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  • On the outside, it may look like very little work has been done. But look a little closer, and you will realise that Kia has lengthened the Soul, tweaked its headlights and front bumper, and smartened up its rear end. The rear taillight cluster has been replaced by a much smarter and more modern unit, while the rear tailgate has been widened and is now made up of a single piece of glass, with the centre decked out with a piece of body-coloured trim.
    DOCUMENTED: 04.04.2013 | 07:38 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Kia’s Got A New Soul!

    Kia ditches the ‘boy-racer’ look and goes for a more matured look in the facelifted Soul.

    Kia created the Soul a couple of years back in an attempt to ditch their image for making boring, white-good cars. In a way it has worked ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Soul, New, Supermini, New York
    • On the outside, it may look like very little work has been done. But look a little closer, and you will realise that Kia has lengthened the Soul, tweaked its headlights and front bumper, and smartened up its rear end. The rear taillight cluster has been replaced by a much smarter and more modern unit, while the rear tailgate has been widened and is now made up of a single piece of glass, with the centre decked out with a piece of body-coloured trim.
    • Inside, gone is the radical interior, and in its place, a much smarter and more expensive looking dashboard. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather trim on the doors, coupled with a variety of piano black trim and soft touch materials make the Kia Soul feel a whole lot more expensive than it actually is.
    • When it comes to power, there are several engine choices, from the base 1.6 litre engine, to the top of the range 2.0 litre inline four. The 2.0 litre four banger develops 164 bhp, which gives enough power on tap, without sacrificing fuel economy. The powerplant is coupled with Kia\'s new six-speed automatic transmission, which maintains the perfect balance between a sporty drive and comfort.
  • Of course, the car is nothing more than a concept at this point in time. That said, if the Provo ever entered production, how much of the radical design would actually make it into the final product? The car in its current form is certainly quite striking though, thanks to the contrasting roof color, one-piece headlight and taillight housings, and oversized wheel arches paired with radical wheels.
    DOCUMENTED: 18.03.2013 | 13:32 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Hot Korean Model Rivals The British And Germans

    Kia’s Provo Concept is set to be serious contender in the compact car category. MINI, watch out!

    Kia has decided to name its radical concept the Provo. That name may be a little provocative in the UK, but the styling is nowhere n ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Provo, Concept, Geneva, Hybrid, Sports
    • Of course, the car is nothing more than a concept at this point in time. That said, if the Provo ever entered production, how much of the radical design would actually make it into the final product? The car in its current form is certainly quite striking though, thanks to the contrasting roof color, one-piece headlight and taillight housings, and oversized wheel arches paired with radical wheels.
    • If you think that this car was all about its striking sheetmetal, then you’d be wrong. The car has an equally radical cabin to match the insane exterior. The leather inside is diamond quilted, with chrome, suede and carbonfibre accents to match. A flat-bottomed steering wheel completes the racy look.
    • Power comes from a petrol-fuelled turbocharged engine with clever regenerative-electric motors, meaning mad power and decent economy. The motors will be able to provide power to the rear wheels in low-traction situations, as well as provide low speed electric-only motion.
  • To distinguish this hot hatch from its pedestrian siblings, the Pro Cee’d GT has a black roof, and a new body kit. A red insert decorates the base of the lower air intake. The surgery at the front goes beyond that; mesh grilles, a GT badge, LED daytime running lights and enlarged intakes complete the front end of the Pro Cee’d GT. Other alterations include 18 inch wheels to clear the larger brakes, and a rear spoiler. This car is not all about show and no go though; the car comes with some decent poke too.
    DOCUMENTED: 31.01.2013 | 05:36 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Kia Unveils Korean 'Golf GTi'

    Kia builds a hot hatch with 201 bhp and 264 Nm of torque. Is this going to be a budget Golf GTI?

    Kia is probably not a name you would normally associate with hot hatches. But now you can, thanks to the Kia Pro Cee’d GT. The car ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Pro Cee'd, GTI, Turbo
    • To distinguish this hot hatch from its pedestrian siblings, the Pro Cee’d GT has a black roof, and a new body kit. A red insert decorates the base of the lower air intake. The surgery at the front goes beyond that; mesh grilles, a GT badge, LED daytime running lights and enlarged intakes complete the front end of the Pro Cee’d GT. Other alterations include 18 inch wheels to clear the larger brakes, and a rear spoiler. This car is not all about show and no go though; the car comes with some decent poke too.
    • Power comes from a Hyundai Veloster sourced 1.6L Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. The powerplant makes 201 bhp and 264 Nm of torque. Coupled with a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, the century sprint time should be dealt with in about 7 seconds, with the car going to a top speed of around 210 km/h.
    • Inside, a pair of Recaro sport seats, aluminum pedals, leather trim with contrasting stitching and a leather steering wheel with a stitched GT logo ensures that the car feels a million bucks, while still looking like a performance car.
  • The new MINI Paceman, the seventh model in the MINI family, welcomed the MINI Goes to Santa Claus caravan upon its arrival in Rovaniemi. With its unique personality, the MINI Paceman offers an innovative combination of sporty and extroverted design. It is the first Sports Activity Coupé in the premium compact segment and is available with the MINI ALL4 four-wheel drive system.
    DOCUMENTED: 18.12.2012 | 05:00 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    MINI Goes to Santa Claus

    MINI sets a world record approved by Guinness World Records™ for the longest wish list ever delivered to Santa Claus.

    Press release Mission accomplished for the international MINI Goes to Santa Claus project: 75.954 collected wishes.   In ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : MINI, Countryman, MINI Habitat, Cooper S, BMW Asia, Christmas
    • The new MINI Paceman, the seventh model in the MINI family, welcomed the MINI Goes to Santa Claus caravan upon its arrival in Rovaniemi. With its unique personality, the MINI Paceman offers an innovative combination of sporty and extroverted design. It is the first Sports Activity Coupé in the premium compact segment and is available with the MINI ALL4 four-wheel drive system.
  • Offering plenty of standard features, the Soul features a chrome-accented grille, clear lens headlamps, body-coloured door handles and side mirrors with integrated turn signals, black body side molding, rear wiper/washer, variable intermittent windshield wipers, front and rear disc brakes and 16-inch alloy rims with an option to upgrade to 18-inch alloy rims.
    DOCUMENTED: 30.04.2012 | 00:29 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Soulful: Kia's Soul Given An Update

    Cycle & Carriage Kia introduces an updated version of Kia's funky Soul, now with more style to keep it relevant

    Photos courtesy of Cycle & Carriage The Soul is now refreshed, with new projector headlamps, including LED daytime running lig ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Soul, Kia Soul, 2012 Kia Soul, Cycle & Carriage Kia
    • Offering plenty of standard features, the Soul features a chrome-accented grille, clear lens headlamps, body-coloured door handles and side mirrors with integrated turn signals, black body side molding, rear wiper/washer, variable intermittent windshield wipers, front and rear disc brakes and 16-inch alloy rims with an option to upgrade to 18-inch alloy rims.
    • Inside, the Soul envelopes its passengers with a more high-tech, futuristic cabin featuring a well-equipped blend of technology features at a tremendous overall value. Passengers will find comfort in the roomy cabin that offers 1,020/1,005 mm of headroom (front/rear), shoulder room of 1,403/1,400mm and 1,070/990 mm of legroom. To ensure a comfortable driving position for all drivers, the steering wheel has both tilt and telescopic adjustment.
    • An uncluttered dashboard with a three-dial supervision instrument cluster with trip computer, white illumination and floating center stack design is the key visual feature. The trip computer provides all the necessary information a driver needs at the touch of a button. Standard USB and auxiliary input jacks can also be found in the center console with full iPod/iPhone® and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel-mounted controls achieved with the included iPod cable. Jazz up your audio experience with multi-colour speaker lights that pulses to the best of the music or add mood lighting to the car.
  • Kia has decided that it's cheaper to learn from the mistakes of others. So the Koup is an honest car. Convincingly striking yet subtle with its strong angular lines, it is sultry in a quiet way. Included in the package for the face-lifted version, is the full bodykit you see here. Complete with the chunky front bumper add-ons, side skirts and rear bumper.
    DOCUMENTED: 09.12.2011 | 16:28 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Honestly Good | Kia Forte Koup 1.6 SX

    Kia's sportiest drive has been a success on our roads since its launch two years ago. The new face-lifted version sports a new bodykit and a smooth 6-speed gearbox. We drive the 'better' Kia Koup!

    Photos: Joel Tam I must admit. I have been liking the recent Kia models alot. It is partly due to their great value-for-money specce ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Forte, Koup, Coupe
    • Kia has decided that it's cheaper to learn from the mistakes of others. So the Koup is an honest car. Convincingly striking yet subtle with its strong angular lines, it is sultry in a quiet way. Included in the package for the face-lifted version, is the full bodykit you see here. Complete with the chunky front bumper add-ons, side skirts and rear bumper.
    • From the rear, the new high spoiler actually works well to give the car a more racy attitude. The rear bumper add-ons also intensify the angular lines of the car. This is the unabridged version of the Kia Forte Koup, full-on and uncut.
    • Step inside and if you've not come from an Audi, you'll be pretty impressed. A great design that is found also in the Cerato sedan, the interior is both functional and fetching. Don't touch anything yet though, just admire the sporty red-stitched leather on the seats and panels, the piano-blacked gloss finishing on the console, the ergonomically designed dash... OK, now you can touch something and be brought immediately back to reality.
  • If there was only one car that I attended the show for, it would be the Lamborghini Aventador. The Western Australian release of the Aventador was THE showstopper.
    DOCUMENTED: 23.08.2011 | 21:10 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The 2011 Perth Motor Show

    With the show being on hiatus since 2008, Wei Jie from E3lipse Photography attended this year's edition to find out what it's like.

    Words and photos: Wei Jie from E3lipse Photography Missing the Singapore Motor Show in 2008, I was vehement about going to the Perth ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : 2011, Perth, Motor, Show,
    • If there was only one car that I attended the show for, it would be the Lamborghini Aventador. The Western Australian release of the Aventador was THE showstopper.
    • Walking into the Exhibition center, it was a sight to behold. Visitors were greeted by a whole row of veteran to post classic cars, ranging from what is claimed to be the world’s first affordable automobile, the Ford Model T to a Holden Monaro and a Chevrolet Camaro.
    • While the show focused mostly on muscles and V8s, there were a fair share of European and Japanese cars too. The last display before entering the main hall held was a trio of Jaguar E Types which have participated in various races and rallies ranging the 1964 Caversham 6 hour race to the more renowned 1997 Panama – Alaska Rally.
  • Nokian Tyres is one of Europe’s premium tyre brands, known worldwide especially for their winter range tyres. It is the only tyre manufacturer in the world that focuses on products and services that facilitate safe transportation in Nordic conditions. The company's innovative passenger car, van and heavy-duty machinery tyres are mainly marketed in areas that have snow, forest and changing seasons that make driving conditions demanding. Now, what about summer tyres?
    DOCUMENTED: 04.08.2011 | 15:56 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Tyrepac Adds Nokian Tyres To Its Portfolio

    Nokian Tyres, a premium European tyre brand now has an exclusive dealer in Singapore.

    Tyrepac has announced that it will be the exclusive dealer for Nokian Tyres in Singapore. The deal will see Tyrepac retailing the tyres e ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Tyrepac, Nokian Tyres, H, V, Z, G2, SUV
    • Nokian Tyres is one of Europe’s premium tyre brands, known worldwide especially for their winter range tyres. It is the only tyre manufacturer in the world that focuses on products and services that facilitate safe transportation in Nordic conditions. The company's innovative passenger car, van and heavy-duty machinery tyres are mainly marketed in areas that have snow, forest and changing seasons that make driving conditions demanding. Now, what about summer tyres?
    • For passenger cars, they are offering three models from the Nokian line-up, the H, V and Z G2. The H and V both utilise the same asymmetrical thread pattern, with the V featuring a more sport-oriented rubber compound and a stiffer structure. Both tyres feature Cool Silica for lower rolling resistance, Polished Grooves that aid water dispersion, Wedge Cap Construction to aid handling, as well as a Driving Safety and Aquaplaning Indicator which shows the remaining groove depth (in mm) at a glance.
    • The Nokian Z G2 is targeted at demanding consumers, applying the “Cool Zone Concept” that promises driving stability, handling, wet grip and durability. In addition, it boasts a reduced noise level, rolling resistance and heat generation. The outer layer of the Z G2 features Cool UHP Silica which ensures excellent wet grip and reduces the road noise. The asymmetric tread is designed to deliver driving stability, especially on corners, when changing lanes and dodging. The Z SUV, as its name suggests, is tailor-made for high-speed SUVs.
  • As well as its all-new body shape, the new Forte Hatchback (the official name for the 5-door model) introduces styling, equipment, refinement and technical improvements, which are also featured on the new 2011 Forte sedan and two-door Koup models introduced last December. These include six-speed transmission with paddle shifters, boot-type gear shift, LED side repeaters, and integrated blue-tooth. Technically similar to its sedan and Koup sister cars, the new Forte hatchback has the same overall width, height and wheelbase as the sedan. The difference lies in the reduction of 190 mm in the rear overhang, therefore the five-door model is 4,340 mm long. Despite its more compact dimensions, the hatchback’s cargo volume of 385 litres (VDA) is highly competitive in its class.
    DOCUMENTED: 15.04.2011 | 21:08 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Kia Adds Stylish New Forte Hatchback To Line-up

    The addition of third body style to Kia’s best selling model is set to attract a broader range of customers.

    Cycle & Carriage Kia is introducing a third member to the Forte family – the Forte Hatchback, (in addition to the Cerato Forte ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Cerato, Forte, Koup, Hatchback
    • As well as its all-new body shape, the new Forte Hatchback (the official name for the 5-door model) introduces styling, equipment, refinement and technical improvements, which are also featured on the new 2011 Forte sedan and two-door Koup models introduced last December. These include six-speed transmission with paddle shifters, boot-type gear shift, LED side repeaters, and integrated blue-tooth. Technically similar to its sedan and Koup sister cars, the new Forte hatchback has the same overall width, height and wheelbase as the sedan. The difference lies in the reduction of 190 mm in the rear overhang, therefore the five-door model is 4,340 mm long. Despite its more compact dimensions, the hatchback’s cargo volume of 385 litres (VDA) is highly competitive in its class.
    • At its introduction during early 2009, Kia’s new Forte sedan raised mid-sized sedan (C-segment) car design to a new level of sophistication. Now, Kia’s international design teams, under the direction of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, have re-visited the corporation’s best-seller to create the new Forte five-door Hatchback. The roof, rear side panels, C-pillar, tailgate, rear bumper, light clusters and two-tone spoiler are all new. At the front, bold styling incorporates a new radiator grille, new lower air-intake grille and new-shape fog lamps. The door mirrors are new, with LED repeaters and re-styled ‘double five-spoke’ 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels will be available. The rear combination lamps which have etching-processed lenses, are split across the tailgate shut line and a sporty rear diffuser allows the exhaust tailpipe to be displayed.
    • Like its sedan and coupe siblings, the new Forte hatchback presents buyers with a range of state-of-the-art safety systems and equipment. Available ‘active’ technologies include: ESC (electronic stability control) to enhance cornering ability, several systems to boost braking performance and two systems to help avoid contact with pedestrians and other vehicles when reversing – obstacle sensors in the rear bumper.
  • The uncomplicated overall design is accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wrap around windscreen and asymmetric sunroof design, the front and rear dot-style LED head and positioning-lamps. This juxtaposition of simple and complex is a common trait of many traditional Korean art and craft. Asian Celadon-style pottery, in particular, was a major influence on the car’s styling – with the pottery’s asymmetric form lending itself to the sunroof design, and the typical jade coloring giving Naimo its unique exterior finish. Kia’s design team also made use of innovative technology features to give the car a premium feel and to ensure the car’s exterior remained uncluttered. For example, Naimo has no traditional wiper blade on the windscreen – instead it employs a high-intensity air jet at the base of the windscreen that performs an ‘air wiper’ function. Conventional door mirrors have also been replaced with miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars.
    DOCUMENTED: 31.03.2011 | 11:40 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Kia Naimo Electric Concept Stars In Seoul

    Making its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show, the Kia Naimo electric concept car combines Korean heritage with innovative modern features.

    ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Seoul, Motor Show, Kia, Naimo, EV
    • The uncomplicated overall design is accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wrap around windscreen and asymmetric sunroof design, the front and rear dot-style LED head and positioning-lamps. This juxtaposition of simple and complex is a common trait of many traditional Korean art and craft. Asian Celadon-style pottery, in particular, was a major influence on the car’s styling – with the pottery’s asymmetric form lending itself to the sunroof design, and the typical jade coloring giving Naimo its unique exterior finish. Kia’s design team also made use of innovative technology features to give the car a premium feel and to ensure the car’s exterior remained uncluttered. For example, Naimo has no traditional wiper blade on the windscreen – instead it employs a high-intensity air jet at the base of the windscreen that performs an ‘air wiper’ function. Conventional door mirrors have also been replaced with miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars.
    • Naimo’s interior was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and features hand-crafted materials throughout. Korean oak is used to trim the interior door panels and the entire interior floor, Korean “Han-ji” paper is used for the head lining. Alongside these traditional elements sit modern features such as a TOLED (transparent organic light emitting diode) storming display instrument panel and full device connectivity. “Naimo is a perfect balance of innovation, high-tech and Korean tradition. It was heavily inspired by the purity and grace of traditional Korean arts and crafts, but combines this with cutting edge technologies to deliver a truly premium experience,” comments Kia Motors’ Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.
    • The third electric vehicle design to be unveiled by Kia Motors Corporation in a year, the 3.9 metre long Naimo concept explores the practicalities of introducing a zero-emissions, five-door, four-seater city car into a future niche market. Measuring 3,890 mm in length, the Naimo’s generous wheelbase, width and height (2,647, 1,844 and 1,589 mm respectively) – plus the short overhangs which place a wheel at each corner – ensure that the cabin provides exceptional head, leg and shoulder room for the occupants. The concept car has no B-pillars and features rear-hinged rear doors to maximize easy access to the cabin, and a three-way split opening trunk, allows versatile access to the load bay for varying luggage sizes.
  • This year, the judges bestowed the awards on the Kia Sportage compact CUV and Kia Optima sedan. The new mid-size Kia Optima sedan was also awarded the 2011 red dot “best of the best” title. <br><br> These latest wins bring the number of Kia models to receive a Red Dot award to four – with the Kia Venga winning in 2010 and the Kia Soul in 2009. The Kia Optima and the new Sportage also won 2011 iF product design awards in December.
    DOCUMENTED: 15.03.2011 | 13:24 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Kia Wins Two Red Dot Design Awards

    Kia Motors was awarded top honours in two categories at this year’s Red Dot product design competition in Germany.

    The Red Dot product design award is one of the world’s major design contests and has been held by the Design Centre of North Rhine-Wes ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Optima, K5, Magentis, Sportage, Red Dot, Awards, 2011
    • This year, the judges bestowed the awards on the Kia Sportage compact CUV and Kia Optima sedan. The new mid-size Kia Optima sedan was also awarded the 2011 red dot “best of the best” title. <br><br> These latest wins bring the number of Kia models to receive a Red Dot award to four – with the Kia Venga winning in 2010 and the Kia Soul in 2009. The Kia Optima and the new Sportage also won 2011 iF product design awards in December.
    • Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors Corporation said, “Naturally, we are particularly thrilled about the
      Senior Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation, Thomas Oh, underlines the significance of design in terms of Kia’s market position. “These red dot design awards are a fantastic success for our brand. They represent yet another independent endorsement of the ground-breaking design and excellent value for money Kia vehicles offer. The special award for the Kia Optima, in particular, will surely add momentum to the ongoing launch our new sedan in the highly competitive D-segment across the globe.”" width="100"/>
  • It stops very well too, the 18-inch rims hide 280mm disc brakes in the front and 262mm in the rear. They stop this charging car with finesse and the brake pedal feels great to stomp on too, providing a firm feel. While we weren't mad enough to make the stability controls kick in, this also boiled down to the good grip that the tyres provided.
    DOCUMENTED: 28.02.2011 | 15:57 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Brimming With Optimism | Kia Optima K5

    For those of us that still remember the bland old days of Kia, the last few years have seen it's rise right up to the top. Can the new Optima continue Kia's success?

    Photos: Low Fai Ming When it comes to the flesh, the new Optima features a much sleeker, coupe-like profile designed by the new Kia design ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Optima, K5
    • It stops very well too, the 18-inch rims hide 280mm disc brakes in the front and 262mm in the rear. They stop this charging car with finesse and the brake pedal feels great to stomp on too, providing a firm feel. While we weren't mad enough to make the stability controls kick in, this also boiled down to the good grip that the tyres provided.
    • Things can only get better on the inside, we've always liked cars that make you feel cocooned and the Optima delivers that sensation with the instrument panel canted towards the driver. The dark interior does look and feel similar to the Cerato Forte thus it won't gain style points here, but everything is tightly screwed together. The chrome-surrounded instrument cluster houses a small LCD screen that displays the fuel consumption levels and is also capable of showing other useful information such as distance to go before you need a refuel. And then there's the “Eco” button, which makes the car shift though the gears quicker to help reduce fuel consumption. Kia says this car will do 13km/L at best.
    • More impressive though is the level of standard equipment: Keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a driver's memory seat that slides back after your turn the ignition off for easier access and a sound system that features USB and iPod connectivity. There are also steering-mounted shift paddles for instant liberation from the automatic monotony. The amount of space you get in the rear is also impressive with adequate headroom. While the loading area for the boot is quite small, you will find that the cavernous boot can actually swallow a lot of stuff.
  • Longer, wider and lower than before, the Kia’s coupe-like profile is accentuated by the low and sleek roof line. Still, Kia claims the interior to be spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the Optima K5 will come with a black interior and ‘sports package’ as standard.
    DOCUMENTED: 25.01.2011 | 16:51 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Optima-stic New Kia Arrives In Singapore

    The new Optima K5 looks set to be the next rising sun.

    One look at it and you won't be able to tell that it's a Kia. The new design streaks of Kia that we first saw in the Cerat ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : KIA, Optima
    • Longer, wider and lower than before, the Kia’s coupe-like profile is accentuated by the low and sleek roof line. Still, Kia claims the interior to be spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the Optima K5 will come with a black interior and ‘sports package’ as standard.
    • Locally, there will only be one engine variant: the 2.0L MPI petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-liter Theta II MPI engine produces 163hp at 6,200 rpm, with 198 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm. The Optima will go from 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 210km/h. Yet, it'll still return a 7.6 l/100 km fuel economy rating if you're gentle.
  • While the Cerato Forte and Forte Koup were equipped from Day One with the latest generation features to exceed the expectations of discerning drivers, Kia is going one better with the addition of even more equipment for all available versions. The wide stance and athletic lines of both models are tastefully enhanced with the addition of LED indicator repeaters on the wing mirrors. These not only improve the already dramatic looks of the Forte duo, but add to an already long list of safety features by better communicating the driver’s intention to change direction. The cockpit environment also receives new features in both cars. A new boot-type wrap adds a dash of class and style to the transmission lever, for starters. Drivers of the enhanced Forte duo will also be delighted to find a set of Bluetooth controls on the steering wheel, for seamless operation of compatible hands-free mobile phone headsets. These not only take Bluetooth integration to new levels, but are yet another important safety feature, ensuring that the driver’s hands never stray far from the steering wheel, where they belong.
    DOCUMENTED: 29.12.2010 | 04:11 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Forte Duo Stay Ahead Of The Rest

    Less than two years after transforming itself into a heavyweight player on the local motoring scene with the launch of the Cerato Forte, Kia is taking another leap forward.

    Since setting new standards in their respective classes for style, sophistication and value, the award-winning Cerato Fort ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : KIA, Cerato, Forte, Koup
    • While the Cerato Forte and Forte Koup were equipped from Day One with the latest generation features to exceed the expectations of discerning drivers, Kia is going one better with the addition of even more equipment for all available versions. The wide stance and athletic lines of both models are tastefully enhanced with the addition of LED indicator repeaters on the wing mirrors. These not only improve the already dramatic looks of the Forte duo, but add to an already long list of safety features by better communicating the driver’s intention to change direction. The cockpit environment also receives new features in both cars. A new boot-type wrap adds a dash of class and style to the transmission lever, for starters. Drivers of the enhanced Forte duo will also be delighted to find a set of Bluetooth controls on the steering wheel, for seamless operation of compatible hands-free mobile phone headsets. These not only take Bluetooth integration to new levels, but are yet another important safety feature, ensuring that the driver’s hands never stray far from the steering wheel, where they belong.
    • The key improvement among the enhancements are all-new six-speed transmissions for the Forte duo, replacing the four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions previously available. Until recently, six-speed transmissions were found in only the most expensive of luxury models. They are still quite rare in the realm of mainstream cars, with very few rivals of the Cerato Forte and Forte Koup able to offer such a refinement. With six speeds, the new transmissions provide the dual benefit of improved acceleration with lower fuel consumption. This is true for both the Cerato Forte and Forte Koup, whether in 1.6 litre or 2.0 litre form. To complement the agile and responsive handling of the Forte duo, the six-speed automatic transmissions are also equipped with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Inspired by similar systems on Formula One racing cars, these paddle shifters allow the driver to manually select gears with a simple flick of the fingers, enabling the precise and rapid control of the transmission that sporty driving demands.
  • Since its launch in 1953, the annual iF product design award has been one of the world’s most important prizes for excellence in design. The award has its origins in the product show “Die gute Industrieform” (Good Industrial Design) initiated by the Hanover trade show and is now one of the world’s largest design competitions. For the iF product design award 2011, the organizers received 2,756 submissions from 43 countries for products registered in 16 categories. Kia Sportage and Kia Optima won in the category “Transportation Design.”
    DOCUMENTED: 09.12.2010 | 04:44 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    iF Design awards go to Kia Sportage and Optima

    Latest additions to Kia’s line-up recognized for their design quality, workmanship, innovation, eco-friendliness, ergonomics and safety.

    Kia Motors has emerged as a double winner following the announcement of the iF product design awards for 2011, receiving t ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Kia, Sportage, Optima
    • Since its launch in 1953, the annual iF product design award has been one of the world’s most important prizes for excellence in design. The award has its origins in the product show “Die gute Industrieform” (Good Industrial Design) initiated by the Hanover trade show and is now one of the world’s largest design competitions. For the iF product design award 2011, the organizers received 2,756 submissions from 43 countries for products registered in 16 categories. Kia Sportage and Kia Optima won in the category “Transportation Design.”
    • The dynamic and stylish Kia Optima, which celebrated its European debut at the Paris Motor Show 2010, has emerged as a top-seller in several countries. In the domestic Korean market the sporty sedan went straight to the top position in the D-segment, and is the very first Kia to have achieved this while the award-winning third generation of the Kia Sportage marks a dramatic shift in design direction for the compact SUV. Embodying Kia's newfound visual dynamism, the new Sportage successfully blends the key features of an SUV – the commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance – and all of this is contained in a sleek and urban-friendly design with global appeal. The key design element of new Sportage’s purposeful stance is the relationship between its high shoulders and narrow glasshouse.
  • To sum it up, the general driving impression of the Koup is one of a lifestyle car that has been styled to look sporty, with mechanical paraphernalia that delivers an improved driving experience as compared to its sedan sibling. That being said, KIA is spot on in terming the Koup as a sporty car, rather than a sports car, and with a fairly competitive price and no real competition in the market at the moment, the Koup is the ideal car for those who are more concerned over aesthetics than outright performance.
    DOCUMENTED: 29.08.2010 | 19:42 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Koup De Grâceful | Kia Forte Koup 2.0 SX

    Eschewing the rear two doors, KIA has turned their highly popular sedan into a sporty coupe.

    Photos: Kel Tay Refraining from labelling it as a sports car, a term usually associated with performance cars, KIA has made a wise move in ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : KIA, Koup, Forte, Cerato, SX
    • To sum it up, the general driving impression of the Koup is one of a lifestyle car that has been styled to look sporty, with mechanical paraphernalia that delivers an improved driving experience as compared to its sedan sibling. That being said, KIA is spot on in terming the Koup as a sporty car, rather than a sports car, and with a fairly competitive price and no real competition in the market at the moment, the Koup is the ideal car for those who are more concerned over aesthetics than outright performance.
    • At first glance, one would be mesmerised by the coupe's stylish and sleek lines, making it an attractive preposition for those who are in the market shopping for a new ride like the Cerato Forte, then falling prey to the charms of the Koup on the other end of the showroom. Apart from the hood that it shares with its sedan sibling, everything else the Koup sports externally is unique to the model courtesy of Peter Schreyer. These include the Koup's aggressive looking air dam, flared arches, sporty rear diffuser, twin exhaust pipes and exclusive 17 inch rims.
    • Although the Koup uses a slightly modified Forte sedan drive train with an identical chassis, dimensions wise only the wheel base is similar for both cars (2650 millimetres). Everything else on the Koup is reduced to make it more compact and low slung, befitting a sporty coupe. As such the Koup is 60 millimetres lower due to a lowered roof line and suspension, and is 50 millimetres shorter and 10 millimetres narrower as compared to the Forte sedan.