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If you drive a 2008-2009 Kia Rondo and you value your life, you should probably get it checked out pronto.
The NHTSA website explains how the fuel pump may not operate properly, which in turn, can expose the driver to the risk of a crash. So far, no injuries or accidents have occurred. The recall affects both LX and EX models with 2.4 liter engines.
Dealers will replace the faulty fuel pump for free. Call here for more information: (800) 333-4542.
via US News & World Report
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Wash., July 15, 2008 – Having made its global debut earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Kia Motors America (KMA) today officially launched the 2009 Borrego midsize SUV.
Borrego is one of the first production offerings based off of the new design direction Kia continues to unveil through concept vehicles including the Kue, KND-4, Kee and KOUP. Given a straightforward and clean look, Borrego is intended for those who enjoy an active yet uncomplicated lifestyle.
Outstanding Performance and Capabilities
Borrego is offered with a DOHC, all-aluminum 3.8-liter V6 as well as Kia’s first-ever DOHC 4.6-liter V8 engine, also all-aluminum; both engines are more powerful than any in Kia’s line to date. While the V6 produces a competitive 276 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 267 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, the all-new V8 generates a class-leading¹ 337 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 323 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm – more powerful than the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and GMC Acadia. Borrego runs on regular unleaded fuel compared to the Pathfinder, which requires premium unleaded. Both engines also are available in either two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).
With class-leading towing of 7,500 pounds when partnered to the V8, and 5,000 pounds with the V6, the new midsize SUV offers unmatched capabilities for a weekend of camping or outdoor lifestyle activities. Borrego models with 4WD feature the second generation full-time Torque-on-Demand® system from BorgWarner, which uses electronic sensors to monitor road conditions and distribute power to the appropriate wheels. Improvements have been made to deliver a fast response and a quieter operation. The result is responsive, sure-footed performance in varying road conditions, all of which is practically seamless to driver and passengers.
Combining its impressive horsepower and torque with the unique-to-Borrego and new-to-Kia six-speed automatic transmission mated to the V8 engine, the midsize SUV is able to achieve best-in-class² fuel economy for an engine of its kind with an EPA rating of 15/22 city/highway for the V8 with 2WD and 15/20 city/highway for the 4WD – perfect for families on the go as well as for long road trips. When the V6 is under the hood, Borrego is able to achieve competitive fuel economy of 17/21 city/highway (2WD) and 16/21 city/highway (4WD).
Borrego’s muscular exterior sits on a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension matched with coil-over springs. The front suspension integrates shock absorbers and a stabilizer bar, while the rear incorporates a damper and stabilizer bar, providing an optimal riding experience, on- or off-road. Borrego is built on a hydro-formed frame structure that increases durability and rigidity. Improved fuel efficiency because of its lighter weight is a result of the hydraulic forming process as opposed to traditional welded press forming. Its body-on-frame construction and insulated rubber mounting provide improved reduction in noise, vibration, and harshness, and help absorb vibrations from the road surface and powertrain yielding a smooth, quiet ride for driver and passengers.
Powerful, Persuasive Exterior
Embodying a certain rugged refinement, Borrego’s aggressive, wide stance evokes an image of stability and strength while flared back headlamps, an upright grille and chiseled hood project a strong presence. LED side view mirrors and chrome accents add to its polished look. Contemporary front and rear fascias suggest modern luxury while optional 18-inch alloy wheels offer increased off-road capabilities, allowing consumers to live an energetic life in style whether it’s cruising around town or trekking through the mountains.
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Built on a platform with a wheelbase of 114.0 inches, an overall length of 192.3 inches and overall width of 75.4 inches, Borrego stands wider and longer than the Chevy Trailblazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner. Its wide stance allows for a roomy, comfortable interior with standard three rows of seating for up to seven adult passengers.
Luxurious and Functional Amenities
Available in LX and EX trims, Borrego’s spacious cabin comes well equipped with a slew of standard convenience features, including: air conditioning; power door locks, windows and mirrors; keyless entry; cruise control and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 six-speaker audio system to keep its passengers entertained and comfortable. Complementing the audio system, Borrego comes standard with USB and auxiliary input jack and is the first Kia vehicle to offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio with three months of complimentary service for hours of uninterrupted amusement³.
Adding even more refinement and upgrades, the EX trim level includes an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, four-way power adjustable front passenger’s seat, floor mats, dual-zone automatic climate control, Homelink® with compass, steering wheel audio controls, trip computer, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The new midsize SUV also offers Kia’s first voice-activated navigation system, with a Rear Seat Entertainment Package that includes an eight-inch widescreen television (EX models) for passenger entertainment during long car rides or around-town adventures.
With the EX trim level, consumers also are optioned with the Luxury and Premium Packages. The Luxury Package includes: nicely appointed leather seats; heated front seats; power tilt and telescopic steering wheel; and memory settings for the driver’s seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel. Progressing to the Premium Package includes everything in the Luxury Package in addition to a sunroof, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, rear air conditioning with controls, running boards and a rear camera display for enhanced visual assistance.
In the fall, Borrego will offer the top-of-the-line, Limited trim level in addition to the LX and EX trims, which will come only in a black monotone exterior with black interior trim. Exclusive features to the Limited edition include push button start/smart key, Supervision™ meter cluster, power adjustable pedals, chrome accents on outside door handles and rear garnish, heated second row seats, Bluetooth®, Limited exterior badging and floor mats. Limited trim also includes the Luxury and Premium package content, less the running boards.
With Borrego’s 156.8 cubic foot interior volume, it offers more room for its seven passengers than Explorer, Pathfinder, 4Runner, Grand Cherokee and the all-new Pilot. Depending on passenger or driver requirements, Borrego comes with a sliding second row for easy ingress and egress to the third row, as well as fold-flat second and third row seats to optimize cargo space, which measures an impressive 12.4 cubic feet with all seats utilized, 97.6 cubic feet with all seats folded flat.
Exceptional Standard Safety
Borrego ups the ante in safety, offering the same high level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, including additional features exclusive to the midsize SUV. Standard equipment includes front advanced airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags for all three rows and driver’s knee airbag (V8 models only), four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS) including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and traction control system (TCS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), brake assist system (BAS) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Borrego’s technologies all work together to provide a technically sophisticated safety package for the driver and passengers.
Working with the standard ABS with ESC, EBD and TCS, the system can apply individual brakes selectively to control oversteer and understeer as needed to help the driver maintain control on slippery surfaces or during certain emergency maneuvers. Being able to control any or all of the brakes allows the ESC system to provide responsiveness, control and enhanced accident avoidance capabilities to help the driver, although ESC is not a substitute for safe driving procedures.
The TCS uses brake and engine torque intervention to enhance traction during launch and acceleration on road surfaces. If the ABS system detects wheel slip, it signals the engine control unit to adjust engine torque output accordingly. TCS also senses when one or more wheels spin faster than the vehicle’s speed, and if this condition is present it applies the brakes to that wheel or wheels. Working together, the two systems limit wheel spin and help the driver maintain control.
A standard back-up warning system provides an audible warning using ultrasonic sensors to detect and help prevent hitting hard-to-see objects. Borrego also includes Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), which helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient, as well as Downhill Brake Control (DBC), which helps keep the vehicle moving straight and steady down steep grades. Both functions are new to Kia.
Industry-Leading Warranty
Like all Kia models, Borrego is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan is also part of the comprehensive coverage program.
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If we were to enjoy the use of bad puns, this situation might tell us that secrecy is not, ahem, Kia Motors particular forte. Forte sedan, that is.
Set to be released in the United States in early 2009 as a replacement for the long in the tooth Spectra sedan, the oddly named Forte looks to be a strong entry--style wise at least--in the compact segment. While this region has long been dominated by industry stalwarts like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, Kia has made significant inroads of late with its lower priced models.
Taking a gander at the leaked photos tells us, though, that style is apparently now going to be a big part of the showroom appeal for this little Kia. Its headlights are vaguely Civic-like while the rest of the body has a very unique and stylishly crisp tailored look about it. No Corolla style frumpiness found here. We guess the fact that Kia recently hired all of those ex-Audi designers is finally starting to pay some dividends. An Audi TT style piece of art work it is not. Classy and stylish in a subdued manner it definitely is.
The interior also shows that the little Korean car maker that could is trying its best to challenge the best in class. It isn’t willfully weird like the Civic, nor is it willfully boring like a Corolla. It is sporty, but not challenging to the eye. From the photos it looks like material choices have also gone up in quality significantly, probably not to VW levels but much better than in the Spectra.
The rumor mill tells us that up-market options like navigation with voice commands, Bluetooth and leather upholstery will all feature on the options list. If history is a guide, the majority of sales will more likely come in less well equipped models. But it is always nice to have the choice to, ahem, pimp your Kia.
Our view? Just looking at the photos of this new Kia sedan shows that the Korean automaker is taking another huge leap forward in making its models competitive with the best the world has to offer. If there is one thing we have learned in the past from this Korean manufacturer it is this. Constant improvement is definitely its forte.
via Motor Trend
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IRVINE, Calif., – Kia Motors America’s consumer Web site, www.kia.com, was recognized as the highest ranked automobile manufacturer Web site in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation StudySM – Wave 2 (MWES) released today.
Kia Motors ranked highest overall among manufacturer Web sites in terms of usability, comprising speed, navigation, appearance and information/content.
The top ranking marks the fourth time Kia has had the highest ranked Web site in the MWES. All four award-recognized sites were prepared by Animated Designs, LLC., Kia's interactive agency based in Westlake Village, Calif.
Kia.com is critical to our marketing strategy,” said Tim Chaney, director, marketing, Kia Motors America. “We strive to provide consumers with a Web site that values their time and allows them to quickly and efficiently find all the up-to-date information they need to assist with their car-buying decision.”
Acknowledged for being one of the most credible and recognized studies ranking manufacturer web sites, the MWES surveyed 11,434 new-vehicle shoppers who intend to purchase a new vehicle within the next 24 months.
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Korean automaker Kia intends to enter the coupe market with a production version of Koup Concept.
The automaker is hoping that that coupe will help to introduce younger, hipper clientele to the brand. Signaling the styling direction of its future products, the production coupe will keep the Koup Concept's angular, aggressive styling.
The car seemingly has design cues from everything, whether it the Honda Civic coupe in general shape, to its Audi-like flat sides and wheel arch flares. There's even a dash of the (European) Focus, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Mazda in the front fascia.
Created in-house by Kia America based design studios, the car should arrive sometime next summer.
Our take? It's a good looking car, but it will need some performance behind those looks to lure the desired demographic.
via Jalopnik
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The “Amana on Wheels” boxy-like-a-refrigerator styling of the original Scion xB has lately spawned some imitators from some Scion competitors, all of which should reach the market in the next couple of years.
In many cases, these xB-wannabes seek to replicate the simplicity, smallness, and efficiency of the original xB, since xB version 2.0, introduced as a 2007 model, is bigger, heavier, and practically slurps gas compared to the original. (Must be that new Camry engine under the hood, we think.)
Not to be outdone by Nissan’s Cube small-box-on-wheels, due to arrive sometime in 2009, Kia is introducing the Soul, whose production version will début at the Paris Motor Show in early October.
The Soul has already been seen as several design concepts at previous car shows, however. In a break from the usual automotive tradition, Kia decided to brand the production version of the car with the same name as the show car. (In many cases, the name changes from concept to production—for example, Ford flexed its nomenclature muscles and mutated the concept Fairlane into the production Flex.)
The original concept Kia Souls were shown in three different versions—the “Burner,” “Searcher,” and “Diva,” each targeting a different type of buyer. It’s not known if that approach will follow into the production model, but the versatility of the interior space and instant recognition of the exterior design will.
The chief designer at Kia Motors Europe, Gregory Guillaume, had this to say about his company’s upcoming model, which begins production later on this year: “The all-new Kia production car will be a car that defies classification and encourages customers to build an emotional bond with their new purchase by providing a creative platform that they can customize to match their car to their own character. It will appeal especially to the young-at-heart—whatever their age.”
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IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2008 – Today, Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), was joined by local and state representatives for the grand opening ceremony of the new 21.7-acre Kia U.S. corporate campus in Irvine, Calif.
The $130-million investment includes the Kia Motors America Corporate Headquarters and state-of-the-art Kia Design Center America (KDCA).
"The investment in our new corporate campus reaffirms our commitment to the United States market and California," said Ahn. "Our new U.S. Corporate Headquarters and Design Center enables us to develop products specifically for Kia that are designed and tuned for North American consumers."
Now fully operational, the Irvine campus currently employs approximately 400 permanent full-time employees and has the potential to house approximately 600 employees at full capacity. The corporate headquarters is a custom-built facility that is home to the KMA U.S. sales division, as well as its marketing, public relations, consumer affairs, technical service, research and development, product planning and administration departments. The new facility also houses the KMA western region office and IT services.
"We established our operations in Orange County 15 years ago, and as the company has grown, so has our presence in California," added Ahn. "This is a special day as we celebrate our permanent home in Irvine and look forward to our continued success in the U.S. market."
The state-of-the-art, 100,700-square-foot design center was developed with tremendous input from the Kia Motors U.S. design team to ensure an aesthetically pleasing and physically functional layout that encourages creativity. It consists of a design studio, a modeling studio that allows up to eight vehicle models to be worked on simultaneously, a milling shop that features a Zimmerman computerized milling machine, a 2-D presentation room, a color and trim room, a wood/metal shop, a 3-D presentation room that features clearstory windows to allow for viewing indoors under natural light, a paint booth, a private outdoor viewing courtyard, a recreation room, a research library, four conference rooms and a secure, underground garage.
"By establishing the first Kia-exclusive U.S. design center in Irvine, we can take advantage of the tremendous design talent and inspiration provided by the Southern California car culture in a functional environment set up to maximize our designers’ abilities and creativity," said Tom Kearns, Kia Motors U.S. chief designer. "KDCA will produce stylish, new vehicles that will impact the new design direction for Kia Motors worldwide."
The Irvine corporate campus was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in partnership with the City of Irvine to serve as a distinctive architectural gateway to the city and an example of eco-friendly features. The 239,000-square-foot modern glass and steel main structure features a 36,000-square-foot reflecting pool visible to drivers on Interstate 5. Kia was one of the first companies in Irvine to voluntarily install a bioswale system in its parking lot to remove silt and pollution from surface water runoff. The landscaping features drought-resistant plants, and reclaimed water is used for landscaping irrigation and toilets. The exterior glass of the building meets the California Energy Commission’s requirements for energy efficiency standards.
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The first model to be assigned for production within Kia's new Georgia manufacturing plant is to be the Sorento SUV.
Key to the plant's efficiency will be its close proximity to parent Hyundai's own manufacturing facility. Their setup involves the production of transmissions and running gear to made at the Kia plant, motors at the Hyundai plant, and the sharing of both.
Note the Sorenta will not be the only model for long at the new plant, however. The plant's capacity dictates the production of at least two models within its walls, and with the growing American shift towards smaller more efficient vehicles, a compact like the Spectra is the likely other model.
Our take? Go figure, when Americans start to cut production, the Koreans open a new plant.
via Atlanta Journal-Constitution
