coolcarsblog.co.uk

Kia Picanto

The Kia Morning, known as the Kia Picanto in export markets (except in Chile, where it is badged with its original name and Taiwan where it is known as the Kia EuroStar), and the Naza Suria in Malaysia, is a low cost city car produced in South Korea by Kia Motors (internal model index SA)
Donghee Automotive, an automotive contractor in South Korea, has been contracted to manufacture this model as Magna Steyr of Graz, Austria, produced BMW X3.
The Morning/Picanto is based on a shortened platform of the Hyundai Getz. It is available with either 1.0 or 1.1 L petrol engines. A 3-cylinder diesel engine (based on the Kia Cerato’s 1.5 CRD four-cylinder unit), with direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger, has been available in the European market since Spring 2004, with power reaching 75 PS (55 kW). The Morning is 3495 mm long with a five-door hatchback body. Automatic gearboxes are optional in the petrol units.
To increase its appeal in the European market, the Morning/Picanto is equipped with such features as a MP3 enabled CD Player, air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, remote central locking, and electric mirrors.
A locally assembled version of the Kia Picanto is sold in Malaysia under the Naza badge, as the Naza Suria.
The Picanto is due for a facelifted model to be introduced in Europe in late 2007.
In its EuroNCAP crash tests, the Picanto earned three out of five stars for it’s adult occupant safety rating and four out of five for children occupant safety.

Kia

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is a compact SUV produced since 2003 by the Korean automaker Kia Motors.
It has two transmission options: a 5-speed manual or 4/5-speed automatic transmission (pre-2005 models have a 4 speed automatic, whilst 2005 Sorentos come with a 5 speed tip-tronic style automatic transmission). Sorentos are equipped with a Hyundai-manufactured 3.5L 24-valve DOHC V6 producing 192 hp (143 kW) at 5500 rpm, and 217 lb·ft (294 N·m) of torque @ 3,000 rpm. The Sorento is very capable off-road, with an automatic four-wheel drive system featuring low range gearing. A sport package is available for the LX base model which adds a 5 speed manual transmission, fog lamps, alloy wheels, step bars, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a roof rack and remote keyless entry. All American Sorentos also come with dual front airbags and dual side-curtain airbags in the front and rear. The 4×4 system is a shift-on-the-fly nob located usually on the lower panel to the left of the steering column. Three modes available are Two-Wheel Drive, Four-High, and Four-Low. On-dash indicators show when the Four Wheel Drive System is active.
Common features of the Sorento family are 4 wheel disc brakes (standard on all models) Optional anti-lock braking system, and a 21.1-gallon fuel tank. Also standard is a battery saving feature which prevents wearing out the battery by leaving your headlights turned on (a shutoff engages when the key is removed from the ignition, even if the lights were left turned on). The chassis of the vehicle is also based on a ladder frame design which is more often used in building trucks. This lends a rigidity to the Sorento that other vehicles in its class lack, even at the same price point. (See Also: unibody)
The 2007 Sorento has received upgrades, such as the transition from the 3.5L Sigma to the 3.8L Lambda that will almost double the Sorento’s towing ability and boost Horsepower from 192 to 262. Projector beams were added in the head lamps, along with new tail lamps. The 5 speed manual transmission is no longer available; the 5 speed Sportmatic® tip-tronic automatic transmission is standard for all trims. The 2007 Kia Sorento earned a five-star crash safety rating, the highest rating possible, for all seating positions in the latest frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (NHTSA)
Dimensions information from the Kia Motors Website:
The Sorento will be redesigned in 2010, and its platform will be shared with the Kia Borrego mid-size SUV.

Kia

Kia Magentis

The Kia Magentis is a mid-size four-door sedan manufactured by Kia Motors and marketed globally through two generations and various nameplates.
The car has been marketed as the Lotze (hangul:기아 로체) in South Korea, and as the Optima in the United States since 2001, Australia since 2001, and Europe since 2002. In Chile the first generation was marketed as Optima, and since as Magentis.
The Optima is produced for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, a joint venture with Kia.
The 2001 through 2005 model year Magentis were mechanically identical to their sister car, the Hyundai Sonata. Thereafter the Kia Optima differed only from the Sonata in exterior styling and options.
The styling of the Magentis/Optima was revamped for the 2003 model year. The grille was redesigned for 2004 to feature the Kia badge.
2003 Kia Optima
2004-2005 Kia Optima
The revised Optima was launched in November 2005 in Korea; and for North America on January 9, 2006 at the North American International Auto Show, now differing to a greater degree from the Sonata.
Unlike the previous Optima, this vehicle no longer shares its platform with the current generation Sonata (NF) nor Hyundai Elantra (HD). It instead uses a global platform, unique to Kia, designated “MG,” shared with the the Kia Carens/Rondo.
The car continues to be built in South Korea. The current Optima/Magentis shares its 2.4L I4 engine with the Sonata, and uses a 5-speed “Sportmatic” automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.
The Optima received a crash test rating of 5-stars from the NHTSA and 4-stars from Euro NCAP.
The 2009 Kia Optima receives a minor facelift, to debut at the 2008 New York International Auto Show and includes changes to the front facia, headlamps, and grille.
The Kia Optima 2.7L Quad V6 engine also could be considered the most powerful engine in the class as it generats 262 hp (195 kW). It can let the optima to reach 0-60 mph in 5.9 sec. and 269 km/h as top speed

Kia

Kia Pro Ceed

Kia Pro Ceed, Manual 5Spd Hatchback NCV, 3 doors

Kia

Kia Carens

The Kia Carens is a compact MPV lauched in 1999 by the Korean manufacturer Kia. It was discontinued in Australia in 2001, but production continues for a new model which was launched in 2003. In 2006 a new Carens has been presented as a 2007 model year. The Carens/Rondo is slotted below the Kia Carnival/Sedona in Kia’s minivan lineup.
In North America, the car is called the Rondo. The Rondo made its debut at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Rondo began sales in early 2007 as a 2007 model year vehicle in the United States, while in Canada it went on sale in December 2006.
Available as a 5- or optional 7-passenger vehicle with either a standard 162 hp 2.4l 4-cylinder engine or an optional 182 hp 2.7l V6 engine in two trim levels.
Standard features include: 16″ alloy wheels, AM/FM/CD player, Air Conditioning, Power Windows and Door Locks, Front/Side/Full length Side Curtain airbags, 4-wheel Disc Brakes, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, LATCH, Child safety door locks, Tilt steering column, Front and Rear 12v outlets, Front and Rear Cupholders.
Options include: Moonroof, Leather interior, Heated front seats, Cruise Control, Keyless entry, Infinity 10-speaker stereo.
Although Kia calls the Rondo a crossover, it is more car than SUV and as such competes mainly against the micro-van Mazda5. However, unlike the Mazda5, the Rondo doesn’t have sliding doors. The Rondo is the lowest-priced seven-seater sold in North America, with a starting price of US$16,995 (5 seats) and $17,495 for the three- row seven seater.

Kia

Kia Sedona

Kia Sedona, Auto 5Spd MPV NCV, 5 doors

Kia

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is a compact crossover SUV built by the Korean automaker Kia Motors since 1995. Originally, it was a mini SUV, but the second generation Sportage has grown in size to become a compact crossover SUV.
The first generation Sportage was a mini SUV or “toy” sport utility vehicle, developed with a Lotus engineering base platform.
Sportage was sold in either a four-door or a two-door soft-top convertible. The first-generation Sportage was discontinued in North America for 2002 and worldwide for 2003 and put on hiatus until a second generation model was ready. The four-door model measures just a quarter of one inch longer and the same width as the Geo Tracker, but boasts 140 hp (108 kW) and optional four wheel drive. The 1998 Kia Sportage was the world’s first production vehicle to be equipped with a knee airbag. This first generation model (1995-2002) sold in low numbers even domestically in South Korea, however, and was recalled twice for rear wheels dismounting while driving.
From 1995, the Sportage was built in Germany and European buyers only received German-built versions, while the rest of the world received Korean-built versions.
After a 2-year hiatus, the 2004 Sportage returned, sharing its Elantra-based platform with the 2005 Hyundai Tucson. As part of the shift, the Kia Sorento now becomes Kia’s compact off-road SUV, and the Sportage moves to become Kia’s first crossover SUV. The Sportage will also have a 2.0 L I4 Diesel engine available in the United Kingdom. Pricing starts at just over US$16,000. Critics and fans of the original, pre-Hyundai Sportage complain that it is considerably larger than the original Sportage and has none of the earlier offroad capability, the two keys for its success. However, buyers of the second generation model are likely to favor the available 172 hp (128 kW) V6, with 178 pounds of torque (241 N·m). The ride is considerably more comfortable, quiet and fun. Overall fit/finish and quality is noticeably improved over the 1st generation model.
SportageDrivers.com: A Kia Sportage Community & Forum

Kia

Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is a subcompact car produced by the South Korean automaker Kia Motors and introduced in August 2000 for the 2001 model year. In the company’s lineup, it replaced the smaller Kia Pride, which ceased production in 2000.
The first-generation Rio was available as a five-door hatchback and as a four-door sedan. The hatchback version was sold as the Rio RX-V (V: five in Roman numerals) in Canada, Rio Look in Chile, and simply Rio in the United Kingdom (as the sedan version was not offered there). In Greece, both hatchback and sedan were sold as Rio. In the USA, the five-door Rio was marketed as a station wagon called Rio Cinco (cinco: five in Spanish and Portuguese).
The first-generation Rio offered only one engine for each year in the USA: a 96 hp 1.5-litre DOHC I4 gasoline engine from 2001 through 2002, then a larger version of the same engine, a 1.6-litre DOHC four-cylinder rated at 105 hp, from 2003 through 2005. All years offered a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
An alternative of a 1.3-litre (1325cc) SOHC four-cylinder/eight-valve petrol (75 hp) was offered in some other countries, including the United Kingdom and Greece. A diesel engine was also available in other markets.
The USA-version hatchback came standard with power steering and a tachometer; these were optional on the sedan. However, marketing did not distinguish trim levels in the USA version.
The European version was marketed under several trim levels; standard equipment for all trims included power steering, tachometer, radio, and CD player. Additional features were available for promotion in Greece, including leather seats and car alarm.
Safety features were basic, consisting of seat belts and airbags for the driver and front-seat passengers. ABS was available as an option for entry-line cars but fitted by default for top of the range models (i.e., Rio LX, in the UK, and Rio LS, in Greece).
At one time, the Rio was the cheapest new car on the U.S. market, costing only US$6995. Some US dealers even offered free base model Rios with purchase of a higher end vehicle, like the Kia Sedona minivan. In Greece, the cost was 9,990€ for the RIO LS, with pre-paid the 3-year service.
Rio received a mild redesign for the 2003 model year including upgrades in engine, suspension, and brakes and other improvements with new styling outside including a different grille and headlights and inside a new instrument panel and console. In Europe, the facelift Rio received minor changes in external look and engine improvement from 75 hp to 83 hp. In Iran SAIPA Corporation started montaging the facelift version of KIA Rio in 2005. SAIPA chose the 1.5 engine that produces 97 hp @5500 and 135 N.m torque @4500.In Iran KIA Rio is well known for its acceleration but it is criticized for its noisy engine.The SAIPA version of KIA Rio lacks ABS and Airbag in addition to some other features.
1.4L 71.3 kW (96 hp)
1.6L Hyundai Alpha II engine 82 kW (110 hp)
Diesel I4
1.5L 81 kW (109 hp) Common Rail Turbodiesel
The first generation was replaced in the 2005 model year in Europe, arriving in the 2006 model year in North America. The second-generation Rio is based on a redesigned platform shared with the Hyundai Accent (prior to this, the Hyundai Accent was not related to the Rio). The engine was upgraded to a 110 hp 1.6-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine now also shared with the Hyundai Accent. Other changes include a completely new design, an increase in exterior size and interior volume, an increased number of standard safety features, better fuel economy. The hatchback was renamed to Rio5 in the USA.
The 2006 sedan offers two trim levels, the base trim (with standard tachometer) and the LX trim (adding power steering, air conditioning, and a CD player). The Rio5 (USA) offers a single trim level, the SX trim, with the features of the LX trim plus some additional vanity elements, such as a leather-covered steering wheel that suggest that Kia wishes to move the Rio upmarket. Just as in the first generation, only the five-door hatchback version is offered in some European markets (including the UK).
Three engines are available (1.6L DOHC engine 110 hp/1.4L DOHC engine 97 hp/1.5L Turbodiesel engine 109 hp). However, in the US market only the 1.6L petrol engine is offered.
The 2007 Kia Rio is a carryover from 2006 with minimal changes. An SX trim level has been added to the Rio sedan, which adds to the LX trim the same features supplied with the Rio5 SX.
For 2008, changes are again minimal. Kia has announced an LX trim for the Rio5, which will be equipped similarly to the Rio LX sedan.
Although it had some competition, the Subcompact market segment was not particularly competitive for most automakers until roughly when the second generation Kia arrived. It currently faces numerous competitors (in addition to the Hyundai Accent) such as the Chevy Aveo, the Toyota Yaris, The Honda Fit, and (to some extent) The Nissan Versa. Kia retains a moderate portion of the segment with the Rio due to its strong value, but other competitors have been dominating recently with their more popular brand names and more persistent advertising.
A hybrid version of the Rio is in development, in conjunction with the development of a hybrid version of its Hyundai twin, the Hyundai Accent[citation needed]. Both vehicles will use hybrid technology developed by Hyundai-Kia without licensed Toyota or Honda technology. A concept model of the Kia Rio hybrid was shown at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. The drivetrain is a lightweight design similar to Honda’s power-assist hybrids, featuring regenerative braking, automatic engine shutoff when idling, and continuously variable transmission. The electric motor assists the engine in starting and accelerating but does not drive the vehicle on its own.
At present, about 4,000 pre-production Rio hybrid vehicles are being field tested by the South Korean government’s fleet. The release is tentatively scheduled for the 2009 model year. The planned release date of the hybrid Rio was originally announced as the 2007 model year in North America, but was subsequently postponed to at least 2009, along with the Hyundai Accent hybrid, due to the incarceration of Hyundai’s for corruption. The Rio hybrid is expected to be visually identical to the non-hybrid Rio and to achieve a price point lower than hybrids from Honda and Toyota.
2001-2002 Kia Rio Cinco (US)
Kia Rio5 (US)
Kia Rio5 (Canada)
List of hybrid vehicles

Kia

Kia Ceed

The Kia cee’d is a small family car released in the European market by the Korean manufacturer Kia Motors in December 2006. It is available as a five-door hatchback, three-door hatchback (”pro_cee’d”), and five-door estate (”cee’d SW”), with a choice of up to five engines (three petrol and two diesel), four trim levels (S, GS, LS, SR) and either manual or automatic transmissions — and is sold in over 20 variants of the above in some markets. Kia used the Paris Motor Show 2006 to preview a five-door estate variant in production form, and a three-door concept, both of which were to be on sale from Autumn 2007, combining with the five door hatchback model to give a model range of over 50 variants in some markets. The Hyundai i30 shares the platform with cee’d.
The Kia cee’d is said[attribution needed] to get its name from the Community of Europe and European Design, its project name simply being “ED”. One alternate explanation, though never mentioned by Kia, and thus not official, is “cerato evolved” because the Cerato is the predecessor of the cee’d.
Kia cee’d earns Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating.
Kia’s all-new Pro cee’d is the 3-door variant of the cee’d. The car debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, and went on sale in January.
Kia’s all-new ex_cee’d cabrio concept car was premiered at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in 2007 Geneva. Based on the new three-door cee’d hatchback, due to go into production at the Zilina factory in Slovakia from December, the ex_cee’d shares the same platform, but features all-new exterior panels and a powered folding fabric roof.
Kia revealed a concept of it’s pro_cee’d line, with improved aerodynamics and mild hybrid engine tuning to the diesel engine, under the name “eco_cee’d”. Kia has confirmed it will release eco_cee’d versions of it’s cee’d line in 2009.

Kia