Monthly Archives: October 2019

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The Many Reasons to Love the 2020 Kia Telluride

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Posted in Kia car dealer, Kia dealer Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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There are plenty of reasons to love the new large SUV from Kia Motors. We’ve already shown you why the 2020 Kia Telluride is better than the 2020 Hyundai Palisade (currently only sold overseas) and how easily the Kia Telluride beats the Ford Explorer – spoilers, the Telluride mops the floor with the Explorer. However, sometimes it’s easier to just spell it out, and we’d be happy to. It all comes down to luxury, power, and amenities. Check out all the 2020 Kia Telluride has to offer.

A Life of Luxury

The high-end style of the Kia Telluride can be seen inside and out. While the starting price of the 2020 Kia Telluride is $31,690 (plus destination fee) for a bare bones LX trim, the range doesn’t go much further than $40k until the high-end SX trim and all the extra bells and whistles that come with it. The Telluride has that large, aggressive look SUVs are known for and is ready to tackle some off-road terrain but its sharp lines and smooth design give it a sense of class.

Inside is just a lovely with enough room to seat eight passengers comfortably and has ease of access to the third-row with the push of a button. Soft-touch materials can be found throughout the cabin and if consumers high-end trim, the SX, rich Nappa leather upholstery further enhances the feeling of a luxury SUV without the luxury price tag. There are also many clever storage solutions in the Telluride to help keep valuables safe.

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Kia Optima Renderings Look Insanely Cool

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Posted in Kia Dealer in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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We got word over a new design for the 2021 Kia Optima ahead of the 2020 Kia Optima over the summer. Although Kia Motors has yet to give us a whole lot to go on, overseas in their home country of South Korea, the current promo images they’re advertising for the Kia K5 have piqued our interest. Why? Because “K5” is actually the name given to the Kia Optima in the South Korean market. Yeah, we have your interest now. If all goes well, even these virtual renderings of the new K5 could become reality.

Kia K5 Renderings

Yes, they’re sadly renderings, so it’s unclear how much the new K5 and 2021 Kia Optima will look at launch. Previously, we only had the below image to go on. It’s definitely an Optima in that picture, but these renders make the Optima look a lot more like the Kia Stinger – not that we’re complaining. The automaker is also going for a bit of a futuristic look and feel inside and out, and if the automaker’s claims to become the next all-electric automaker is anything to go by, the K5 render backs that up with a near-absent grille (seen above).

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Time for Halloween and Trunk or Treat

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Posted in Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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Isn’t Halloween just the best? Dressing up, letting loose, having or giving a good scare, and a few laughs with friends. Well, that’s how it is for those of us who are also of drinking age – not that anyone needs alcohol to have fun. That being said, what about youngsters? Even younger – like, kids who are trick-or-treating for the first time and don’t need to go home with PTSD ‘cause some hooligan with a crazy clown mask jumped out from the bushes or they got caught in the crossfire of a rotten egg throwing match. So how can a parent ensure that their child has a memorable and enjoyable first Halloween? How about ‘rounding up other parents and family friends with kids and hosting your Trunk or Treat?

What IS Trunk or Treat?

Having been around for several years and still making traction, there are some of us who don’t know about Trunk or Treat, especially if we don’t have kids of our own. Trunk or Treat also isn’t as literal as it sounds – jeez, really who came up with that name, this involves kids and a trunk? Getting past that, Trunk or Treat is all about offering children a safe way to enjoy trick-or-treating and give parents peace of mind that their child isn’t getting suspicious candy, harmful objects, or maybe even treats they’re allergic to while collecting the goods.

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Learning-Based Smart Cruise Control Coming to a Kia Motors Vehicle Near You

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Posted in Kia Dealers in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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If there’s one automaker that you can bet on to achieve their goals, it’s Kia Motors. Almost two years ago, in January 2018, Kia Motors claimed that they would be offering artificial intelligence in cars in 2019. More than likely, this would come from the Hyundai Motor Group, an automobile group that Kia Motors is a part of, and more often than not shares technology with. Here we are, in the final quarter of 2019, and the Hyundai Motor Group announced that they have developed the world’s first Machine Learning based Smart Cruise Control (SCC-ML).

Learning-based Smart Cruise Control

Being called an industry first, this new technology from the Hyundai Motor Group utilizes artificial intelligence to learn the driver’s patterns and then replicate them while operating Smart Cruise Control (SCC). The artificial intelligence was previously made available in one form with SCC, also known as an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature. For those that haven’t experienced SCC before, just like cruise control, SCC keeps the vehicle at a set speed while driving. Unlike regular cruise control, SCC will attempt to slow down if approaching the vehicle ahead too quickly and then speed back up if the driver moves into a clear lane. SCC can also use electric stop-go technology to stop the car (at a reasonable speed) and start it back up again, say if in traffic and the driver has SCC on.

These features of SCC are exactly what will make up the core of SCC-ML. By integrating this advanced artificial intelligence, the fine-tuning of the previous SCC will no longer be a problem. When it comes to the SCC available presently, the driver needs to manually adjust the driving patterns of the vehicle, such as the distance from the preceding vehicle, acceleration, as well as the speed. With SCC-ML, by learning how the driver behaves in normal conditions, when activated, it will attempt to drive as the driver would.

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2020 Kia Seltos Hits 50,000 Units in Two Months

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Posted in Kia Dealer in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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Back in August when the new Kia Seltos was first making the rounds overseas, we weren’t quite sure how we felt about it. When the vehicle first launched, over 6000 people reserved the Kia Seltos in July. The response was unexpected, but it’s not too surprising. It seems like every new model that comes from Kia Motors does well on its first round of sales. When the Kia e-Niro was first released overseas, only 10,000 units were delivered to start and all 10,000 were sold within the first month. Released back in March 2019, the new 2020 Kia Telluride SUV spearheaded sales for the automaker, making up a tenth of total sales. Now with all the fuss about the Kia Seltos, we’re starting to wonder if this new compact SUV really will make it to North American shores. It’s been only months and already over 50,000 consumers have purchased the Kia Seltos.

Wow, now that is some crazy milestone, and it’s in less than three months since its release in August. That’s a little over 10-percent more than the almighty Kia Telluride has sold since release (39,209 units since September 30, 2019). Although the Kia Seltos is only offered in two trim levels (HT and GT) overseas, we can already see why it’s received such quick praise – along with testing a new intelligent personal agent on the Kia Seltos, the compact SUV also came with its own GT-Line. If the GT aesthetic of other vehicles crossover, that would mean a sportier exterior, black side mirrors, red accents, narrow headlights, and a grille that has a more angular design. Kia Motors has recently reshaped its iconic tiger-nose grille to give it a sharper look these days.

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Comparison of 2020 Kia Telluride and 2020 Ford Explorer

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Posted in Kia car dealer, Kia Dealers in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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With SUVs and crossovers still dominating the majority of the auto market, every so often we hear about consumers stuck between two vehicles. The decision on which vehicle to buy gets even more difficult with how similar one SUV can be to another. Not too long ago, the 2020 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade came out – two SUVs from the same automobile group, Hyundai Motors. There were pretty close contenders, so we decided to pick something different this time around. That’s right, it’s comparison time, and we’re put the 2020 Kia Telluride up against the 2020 Ford Explorer.

Start Your Engines

When it comes to an SUV, towing power comes to mind, and because of that, consumers may be quick to flock to the Ford Explorer. Under the hood is a 2.3-liter turbo-four engine able to generate 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. That might seem like a big deal and the winning choice, given the Kia Telluride is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 able to generate 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, but how well a car handles all that power is the real winning ticket. No one wants to feel like they’re out of control when behind the wheel of an SUV.

That’s where the Ford Explorer pales – a lack of response for acceleration and chippy transitioning between gears is no match for the eight-speed automatic paired to the V6 in the Kia Telluride. Drivers get smooth transitions between gears at all speeds for a leisurely ride down any highway. Speaking of the ride, the Kia Telluride also comes with improved body control and suspension for stability and comfort, whereas the Explorer can feel a little bouncy at times. And forget about leisurely rides on the highway with the sounds of the engine and wind battering the vehicle.

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Could Kia Motors Have Self-Driving Cars in Five Years?

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Posted in Kia Dealer in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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Wow, who thought the joint venture between the Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv would pay off so soon? The recent partnership between one of the industry’s most innovative vehicle technology providers and one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers hit the ground running to design, develop, and commercialize SAE Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies. The South Korean based automobile group, Hyundai Motors, recently held a luncheon session in New York to expand on the $4 billion deal between the two companies. The most exciting news executive vice chairman Chung Euisun shared was that the Hyundai Motor Group will begin the mass production of self-driving cars within the next five years.

That’s still awhile away but it’s nice to know that self-driving cars are still on the horizon for the auto market. When it comes to the partnership between the Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, both companies are holding an equal share of investment, responsibility, and ownership. With the $4 billion total in mind, Aptiv will be contributing its autonomous driving technology, intellectual property, and approximately 700 employees focused on the development of scalable autonomous driving solutions to the joint-venture – this amounts to their share of USD 2 billion. In Hyundai Motors corner, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis will start off with a contribution of $0.4 billion in vehicle engineering services, R&D resources, and access to intellectual property, but will collectively pay USD 1.6 billion in cash at closing. Simultaneously, the Hyundai Motor Group holds the same number of shares as Aptiv in their company. Meaning, even after the joint-venture ends, Hyundai Motors and automakers affiliated with it (Kia Motors included) will have the ability to transform itself through the use of Aptiv technology from a mere car manufacturer into a future mobility solutions provider.

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Kia Motors Rumor About a Kia Optima GT

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Posted in Kia Dealers in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

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When Kia Motors announced that the automaker was going to start producing a GT-Line for some of its vehicles, there were questions as to which models would receive the high-performance package. Like with their hybrid lineup, if Kia Motors is going GT, then they’re going to test the GT-Line on their most popular models. That means the debut of the Kia Rio GT, specs on the 2020 Kia Forte GT, the 2020 Kia Soul GT, and the Kia Optima GT are at the top of the list. We like to think it all started with the Kia Stinger GT. A fast and affordable sports car that’s even faster than some of the world’s most luxurious sports cars. Some of us are waiting on that Kia Optima GT, what with how similar the Kia Optima and Kia Stinger are, and recent news sheds some light on some of the big changes coming to the Kia Optima lineup.

It makes sense that the Kia Optima is also on the list for the GT-Line. The original Kia Optima was so popular that it gave rise to some of Kia Motors first steps into the alternative fuel market with the Kia Optima Hybrid and Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Plus, there’s already some changes being made to the Kia Optima for the 2021 model year, mostly in the name of an improved design for the next-generation of the vehicle. In 2021, the Kia Optima will feature a new sporty front and rear fascia and a full-width LED taillight bar giving it more of a sports car feel than a family sedan. If that’s the case, then the rumors that Kia will be introducing a Kia Optima GT model could be true.

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Kia Motors Gets Partnership with Aptiv

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Sneaking past us at the end of September was a new joint venture partnership between the Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, a global technology company dedicated to developing safer, greener, and more connected solutions for the future of mobility. As we all know, anything that the Hyundai Motor Group becomes a part of directly translates to Kia Motors, an automaker under the Hyundai Motors umbrella. The agreement between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptive is a 50-50 split, valued at a total of USD 4 billion, will be working towards what they call a global autonomous driving ecosystem.

“The new joint venture marks the start of a journey with Aptiv toward our common goal of commercializing autonomous driving…The combined capabilities of Aptiv, a leading global technology company, and our Group, a global OEM, will create invaluable synergy to lead the autonomous driving landscape.” – Euisun Chung, Executive Vice Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group

The partnership we’re watching take flight is between one of the industry’s most innovative vehicle technology providers and one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers. By working together, the aim of the joint venture is to design, develop, and commercialize SAE Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies to further the partners’ leadership position in a growing market of autonomy and artificial intelligence. With each company having a 50-percent stake, Aptiv will be contributing its autonomous driving technology, intellectual property, and approximately 700 employees focused on the development of scalable autonomous driving solutions amounting to USD 2 billion. The Hyundai Motor Group is investing their portion, and Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis will collectively contribute USD 1.6 billion at closing and the remaining USD 0.4 billion in vehicle engineering services, R&D resources, and access to intellectual property.

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Gas Stations Making the Change to EV Charging

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Posted in Kia car dealer, South Miami Kia

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Gasoline stations – your time has come. Mwahahahahaha! Seriously though, the electric car revolution has finally begun. Hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as just electric vehicles (EVs) have sprung up in just about every automaker in the market today and now, they’re becoming more practical than ever. At first, consumers were wary of plug-in hybrids and EVs, worried they’ll be stranded without a local or nearby charging station. Not only is that a problem that’s slowly becoming extinct, but there’s a little place in Maryland that took the first step to revolutionize and converted the RS Automotives gas station into an electric car charging port. As the kids say, shots fired.

RS Automotives, found in Takoma Park, Maryland has ended its 61-year reign as a gas station and changed the business into a place for electric vehicles to recharge. Four of the pumps are being replaced by chargers able to push 200 kilowatts each. Not only is that perfect for most plug-in hybrid and EVs on the market today, with the capability of charging to 80-percent capacity in 20 to 30 minutes, but it fits perfectly with the goals of EVgo, the largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the United States. EVgo is currently working on installing 150 kW and 350 kW chargers around the country.

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