of a modified 2.4-liter Theta II engine without direct-injection that runs on the Atkinson cycle and delivers 166HP and 151 lb-ft of peak torque. The four-cylinder gasoline unit is linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor capable of delivering 40.2 horsepower (30 kW) and 151.2 pound-feet of torque when electric only. When in hybrid mode, the combined output of the two motors comes to 206.2 horsepower and 195.4 pound-feet of torque. A set of lithium polymer batteries from LG Chem completes the hybrid package.

Kia claims the Optima Hybrid can deliver up to 35 miles per gallon in city driving and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone automatic temperature control with rear vents, push-button start with smart key and the company’s UVO powered by Microsoft hands-free, voice-activated infotainment and communications system.

For an additional $5,000, customers can opt for the Hybrid Premium Technology Package, that ups the luxury ante with several comfort and convenience features. These include a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloys, four-way power adjustable front passenger’s seat, driver’s seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, HID headlamps with automatic leveling, leatherette-wrapped center fascia, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a navigation system with back-up camera and SIRIUS Traffic, and an upgraded eight-speaker Infinity audio system.

Photos of Kia Optima Hybrid 2011 autos:

Kia-Rio-small-2012-sedan

Kia Rio small 2012 sedan at New York Auto Show 2011 – Latest photos & info of Kia Rio 2012 sedan: Kia’s brand-new Rio small sedan was joined by the hatchback version of the sub compact model named Rio5 at this week’s New York Auto Show.

Unlike the four-sedan that received its world premiere in the Big Apple, we got our first taste of the Rio5 at the Geneva Salon in March. The only visible styling changes over the European model, concern the colored turn signals up front and the market-specific trim options inside.

The 2012 Rio5 is available with a 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic. The direct-injection four-pot delivers 138 horsepower, and thanks to the addition of Kia’s ISG start-stop technology, it returns 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Kia’s newcomer will be offered with a choice of three trim levels, LX, EX and SX. The base LX includes 15-inch steel wheels with 185/65R15 tires, driver’s seat height adjuster, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), which coordinates the car’s ESC and ABS.

Moving up to the EX gets you standard power windows with automatic up/down on the driver’s window, Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls, 60/40 split folding rear seats and leatherette door trim and power door locks with keyless entry.

Finally, the range topping SX trim adds 17-inch wheels with 205/45R17 tires, fog lamps, LED daytime running and rear combinations lamps, dual chrome tip exhaust, outside heated mirrors with turn signal indicators, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, maplight with sunglasses holder, illuminated vanity mirrors, trip computer, cruise control, UVO powered by Microsoft in-car hands-free communication and entertainment system with rear camera display, and chrome-coated accents throughout.

Pricing and availability in the States will be announced at a later date.

Photos of Kia Rio small 2012 sedan:

Kia-Soul-2012

Newest Kia Soul 2012 with 135HP 1.6-liter and 160HP 2.0-liter Engines – Latest photos of Kia Soul 2012 autos: Just three years into its sales run, and the Kia Soul is getting fine tuned to improve its place in the market.

Set to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show alongside the all-new Rio Sedan that we told you about in our previous post, the 2012 Soul comes with a number of technology and powertrain enhancements and some subtle design updates.

The cosmetic differences on the outside are limited to the new projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, a redesigned bonnet, restyled front and rear bumpers, plus the new LED tail lamps. Inside, Kia updated its audio offerings and added the new ‘UVO’ in-car hands-free communication and infotainment system. There’s also a new Premium Package with heated front seats, leather seat trim, automatic climate control, and a navigation system.

The most important revisions concern the updated engine range and the introduction of new six-speed transmissions. For 2012, the Soul gets a new 1.6-liter GDI four-pot that delivers 11 percent more power than before at 135HP, while returning 28mpg city and 34 mpg highway (8.4-6.9lt/100km), which translates into a 10 percent improvement over the previous engine.

Those looking for more power can opt for the also new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 160HP and 143 lb-ft (194Nm) of peak torque, up from 142HP and 115 lb-ft of the outgoing unit. The two-liter powerplant also gets new six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Kia calculates that fuel economy for the 2.0-litre at 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway (8.7-7.1lt/100km) for both the automatic and manual transmission models.

“After just two model years, we’ve given the 2012 Soul significant improvements in power, style and fuel economy, making this iconic vehicle the perfect package for consumers looking for something a little outside the box,” said Kia’s Michael Sprague.

All photos of Kia Soul 2012 autos:

Kia-Rio-Sedan-2012

Kia Rio Sedan autos 2012 in North America – Latest info of Kia Rio Sedan 2012: After rolling out the China market Kia K2 sedan at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show on Tuesday, the South Korean automaker exposed the sub-compact sedan’s North American sibling that will be sold under the Rio nameplate.

Even though the K2 and Rio share the same underpinnings being the sedan versions of the all-new Rio hatchback, which was unwrapped in Geneva this past March, the two models get feature unique exterior designs.

The North American Rio sedan keeps the hatchback model’s front end styling with the large, almond-shaped headlights adding a new window line and a different rear end design. Same goes for the interior which is identical to the five-door model we saw in Geneva, sans the different trim and features.

The 2012 Rio is longer, wider and lower than the previous generation model, measuring 4366mm (171.9-in.) long, 1,720mm wide (67.7-in.) and 1,455mm (57.3-in) high. Kia said that thanks to the use of high-tensile-strength steel (63 percent), the new Rio offers increased torsional stiffness for improved handling, ride quality and refinement, plus increased crash safety capabilities while reducing overall weight.

In the USA, the new Rio is powered by a 135HP 1.6-litre GDI four-cylinder engine with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic. Kia said that the new Rio is estimated to return 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway (7.8-5.8L/100km). The Rio will be offered with Kia’s start-stop ISG technology.

“The all-new Rio brings Kia’s successful combination of world-class styling, outstanding fuel economy, advanced technologies and tremendous value to the smallest and most economical vehicle in the Kia line-up,” said Michael Sprague, vice-president, marketing & communications, KMA.

Photos of Kia Rio Sedan autos 2012:

Kia-Rio-Sedan-2012

Kia Rio Sedan at 2012 New York International Auto Show 2011- info and photos of Kia Rio Sedan 2012: The word on the street is that Kia will lift the covers off a sedan version of its new Rio series in a world premiere at the upcoming 2011 New York International Auto Show in mid-April.

The new generation of the Rio was recently unveiled in hatchback form at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

The new generation of the Rio hatchback has grown in size over its predecessor and, at least in Europe, it will also be offered in a sportier looking but less practical, three-door body style. The upcoming sedan model will most likely differ from the B-column and back, featuring a longer rear end with a more spacious boot.

The European version of the Rio Hatch will be offered with a choice of three- and four-cylinder engines with outputs ranging from 70-to-109HP. No word yet on what type of engines will be available for the North American market model.

Kia Rio Sedan 2012 Photos:

Kia-Sportage-SX-Turbo-2011

Kia Sportage SX Turbo 2011, Latest priced Kia Sportage SX Turbo 2011: Kia has released details and pricing on its new turbocharged 2011 Sportage SX compact CUV, scheduled to arrive in the firm’s U.S. showrooms later this month.

The Sportage SX is Kia’s second vehicle in the States to feature the company’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology and a twin-scroll turbocharger that delivers 256 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of peak torque.

The 2.0L Turbo is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. Kia said the FWD model returns 22mpg in the city (10.7 lt/100km) and 27mpg on the highway (8.7lt/100km). In addition to the new powertrain, the Sportage SX also gets a sportier-tuned suspension with firmer shock and strut rates for improved handling over the standard versions along with several bespoke styling features such as the unique 18-inch alloy wheels and grille trim, dual exhaust, and special side sill moldings. The exterior updates are complemented by SX-specific interior appointments including standard aluminum door sills and a modified gauge cluster. Prices for the 2011 Sportage SX start from $26,490 for the front-wheel drive (FWD) model and from $27,990 for the AWD model, with both MSRPs including a $695 destination and handling fee.

Kia Sportage SX Turbo 2011 photos:

Kia-Rio-Auto-2012-at-Geneva-Motor-Show-2011

Kia Rio auto 2012 gets 1.2-liter Turbo at Geneva Motor Show 2011: Kia’s product assault continues with the presentation of the all-new Rio subcompact, which will receive its world premiere together with the new Picanto at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March.

The latest car to be revealed by Kia boasts a far slicker exterior design than the current Rio bringing it in line with the rest of South Korean company’s passenger model range. There are no photos of the interior, but Kia says its newcomer “will deliver a high level of quality previously associated with larger models” along with a wider selection of trim options.

The Korean firm’s Ford Fiesta-sized vehicle features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm (to 2,570 mm) compared to the outgoing Rio thus promising to offer improved passenger space together with an increased cargo capacity to 292 liters for the hatchback body style. Exterior dimensions changes include: +55 mm (overall length), -15 mm (height) and +25 mm (overall width).

In Europe, the firm’s B-Segment contender will be offered with a comprehensive range of petrol and diesel engines including a 1.1-liter diesel unit delivering 70-horsepower and CO2 emissions from as low as 85 g/km.

But the big surprise is the announcement of an all-new 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) that will be available from 2012, and which will offer the Koreans a significant advantage over its Japanese rivals.

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing for Kia, commented: “This new model is a big step forward. The Rio has always been successful, and with this new incarnation we have a car that people will want to buy for its looks.”

The new Rio will go on sale in Europe as a 5-door model this fall, with a 3-door to be introduced into the range in early 2012. Pricing and full range details will be announced nearer the on-sale date.

Kia-Rio-Auto-2012-at-Geneva-Motor-Show-2011 Photos:

Kia Pro ceed 2011 Auto

2011 Kia Pro-ceed:  Photos of the mildly refreshed Kia Pro_cee’d are making the internet rounds before the car’s scheduled world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March. The most obvious visual changes concern the restyled front end that brings the three-door version of the European market Cee’d more in line with Kia’s latest offerings.Along with the new H-shaped front grille finished in black, the 2011 Pro_cee’d also gains restyled headlamps and a reworked bumper. It is also possible that Kia may have upgraded the three-door model’s interior as well as its engine line-up, but we won’t know for sure until we get the official press release in our hands. Until then, follow the break to check out the rest of the pictures.

Photos of 2011 Kia Pro-ceed