Kia’s Brand New 40mpg Optima Hybrid Priced from $27,250

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. Read more »

Kia Officials Hint at New Premium RWD K9 Sedan Based on the Genesis

South Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co. is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for world domination. Having already pushed its Hyundai brand into new territories with the Genesis and Equus premium sedans as well as the sporty, rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, the Koreans now appear to be focusing on the company’s second brand, Kia.

We first heard rumors about a range topping Kia sedan referred to by most as the K9 in late 2009, but now, the word is coming from two company officials.

"We have an interest in all new models under development. A rear-wheel-drive premium sedan could be seen as a logical step from the Optima to the next level of Kia development," Kia Motors Australia COO Tony Barlow told Drive, an Australian car site. "It is far too early at this stage to be any more precise about the car but we will definitely maintain a watching brief,” he added.

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Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall Off

South Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the winter. Read more »

2011 NYIAS: All-New 2012 Kia Rio5 Hatchback

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.

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2012 Kia Soul Subtly Refreshed, gains New 135HP 1.6-liter and 160HP 2.0-liter Engines

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.

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All-New 2012 Kia Rio Sedan for North America Breaks Cover

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.

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New Kia K2 is the China Market Rio Sedan

This pint-sized Optima lookalike is the new Kia K2 and it will make its world premiere at this week’s 2011 Shanghai Motor Show. It is the China market version of the upcoming Rio Sedan that will be revealed at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. However, it remains to be seen if the two models will share the same look as Kia said the K2 was designed and engineered specifically for the Chinese market. Read more »

Kia Confirms 2012 Rio Sedan and Hatch, and 2012 Soul Facelift for New York Show

In a move that shows Kia has no intention of letting the momentum it has gained with the launch of seven new products in the past two years fade away, the South Korean automaker confirmed today the world premiere of two new models at the rapidly approaching New York Auto Show (April 22 – May 1).

The first global debut concerns the four-door sedan version of the 2012 Kia Rio, which was unwrapped in hatchback form at the Geneva Salon in March. The 2012 Rio sedan will be joined by the North American debut of the Rio5 hatchback.

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Kia Adds Some Luxury to Facelifted Pro_Cee’d with New UK Market Version

A new high-grade version of Kia’s recently facelifted Pro_Cee’d model has been introduced in the UK. The three-door Pro_Cee’d ‘4’ comes with added standard features and is powered by the latest version of Kia’s 1.6-liter turbo diesel producing 126bhp or 13bhp more than the previous engine for a 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint time of a little over 10 seconds and a top speed of 122 mph (196 km/h).

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2011 KIA Sportage

The year 2011 approached, one by one, gets a makeover for the new model vehicles. So far we have noticed among 2011 model cars of the most important detail was the oldest generation of vehicles better and more beautiful. You can see better in the 2011 Kia Sportage. Kia, Kia Sportage SUV models from head to toe has renewed the series. This view gained with a completely different view of the new

New Kia Cadenza Sedan in California

var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true}; An undisguised example of the new Kia Cadenza sedan has been spotted by a carsandtec reader rolling around in California for the second time since the beginning of the year. This one was caught by Sanjay Patel. "Saw this Kia Cadenza with Michigan plates going 55 North in Orange County, California," The sleek looking sedan which is already

Geneva Preshow: 2012 Kia Rio Revealed in Detail, gets 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Engine

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.