Showing posts with label Kia Optima. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kia Optima. Show all posts

Kia Ramps up Optima's U.S. Production as it Expects it to Become its Best-Seller in 2012


Ironically, increased demand can prove to be quite a problem for car manufacturers. Kia knows this well: despite posting a 37 percent increase in sales last year, it reckons it could have done even better if only it had the capacity to produce more vehicles.

Its all-new Optima mid-size sedan has proved to be a big hit in the U.S. in its first year, tripling its sales compared to 2010 to 84,590 units.

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New 2012 Kia Optima SX Limited Edition adds Some Bling


Along with the snazzy Track'ster concept study, Kia also revealed a new range-topping version of its Optima sedan called the SX Limited at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

The SX Limited, which as you may recall was teased through Kia's Super Bowl XLVI commercial this past Sunday, is based on the 274-horsepower turbocharged Optima SX adding a little bling to the mix with new 18-inch chromed alloy wheels, a chrome-accented rear spoiler, LED daytime running lights and red front-brake calipers.

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Kia's Dreamy 2012 Super Bowl Ad, Plus a 5-Hour Video of Victoria's Secret Model Adriana Lima


Only a few days left for the big game, so Kia released the full version of its 2012 Super Bowl ad titled "Drive the Dream" for the new Optima Limited Edition featuring a slew of stars including Victoria's Secret super model Angel Adriana Lima, the Motley Crew, martial arts champ Chuck Liddell and bull rider Judd Leffew.

Out of all those stars, we all know who will capture the attention of most viewers.

Kia's marketing division came to the same conclusion as us and so it created a five-hour long looped version of the hot Brazilian model repeatedly waving her chequered flag. You can watch both videos after the jump.

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Kia's 2012 Super Bowl Ad to Star Victoria's Secret Model Adriana Lima, Mötley Crue and More


With the Super Bowl XLVI match-up between the New England Patriots and New York Giants just a couple of weeks away, automakers are preparing the public for their new ads that will air during the big football game on February 5.

At last year's game, Kia took on the time traveling theme to show off its new Optima sedan. For this year's commercial, the South Korean automaker has chosen the topic of dreams to introduce the new 2012 Optima Limited edition.

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Kia Recalling More than 145k Optima Sedans and Rondo Minivans for Airbag Issue


The Kia Rondo minivan and Optima sedan are included in a new recall over a faulty airbag in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] said that the recall involves 145,755 vehicles and affects certain 2006-2008MY Optima sedans manufactured from September 29, 2005, through January 29, 2008, and 2007-2008MY Rondo minivans built from September 13, 2006, through March 21, 2008.

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2011 SEMA: Kia Goes Racing with 2012 Rio B-Spec and Optima Hybrid USTCC Pace Car


Looking to further associate itself with the world of motorsports after the first two motorsports championships in company's history in the 2011 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSSC), Kia today unveiled two more track-ready models at the 2011 SEMA Show, the 2012 Rio 5-door B-Spec racecar and the Optima Hybrid pace car.

Developed in partnership with Kinetic Motorsports, the new Rio 5-door B-Spec racer will compete in the newly established showroom stock racing class against various subcompact rivals such as the Mazda2, Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta starting from 2012.

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Kia Optima gets Basketball-Theme Costume Not for Halloween, but for the SEMA Show


It's all about fun and games when it comes to Kia's 2011 SEMA Show displays as the Korean manufacturer has arrived in Las Vegas with a roster of six sports-themed vehicles.

These include the Surfboard Rio and Hockey Forte hatchbacks that we showed you earlier today, plus the golf-themed Soul, Rio 5-Door B-Spec Racer, USTCC Optima Hybrid Pace Car and the “Slam Dunk” Blake Griffin Optima Hybrid featured here.

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NBA Star Blake Griffin Returns for New Kia Optima Slam Dunk TV Spot


Los Angeles Clippers forward and 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin made headlines at February's NBA Slam Dunk Contest when he leaped over a parked Kia Optima and performed an impressive slam-dunk after an alley-oop pass through the car's open sunroof from Baron Davis.

Apparently, Kia was equally impressed as the South Korean automaker signed up the 22-year old player for a new commercial staring – what else- the latest Optima sedan.

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Kia's US Sales Increase by 36% in the Second Quarter of 2011


Kia Motors’ global sales increased by 21% during the last quarter - that is from April to June- compared to the same period in 2010. South Korea’s second-largest carmaker sold 621,000 units in that period, largely due to the increase in US sales.

Kia’s progress in the American market was impressive as it recorded a 67% increase in profits and 36% in sales, largely due to the surge in sales of its new Optima sedan and Sportage SUV.

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Kia Wins “Best of Best” for Overall Design in German Contest


Kia walked away with no less than four awards from the inaugural Automotive Brand Contest organized by the German Design Council. The most important was that of “Best of Best” for overall brand design, acknowledging Kia’s new styling language.

The other three awards were won in the Exterior category by the latest Sportage, the Optima sedan and the new Rio.

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Kia Recalling 70,115 Optima Sedans Over Transmission Flaw


Kia has issued a recall on 70,115 Optima sedans manufactured from September 29, 2005, through June 13, 2007 because of a problem related to the transmission that can cause the cars to roll even while they are in park. The company said that in some cars, the transmission shift cable may have been installed incorrectly and can become detached from the shifter. If that occurs, the car would stay in the last used gear before detachment, even if the driver moves the shift lever to the park position. Read more »

Kia Takes on Time Travelling with New Super Bowl Commercial for 2011 Optima


This year's Super Bowl is just around the corner and automakers are getting ready to spend millions of dollars to draw the attention of buyers. For a second year in a row, Kia will be present at the event with a full marketing campaign incorporating TV, digital, print and social media as well as in-dealership components, all focusing on the 2011 Optima midsize sedan.

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LA Show 2010: KIA Launches Optima Hybrid, Returns 40 mpg Highway


With everyone riding the "green wave" these days, it's no surprise that KIA launched its first-ever hybrid for the U.S. market, the Optima Hybrid. Combining the standard model's good looks with several technological innovations, the newest member of the Optima family returns a frugal 40 mpg (5.88 lt/100 km) on the highway.

"By adding our first-ever hybrid in the U.S. to the Optima lineup we are providing consumers with three powerful and fuel-efficient powertrain choices, and continuing KIA's philosophy of offering stylish, value-packed vehicles with outstanding fuel efficiency" said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.

The Optima Hybrid uses a full parallel hybrid system and can be driven in full-electric mode at speeds up to 62 mph (100 km/h). It also has a stop/start function, which eliminates idle fuel consumption and reduces overall emissions.

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2011 Kia Optima Sedan Priced, Starts from $19,690


As the all-new 2011 Optima sedan will be hitting dealer lots in coming weeks, Kia decided to release detailed pricing on its promising contender in the mid-size sedan segment. Prices for the new Optima start $18,995, or $19,690 if you include the $695 destination and handling fee. This means the base Optima is priced on par with Chrysler's refreshed Sebring sedan, which has been renamed to 200 and starts at $19,995.

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Subaru Revealed Behind 2011 Mediocrity Marketing Hoax; What do you Say Kia?


As some of you pointed out, Subaru was the culprit hiding behind the week-long 2011 Mediocrity campaign, which showed a beige-cladded first-generation Kia Optima in a scoop-like series of photos. Upon looking at the first set of images that arrived in our mailbox (read here), we knew that this was some sort of devious viral marketing campaign.

It is true that these type of campaigns can be rather cheap and yet extremely effective. However, they can also backfire. And in our opinion, that's the case with Subaru's effort to promote / convince us that the latest Legacy is the opposite of the so-called 'beige' mid-size sedans.

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Paris Motor Show Poll: Kia Optima vs Peugeot 508 vs VW Passat


At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, we saw three new mid-size sedans making their way to the halls of the Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles. Two of them, the all-new Peugeot 508 and the redesigned VW Passat B7, received their world premiere, while the Kia Optima was presented for the first time in Europe.

Now, we all know you can't and you shouldn't buy a car based upon looks or preliminary specs alone. It's the whole package that counts. However, in this case, we simply want to find out which one of these new family sedans captured your attention for the right reasons.

Place your vote in the poll after the jump and be sure to have your say in the comments section.

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New Kia Optima Shows Up in Paris to show VW how to Design a Mid-Size Sedan


The Kia Optima, which made its original debut in New York, has crossed the pond to give the Europeans a little bit of that Korean flava (or is that German?) and rub the 2011 VW Passat B7's newly styled nose in the ground. Riding on the same platform as the "fluidic" Hyundai Sonata, the Optima brings Kia's "tiger" style to the mid-size saloon segment.

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Sigh... Viral Marketing Tricksters Knock on our Door with a Kia Called Mediocrity


We not sure how Kia's marketing people are going to feel about this one (unless they're part of it...), but photos of an older generation Optima covered in beige cladding and featuring a badge with the word "MEDIOCRITY" have just landed in our mail box. Tony B, the tipster-reader-scooper who sent in the photos, claims he snagged the car in LA.

Of course, it didn't take long to figure out that this is a viral campaign of some sort. However, since we're gearing up for this week's Paris Motor Show, we're not going to waste our time looking for answers about a covered up Kia...

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KIA Contemplating Switch to Alphanumeric Names in the U.S. [with Poll]


Kia may soon follow the increasingly popular automotive trend that is alphanumeric naming and abandon product names in its U.S. lineup, according to a recent statement by Hyundai Motor Co. Vice Chairman, Chung Eui-sun.

The automaker is already using a mix of alphanumeric and product names in South Korea and some other markets. For example, the recently revealed 2011 Optima and Cadenza sedans are known as the K5 and K7 respectively in the company's home market, while the Forte is said to become the K3.

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2011 Kia Optima to be Offered with 2.0-liter Gasoline and 1.7-liter Turbo Diesel in Europe


During last week's press days of the 2010 New York International Auto Show, Kia took the veils off the all-new 2011 Optima mid-size sedan (click here for details) that will carry the same name in all markets outside Korea.

While the new Optima will arrive in Kia's U.S. showrooms this fall, European buyers will have to wait until Spring of 2011 to get their hands on the Korean firm's D-segment sedan that will compete with the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Citroen C5.

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