Archive for the ‘Kia car dealership’ Category
Kia K8 Powertrain Options and Safety
Friday, April 16th, 2021
Kia Motors is an automaker that is either falling apart or building a conglomerate, because like the Hindu god, Durga, Kia has sprouted many arms and is working in multiple directions for the future. From electric vehicles (EV6) to multi-purpose vehicles (Carnival MPV), this South Korean automaker is one surprise after another. Year-after-year, Kia Motors ranks high in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, but only among mass-market vehicle brands, not all of them. To change that, the newest venture from Kia Motors is the luxury sports sedan, the K8, to dominate the luxury car segment as well. We’ve talked exterior, we’ve checked out the interior, now let’s look at some specs of the Kia K8.
Engineering
The massive interior space of the cabin is thanks to a larger vehicle overall, with extended length, optimal height and width, and a longer wheelbase. Even at the size, the K8 is still the lightest sedan on the market. So, what kind of powertrain will be under the hood of the vehicle? At launch, four powertrains will be available.
Two of the powertrain options are the same state-of-the-art 3.5-liter Smartstream powertrain, except offered with a GDI (gasoline direct injection) fuel delivery method for 295 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, or a LPI (liquid propane injection) that can generate 236 horsepower and 231 lb-ft of torque. If looking to test the “Sporty” name that this sedan is aiming for, then consumers will want the 3.5 GDI Smartstream powertrain. A performance-orientated front-wheel-based AWD K8 model will also be available at launch. (more…)
Kia Motors Teases 2022 Kia Stinger
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
We’ve heard a lot about the new Kia Stinger coming to the lineup. Updated with a mid-cycle refresh, the Kia Stinger is getting a boost only after a few years in the market. When it first came out, there was an initial rush to get the Stinger, we couldn’t keep them on the lot. When COVID-19 hit, all automobile sales went down, and some of the newer models suddenly seemed outside of budget for many consumers. Although the pandemic is still worldwide, we have a better handle on it, and the automotive industry is starting to bloom once more. Already nearing the end of the third quarter for 2021, Kia Motors decides to tease the new Kia Stinger a week ahead of schedule.
Oh, why do automakers do this? A tease is good to get people talking and to spread some hype, but too many times is a tease about a year or so too early. We’re hoping that isn’t the case with the newly refined Kia Stinger. Skipping a model year and going straight to 2022, the Kia Stinger was named the best sport sedan in the world, able to outrace luxury sports cars while still costing a fraction of the price. The mid-cycle refresh only chooses to push the envelope further with more power, more technology, and a refined design. Full press materials and specs will be shared next week on March 16, 2020.
The 2020 Kia Telluride Lands on Car and Driver 10 Best for 2021
Wednesday, November 25th, 2020
The 2020 Kia Telluride was something special, wasn’t it? Far from just being the largest SUV in the Kia Motors lineup, the Telluride was quickly viewed as a lifestyle SUV, able to be personalized in many different ways. During the 2018 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, Kia had five Telluride concepts on display, each modified for a different kind of adventure. After its release, the 2020 Kia Telluride went on to win many awards. It quickly rounded up the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year from North American Car of the Year (NACTOY); MotorTrend SUV of the Year; and found its way onto a Car and Driver 10 Best list. The Telluride did the unthinkable, winning what automakers call the three most illustrious awards in the industry, and in the same year as its release no doubt! That little stunt earned the Telluride the “Triple Crown” of automotive awards, and back in 2020, the Telluride returns, landing on the Car and Driver 10 Best for 2021.
“We’re excited to include the Kia Telluride in Car and Driver’s 10Best for the second year in a row…We remain impressed with how many features you get for Telluride’s base price of $33,160, that it is a pleasure to drive and even how adept it is off road. We find ourselves recommending the Telluride over and over to friends shopping for large SUVs, which is a sign of how much we like it.” – Sharon Carty, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver
The Car and Driver 10 Best List is one of the big ones, as we previously mentioned, and every automaker hopes to land on it. Recognizing the smartest, most entertaining cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans on sale today, landing on the list for a second year just shows how amazing the Kia Telluride SUV is. Seriously, the Telluride was competing against 57 other vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans to grab a spot as one of the ten best, and the SUV certainly earned its stripes as it were. Experts from Car and Driver made up the judging panel when it came to marking the competitors. Each vehicle was scored based on value, mission fulfillment, and road manners – yes, they were most likely driven as well, this isn’t a popularity contest. Eligible competitors included all-new or significantly updated vehicles with a starting MSRP below $90,000.
We can’t say we’re surprised by this. The Kia Telluride was a beloved vehicle the moment it was made available. Released in March 2019, Kia sold over 5000 Telluride units, making a tenth of the automaker’s total sales for that month (nearly 56k units sold), By the end of 2019, over 56,000 Kia Telluride units went home to happy consumers. When it comes to long-lasting quality, Kia Motors ranked as the highest non-luxury brand in the 2020 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS), and the Telluride was a segment winner of the 2020 J.D. Power Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™, alongside the Kia Stinger, another award-winning fan favorite.
Year-after-year, Kia Motors vehicles continue to outrank the rest. Come find your new Kia at Miami Lakes Automall or ask us about at-home test drives.
Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media
Kia Debuts New 2020 Kia Cadenza at Chicago Auto Show
Thursday, February 13th, 2020
Every year, the Chicago Auto Show takes place in February, and sadly for only a short time – a single weekend. It’s not a lot of time for automakers to shine, but that doesn’t stop them from showing up anyway. Especially when a new concept or feature is introduced, the best way to debut it is at an auto show. Speaking of which, Kia Motors used the 2020 Chicago Auto Show to launch its refreshed 2020 Kia Cadenza premium sedan. With new standard features and enhanced exterior with new styling, the Cadenza is looking better than ever.
Offering a luxurious interior cabin combined with a quiet and composed ride, there have been some significant interior enhancements for 2020, but the improved ergonomics design and addition of standard Kia Drive Wise driver-assist technologies sure make it a pleasant ride. The 2020 Kia Cadenza comes with a new style, starting with a redesigned hood and grille with a deeper vertical waterfall fascia – perhaps Kia Motors isn’t using the new “tiger face” on all of its vehicles. Multi-lens LED headlights with redesigned LED DRL lamps comes standard, along with new LED combination rear taillights, a redesigned lower front fascia with integrated turn signals, and new 18-inch (standard) and 19-inch wheels (available).
Kia Motors Announces “Yards Against Homelessness” Initiative
Thursday, January 23rd, 2020
For the last few years, Kia Motors has been finding more and more ways to connect with the youth and the younger generation. The automaker’s hatchback, the Kia Soul, was a step in the right direction, followed by the Kia Stinger sports car. As the Kia Motors style and lineup continues to change with the likes of the 2020 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Kia Seltos, Kia Motors needs to continue to connect with the demographic that is starting to dominate the auto market. Last year, Kia Motors used its fame and finances to put together the “Great Unknowns” Scholarship and advertised it during the 2019 Super Bowl. This year, the automaker is running a new campaign to fight homeless youth in America.
Homelessness in America is a growing problem in many states. Depending on the area and the city, some have more of a homeless populace than others, but either way, there’s a clear problem. In 2019 alone, more than 4.2 million young people were reported to be experiencing homelessness in the U.S. Charities and foundations have been founded and organized, but they could always use more help. Kia Motors is continuing to give back to the youth in the community by offering financial aid to such charities.
Two Kia Models Named Eligible for 2019 NACTOY Awards
Wednesday, August 21st, 2019
To think we’re in the third quarter of the year already. It feels like only yesterday that we were celebrating the amazing debut if the 2020 Kia Soul and the 2020 Kia Soul EV at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Now, only a few months away (August 2019), the 2019 LA Auto Show in November is already causing excitement in the automotive industry. Ever hear of the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards? Treated as the most prestigious and unique awards in the industry, the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) only reviews the best the industry has to offer. A list of only 46 models eligible for the 2020 awards was named, made up of 19 cars, 22 utilities and five trucks from 23 different automotive brands. Kia has been named in two of those categories, with the 2020 Kia Soul eligible for the “Car of the Year” award and the 2020 Kia Telluride eligible for the “Utility of the Year” award.
What Do You Mean “Eligible”?
Yes, that term has popped up more than once, and there is a reason we saw the 2020 Kia Soul and 2020 Kia Telluride are eligible for their respective awards. When it comes to the NACTOY awards, car models ranging from those with mass market appeal to niche groups such as luxury vehicles and work trucks. To be considered for the list each year, a vehicle must be an all-new model, or still early in its production run, as well as being available at dealerships before the end of the year (2019). Past that, to be considered for the final round, models have to get past a panel of 50 jurors.
Can the Kia Seltos Make the Drive to America?
Wednesday, August 14th, 2019
We’ve said it before, and nothing has changed. Yes, the Kia Seltos is already doing well overseas in the automaker’s home country of South Korea, but there is still no word about whether or not the new compact SUV will make its way overseas. The Kia Motors America lineup doesn’t have much in the sense of that particular car segment. The Kia Niro hybrid and its counterparts are crossovers and the Kia Soul is more of a hatchback than anything. With how well the compact SUV is doing, maybe the Kia Seltos will break into the North American market. Regardless, it’s all anyone can talk about, and some test drives have given a more in-depth look at what the Seltos could bring to an already thick market.
The Purr of the Engine
We already know the mechanical specs of the Kia Seltos, equipped with a familiar 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. Able to generate 175 horsepower, it’s not much to boast, but Kia Motors has its own lineup in the works for high-performance cars known as the Kia Motors GT-Line. With the engine paired to a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission provides a smooth transition between gears and although the engine won’t roar, it provides the agility of a jungle car when it comes to merging between lanes and driving down the highway.
Riding on 18-inch wheels, the SUV handles bumpy roads, and its 103.5-inch wheelbase helps to keep it sturdy and provide a comfortable ride. To give some form of reference, the Kia Seltos is two inches longer than the Soul and about three shorter than the Niro, so it perfectly fits somewhere in between to fill the current gap Kia Motors has when it comes to a small SUV that isn’t quite a crossover. Plus, with available all-wheel drive and a center locking differential, this is a vehicle built with chops.
The New Kia Seltos Has Been Revealed
Friday, May 31st, 2019
There have been some photos of the new small SUV from Kia Motors floating around the internet lately. Not wanting to tease any more overseas concepts from Kia Motors, we decided to wait on this one before writing up an article. Although not 100-percent guaranteed, according to autoblog.com, a U.S. market launch of the new Kia model with a global rollout early 2020. Called the Kia Seltos, check out what could be the next popular funky car for a younger generation.
Where Does It Fit?
Bigger than a Kia Soul but smaller than a Kia Sportage, the Kia Seltos first appeared at the 2018 Auto Expo in India.
According to autoblog.com, the vehicle was “specifically ‘created for the millennial generation’ with a ‘wide range of features and technologies suited to younger buyers,’ and is somehow promised to offer ‘the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package.’”
Kia Motors to Launch Inaugural UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour
Thursday, February 28th, 2019
Whoo, Kia Motors is really pulling on heartstrings in 2019. First, they used the Super Bowl to announce their “The Great Unknowns Scholarship,” where Kia Motors distributes a small portion of proceeds from every Kia vehicle purchased to a scholarship program that will give young people the foothold they need to seek higher education. In another connection with the youth, Kia Motors became the official sponsor of the K-Pop music group, BLACKPINK World Tour. Furthering their stardom with eSports, Kia also became the official sponsor for the European Championship for League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game for PC and Mac computers. Most recently, Kia Motors and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are partnering up to launch the inaugural UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia.
UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour
What is the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia? Across Europe, football fans will be able to see the iconic UEFA Europa League trophy as the competition’s 2018/19 knockout stage unfolds. Seriously, it’s a tour for a trophy, a very heavy piece of silverware. Here’s a picture for scale.
But hey, it’s for a good cause. Throughout the duration of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour, everyone attending the tour will be encouraged to donate used and unwanted boots to a campaign going on at the same time. Through the partnership, with the UEFA Foundation for children, donated boots will be taken to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan to be given to Syrian refugees of all ages. On top of that, every fan who donates a pair of boots will be entered into a contest where they can win tickets to the UEFA Europa League final and other prizes.
Kia Motors Joins Ridesharing Market with Vulog
Tuesday, February 12th, 2019
Ridesharing is slowly starting to become a much-desired market for automakers to enter. If it isn’t the ability to swap vehicles for a trial-by-fire test drive through the new rideshare and swap services by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), then it’s the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance collaborating with the Didi Auto Alliance, an intelligent ride-sharing alliance that uses artificial intelligence and autonomous technology. Now, another similar company is coming to light, Vulog, and who better to partner up with the company than Kia Motors? Yes, Kia Motors is in the building, and jumping into the ridesharing market.
Vulog
Vulog, how does one pronounce it? We’re not sure, but the shared mobility technology company recently claimed its new release of its AiMA (artificial intelligence mobility applied) platform will significantly increase the user appeal of shared services. How is it any different from current services? Vulog calls this new platform an upgrade from the typical ridesharing service, like an Uber or car swap.
Imagine owning a rental car service, and any day, the right vehicle for the job can be driven that day. That’s what Vulog’s AiMA provides, by enabling an operator with a single fleet of vehicles to be selected, able to offer multiple different possibilities. It works just like any other rental service too. Called a “free-floating scheme”, users of the platform can access vehicles instantly anywhere. They plug in, say, an area code to provide the platform with a geofenced area, and then pick out a convenient time to operate the vehicle and where, and then that vehicle can be reserved for a specific time at the location selected by the user. Pretty nifty.
