Kia has released the first official photos of their all-new flagship sedan to be launched during the first half of this year in Korea. Referred to by its codename ‘KH’ until now, the company also confirmed that the Korean-market name will be K9, while the name for other markets as well as overseas release dates will be revealed later this year.
A Kia Optima Hybrid has set a new Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid gasoline vehicle (which is a new category) by driving through 48 adjoining U.S states. In order to qualify, the Optima was required to achieve a minimum of 4.53 litres/100 km.
We got a chance to briefly test-drive the 2011 Kia Cerato Koup at the Dubai dealership when we went in as potential customers. Oh my, from where to where the Kias have come – what a car the Cerato Koup is! For the first time ever, I found a vehicle that has its roots in Asia while having a pure European character – rivalling some of the European marques!
Al Majid Motors, the Kia dealer in the UAE, officially launched the all-new 2012 Kia Picanto at their showroom in Dubai, although the car has been quietly on sale for a month now.
Kia has come such a long way in such a short time. Once the maker of unreliable tin cans that wouldn’t sell even though cheap, now they are among the best carmakers in the business, with class-leading build quality, ground-breaking styling and still keeping it all relatively cheap. Their bestseller in the UAE is obviously the Kia Sportage. Out since late last year, the 2011 model is already a common sight on Dubai roads. So when we picked up this white tester, we knew we weren’t going to come up with a convincing review. Many people were already convinced.
Remember that quirky youth car from Kia, strangely called “Soul”? Although, not as extremely popular as the Sportage or even the Cerato, Kia has decided to spice up the competition by giving it a mid-cycle update. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the 2012 Kia Soul was revealed with some welcome improvements, including new styling and mechanicals.
For a taste of what we don’t get here, for one reason or another, here is the 2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo that just debuted in the United States.
If you were in the market for a compact European yuppy-mobile, you might want to wait until the 2012 Kia Rio hits the road by winter. Because it is, as with recent Kia products, a stunner, at least in hatchback form anyway.
The Rio is one of the few cars still carrying the old Kia baggage. But despite Kia only releasing these simple sketches of the next-generaiton 2012 Rio, the car is more ready than you’d think. It is set to debut in March at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
Kia Motors has released the first official photos of the next-generation 2012 Picanto “city car” featuring the firm’s latest corporate styling.