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Cobra Technology has released a stunning, style-enhancing exterior program for the five-place urban crossover vehicle Kia Soul. Distinguished by astonishingly bold styling, great qualities and reasonable pricing, the Korean brand’s small crossover has proved itself very quickly as one of the most demanded rides on the youth auto market.

Now, the specialists at Cobra pack the urban Kia Soul with striking 19-inch light alloys and sleek stainless-steel components that further underlines the car’s fresh design.

For the front-end of the vehicle, Cobra is offering its famous CITYGUARD element, which is made from high-gloss stainless steel. Following beautifully the lines of the front bumper, the new accessory protects the front of the ride from minor damages.

For even more SUV-like front styling, the brand is offering a high-gloss stainless-steel brush guard with a tube diameter of 60 millimeters. The elastically mounted accessory meets the strict EG guidelines for pedestrian protection. The new front element is also suitable for installing auxiliary high-beam headlights that are available as a ready-to-install set.

On the sides, the newly packed Kia Soul features stainless-steel rocker-panel guards, which include integrated steps below the doors for easier entering and exiting of the vehicle. The guards also protect the rocker panels from damages from curb contact or from light off-road use.

The final exterior highlight are the ten-double spoke design Mauris light-alloys mounted in size 8Jx19 with size 225/35 R 19 tires.

The all-new Kia Sportage will show a dramatic shift in design direction when it makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on 2 March, 2010.

Embodying Kia’s new visual dynamism, all-new Sportage is a fresh, bold, athletic and sporty design that blends the key features of an SUV – the commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance – in a sleek and urban-friendly design.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, all-new Sportage will offer more space for people and cargo, with improved ride quality thanks to a longer wheelbase.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “Sportage was the car that really made the breakthrough for Kia in Europe and the all-new version will make people sit up and take notice just as the original did. I am convinced it will begin a remarkable new chapter in the Kia story.”

The all-new Sportage comes to the UK later this year, with a range of highly competitive diesel and petrol engines.

The world premiere of the all-new Sportage will take place at 08.45 on 2 March, 2010 on the Kia Stand (No 6441) in Hall 6 at the Geneva International Motor Show.

After six months of precise tuning and testing for the upcoming 2010 GRAND-AM Continental Tyre Sports Car Challenge season, Kia will present publicly its two racing Forte Koups at the ‘Fresh From Florida 200’ competition at Daytona International Speedway on January 29.

Boasting a remarkable performance-inspired styling and outstanding driving dynamics, the two race Forte Koups are developed by Kia Motors America in cooperation with Kinetic Group. The newly race transformed vehicles are aimed to campaign in the GRAND-AM’s Street Tuner (ST) class, which utilizes production-based race cars from the U.S., Europe and Asia. The two-door, front-wheel-drive race cars benefit from the Forte Koup stock 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder power unit.

The No. 10 car will be co-driven by Andy Lally and Nic Jonsson, while the No. 12 car will be piloted by the 2007 GRAND-AM ST champions Trevor Hopwood and Adam Burrows.

“From the moment we announced KMA was getting into racing we believed the Forte Koup would be a strong competitor in GRAND-AM, and the feedback we’ve received from Kinetic and Andy Lally and Nic Jonsson after their initial testing reinforces that belief,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA.

“Consumers have come to recognise the Kia brand for attractively designed and priced vehicles that are fuel efficient and have a long list of standard features, and we are looking forward to introducing Forte Koup and the Kia brand to a new audience of auto racing fans throughout the Continental Tyre Sports Car Challenge season” he added.

2010 Kia Ray Concept

As Governments and motorists keep up the interest levels in an electric-car future Kia Motors Corporation has revealed the first preview rendering of its latest concept car – called Ray – which will make its global debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next month.

Styled by the team at Kia Design Centre America, the Kia Ray project was undertaken to demonstrate how Kia’s evolving design direction would be applied in the packaging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The actual car will form the centre-piece of the Kia Motors America display at Chicago and the vehicle will contribute to Kia’s on-going development of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Already Kia has pioneered potentially real-life fuel cell vehicles and has working prototypes operating in California and Korea. Additionally Kia has various hybrid-engined vehicles providing real-world data in various locations and plans to commercialise Liquefied Petroleum Gas hybrid vehicles in Korea within the next 12 months.

Currently no date has been set for hybrid Kia models to be put on sale in the UK but on-road testing of petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles is due to start in Britain this year.

The Kia Motors press conference for the 2010 Chicago Auto Show will be staged at 1:30 p.m. on February 11, 2010.

Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the arrival of the special edition Shadow Dragon Soul, the third of four planned special edition Soul models. Proudly showing design themes similar in nature to the Soul “Burner” concept that debuted in 2008 at the Geneva International Motor Show resulting in a slew of positive feedback from Soul forums and Internet chats, Shadow Dragon Soul wears black dragon graphics over its sinister black-on-black color scheme. Shadow Dragon Soul is the latest example the urban passenger vehicle’s unique ability to morph and transform, and joins all other Soul models as a 2010 “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“Soul is a unique vehicle in that it lends itself perfectly to personalization based on consumer needs and desires,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. “With its one-of-a-kind paint and graphic treatments, the Shadow Dragon Soul could be the most distinctive special-edition Soul we’ve released so far, but still maintains the same value, convenience and safety features that consumers have come to know and expect from all Soul trim levels.”

From afar, Shadow Dragon Soul’s deep shadow black exterior color and matte black dragon graphics on the hood and tailgate give off a dark and menacing persona. Looking closer, the black-on-black theme continues with black 18-inch wheels and machined accents, a body-color wing-type spoiler and high-gloss black accents found on the front and rear bumper inserts. Inside, Shadow Dragon Soul features black leather-trimmed seats – the first leather seating available on any Soul model – and seat warmers for additional luxury and comfort. Like both previous special-edition Souls, Shadow Dragon Soul is based on the Soul+ model and is fully loaded with the Audio Upgrade Package (center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music), an iPod® connection cable for full functionality via the radio head unit and steering wheel controls, carpeted floor mats, moonroof, fog lights and fender vents with side marker repeaters. Shadow Dragon Soul starts at $18,1951 with a five-speed manual transmission.

Building from the Soul+ model, Shadow Dragon Soul adds standard keyless remote entry, privacy glass on the rear and rear side windows, body-color door handles and dual body-color power side mirrors. Additional standard features such as cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth®2 wireless technology with hands-free connectivity, dual 12-volt power outlets and tweeter speakers enhance creature comforts on the road, as do the covered upper storage bin, dual visor vanity mirrors with covers and dual map lights.

Kia today release the pricing of all new 201o0 Kia Sorento. Pricing will start at $19,995 for the base model which is powered by a 175-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. Pricing for the 276-hp 3.5L V6 model starts at $27,195.

2010 Kia Sorento Pricing Info:

LX – 2.4L I4 M/T 4×2: $19,995.
LX – 2.4L I4 A/T 4×2: $22,395.
LX – 2.4L I4 A/T 4×4: $24,095.
EX – 2.4L I4 A/T 4×2: $24,595.
EX – 2.4L I4 A/T 4×4: $26.295.
EX – 3.5L V6 A/T 4×2: $27,195.
EX – 3.5L V6 A/T 4×4: $28,895.

Buyers can opt for a $2,000 Limited Package which adds a navigation system with real-time traffic, Infinity sound system, 18-inch chrome wheels, interior accent lighting and high-style interior color theme. The $1,500 Premium Package adds roof-rails, leather-seats, heated front seats and a rear-view backup camera. Also available is a Third Row Package for $700.

The all-new Kia Cadenza luxury sporty sedan revealed in Korea today (where it is called the K7), will be a ‘big step into the future’ for Kia when it goes on worldwide sale next year. New Cadenza will make its overseas world premiere at next month’s Riyadh Motor Show in Saudi Arabia on 12 December, followed immediately by an appearance at the Dubai Motor Show on 15 December.

-‘Big step into the future’ for Kia’s masculine and luxurious sedan

-High-tech features such as ‘Welcome’ system, cabin mood lighting, keyless entry, engine ‘start’ button and RPAS reversing sensors

The Cadenza name is derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. It perfectly symbolizes the dynamic sedan’s striking design philosophy and upscale image. The 4965 mm long Cadenza will take over the role of large luxury sedan for the Kia marque from the 10-year old Opirus (‘Amanti’ in some markets) and is destined to totally transform Kia’s sales performance in the D2 segment.

“With the Cadenza, we have created an all-new, large sedan that will revitalize Kia’s fortunes thanks to its exciting appearance, strong performance and luxurious cabin which will guarantee a much broader consumer appeal, attracting thousands of new customers to our brand,” commented Mr Hyoung-Keun Lee, President, Kia Motors Corporation.

Under the direction of Kia’s Chief Design Officer (CDO), Peter Schreyer, the large sedan design team in Korea was determined to transform every aspect of the brand’s range-topping model, to deliver sporty and sleek styling, agile and dynamic performance, exceptional comfort and refinement and competitive high-tech features.

A ‘big step into the future’ for Kia’s sophisticated design

The design team targeted ‘stand-out’ looks with modernity, while incorporating Kia’s evolving design DNA to ensure the new large sedan boasts an appearance that will humble potential rivals. Last April, the team’s KND-5 concept car at the Seoul Motor Show revealed just how revolutionary Kia’s new large sedan was going to be.

“Our new sedan looks masculine and luxurious,” comments Peter Schreyer. “Today, people recognize a Kia at first sight: well balanced proportions, flowing greenhouse and dynamic window graphic plus the big wheels, give this car its confident stance, dignity and elegant personality. The distinctive ‘tiger nose’ front with its signature grille and headlights are evidence of Kia’s new self-confidence. Kia Cadenza is a big step into the future – another quantum leap for Kia,” concludes Schreyer.

The traditional three-box sedan shape was retained, but was morphed into a more flowing design with an aerodynamic Cd of just 0.29. The innovative treatment of light is a constant design theme. At the front, second-generation LED position lights are used to define the width of the car and the shape of the headlamps. At the rear, the combination lamp clusters also feature LED position lights which, together with the dual mufflers integrated into the bumper, enhance the new Cadenza’s sporty appearance. As an option, a full-length three-part glass Panoramic Roof will be available.

Contemporary looks, premium quality and a unique ambience

Inside, the new Cadenza is every bit as stylish and sophisticated as the exterior promises. The interior is dominated by the treatment of the futuristic ‘floating’ dashboard that highlights Kia’s innovative design approach.

A ‘welcome’ system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet’ the car owner, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs across the two-tier dashboard and all around the door trims, creates a warm ambience within the vehicle. An additional large mood lamp, which runs down the center of the cabin ceiling, is available.

Dual-zone climate control air-conditioning is standard, and other high-tech ‘comfort & convenience’ features include keyless entry and an engine ‘start’ button, RPAS reversing sensors, a reversing safety camera with interior mirror display screen and a powered extension for the driver’s seat cushion.

Although New Cadenza is shorter than the Opirus, the extended wheelbase (up by 45 mm to 2845 mm), additional exterior width and more compact rear suspension, come together to ensure that the interior offers occupants more space than the old model.

Less weight, more performance and better fuel-economy for new sedan

Kia’s new front-wheel drive ‘Type-N’ platform makes its first appearance in Cadenza and will be utilized in other Kia models in the future. The lighter (and stronger) bodyshell, together with all-new suspension systems, helped Cadenza to achieve a weight loss of up to 130 kg, compared with the previous Opirus – even though the new model has numerous additional features.

As part of Kia’s drive to increase sales in the large sedan segment, the new Cadenza will be manufactured with a total of three gasoline engines – with different engines being available around the world to best suit local legal requirements. Power outputs will range from 165 ps to 290 ps and all models will feature front-wheel drive and Kia’s all-new six-speed automatic transmission.

Driving up sales and market share with an all-new product

“Despite the current global economic uncertainties, we are confident that the new Kia Cadenza will substantially increase Kia’s share of this segment in Korea and around the world,” concluded President Lee.

Manufacturing of the new Cadenza sedan will start at Kia’s Hwasung facility in this month for the domestic market and in January 2010 for export markets. Export sales in the General Markets* (excluding North America and Europe), will begin during March 2010 and in China in June 2010.

*General Markets for Kia include the regions of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia (excluding China), the Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS [ EXPORT MARKETS ] – NOVEMBER 2009

New Kia Cadenza

Body & Chassis

Four-door, five-seater sedan, with all-steel unitary construction bodyshell. Powered by transversely-mounted V6 gasoline engine driving the front wheels.

Engine

3.5-litre / 290 ps [ Middle East & General Markets ]

Type ‘Lambda II’ Quad-OHC, six-cylinder in V, with dual CVVT

Max power 290 ps (213 kW) @ 6600 rpm

Max torque 338 Nm (34.5 kg.m) @ 5000 rpm

Transmission

Automatic 6-sp with fully auto & sequential manual modes

Suspension & Damping

Front Fully independent by MacPherson Struts.

Rear Fully independent by Multi-Link rear axle.

Steering

Type Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion

Gearing 2.94 turns lock-to-lock with 11.08 metres turning circle

Brakes

Front / Rear 300 x 28 mm ventilated discs / 284 x 10 mm solid discs

Wheels & Tyres

Standard LX Alloy 16 in x 6.5J 215/65 R16 tires

Standard EX* Alloy 17 in x 7.0J 225/55 R17 tires

*Optional on LX

DIMENSIONS

Exterior (mm)

Overall length 4965 Overall width* 1850

Overall height 1475 Wheelbase 2845

Capacities

Fuel tank 70 litres Luggage (SAE) 451 litres

Weights (kg)

Curb weight (min.) 1575 Gross weight 2065

Performance

Top speed / kph 230 0-to-100 kph (sec) 7.2

Fuel Economy

Combined cycle 9.36 (litres / 100 km)*

CO2 223 g/km*

*Manufacturer’s estimated figure

Hyundai Develops Its First Gasoline Direct Injection Engine

-GDI lowers emissions while improving fuel economy & torque
-2.4 Theta II GDI generates 201ps@6300rpm and 25.5kg.m@4250rpm
-First application in 2010 1H on new Sonata
-GDI to be first in mid-size sedan segment, beating competitors to market
-Unveiling coincides with 9thHyundai-Kia Int’l Powertrain Conference

(Namyang, Korea) To help meet its goals of environmental leadership, Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled the 2.4 Theta II GDI, its first Gasoline Direct Injection engine before an audience of engineers attending the Ninth Annual Hyundai-Kia International Powertrain Conference.

Representing the biggest advancement in fuel injection, an ‘80s technology that replaced the carburetor, GDI puts Hyundai at the cutting edge of engine design and management by achieving three seemly incompatible goals: GDI lowers emissions while raising power output and improving fuel economy. Prior to GDI, a gain in one area came at the expense of the other two.

With a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 2.4 Theta II GDI delivers 201ps@6300rpm and 25.5kg.m@4250rpm in its Korean domestic market specification.

“The Theta II GDI convincingly demonstrates Hyundai’s advanced powertrain engineering capabilities,” said Dr. Lee Hyun-Soon, Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer.

Developed with a budget of 170 billion won over a 46 month-long research period, the new 2.4 Theta II GDI engine will make its debut in the first half of 2010 starting with the recently launched Sonata, beating the mid-size sedan competition to market with this exciting new technology. GDI application will subsequently be expanded across the gasoline engine family and applied to other Hyundai models.

One serious limitation of conventional fuel injection is that as engine revolutions increase, the valve opening and closing times get progressively shorter, thus reducing the time available to inject fuel. GDI avoids this problem altogether by positioning the fuel injector in the most optimal location, directly inside the combustion chamber to offer unparalleled precision. With this shorter and more direct path, far greater control is attained over the combustion process: A high pressure fuel pump injects the fuel at pressures of up to 150 bar, in precise amounts and intervals.

The injection is split into two phases to achieve optimum combustion: in the first phase, the pilot injection and ignition trigger the piston’s downward power stroke. Then, in the main injection phase, during the piston’s descent, more fuel is injected and is ignited. This split-injection technique reduces loading on the catalytic converter and helps lower emissions. This is particularly beneficial during cold starts when emissions are highest because the catalyst has not reached its optimal operating temperature. Split-injection enables the catalytic converter to reach the optimal operating temperature faster thus reducing emissions by 25 percent during cold starts and meet’s California Air Resources Board’s ULEV-2 and PZEV standards

GDI’s other benefits include improved dynamic performance and better gas mileage. Compared to a conventional engine of the same displacement, GDI delivers 7 percent more torque at low revolutions and 12 percent more torque at the high-end for better take-off and overtaking performance. And perhaps best of all, a vehicle equipped with a GDI engine will get about 10 percent better mileage than a vehicle equipped with a conventional multi-point fuel injected engine. Precise mileage figures will be announced when retail sales begin.

GDI has been applied to the second generation of Theta: Theta II features numerous design enhancements over its predecessor starting with the application of a three-stage variable induction system (VIS) which improves engine “breathing,” automatically adjusting the volume of the air sucked into the combustion chamber to create the “optimal” air-to-fuel mix under different engine load conditions.

Further performance gains were made possible by incorporating Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) which improves engine breathing on the intake and exhaust sides for better fuel economy and lower emissions. Depending on engine load and speed, DCVVT can extend or shorten the duration of the valve opening and closing for more power and lower emissions. And the DCVVT system is governed by a new steel chain with an innovative roller and tooth designed for silent operation and durability.

While DCVVT and VIS improve power output, engineers have also come up with several important weight saving innovations. Special attention was focused on the bulkhead, the area of the aluminium cylinder block accumulating the highest stresses: Reinforcement yielded a stiffer block without incurring a weight penalty. A redesign of the crankshaft (semi-eight-balance type) led to an equally important weight reduction. The catalytic converter is also lighter thanks to a new canning process which allows for the use of thinner gauge stainless steel and requiring far less welding.

Another major engineering challenge was to reduce internal friction to attain better fuel economy. Friction reduction measures include a revision of the piston pin from a fixed-type to a full-floating design which cuts down on friction between the piston and cylinder wall. And under the piston crown, engineers have added a cooling jet which sprays oil over the piston walls reducing friction and contributing to an improvement in fuel economy.

The Conference’s plenary session open today under the banner “Creative Sustainable Powertrain Evolution for Green Growth.” Wednesday will see a large number of technical presentations delivered in various sessions covering the future of gasoline engines, new developments in exhaust emission after-treatment, fuel efficiency improvement and transmissions. Some 600 specialists from Europe, Japan, the United States and Korea are attending this year’s event.

2010 Kia Cadenza

Kia Motors Corporation has taken the wraps off its new Kia Cadenza, the production version of its VG concept car – an all-new saloon car designed to deliver refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction in an ‘ideal’ driving package.

The stylish luxury sedan, which is to be called ‘Cadenza’ in markets outside of Korea, will make its overseas premiere at motor shows in the Middle East, towards the end of the year.

The Kia Cadenza name is derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. It perfectly symbolizes the dynamic saloon’s striking design philosophy and premium image.

Sporty and sleek in appearance, Kia Cadenza features a bold headlamp design with attention-grabbing LED surrounds and a purposeful, athletic character line. The prominent front grille and stylish tail-lights emphasize the car’s high-tech feel and are a continuing expression of Kia’s dramatic design DNA.

On the inside, there is a futuristic ‘floating’ dashboard that highlights Kia’s uniquely innovative design approach. The welcome system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet’ the driver, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs along the dashboard to the door trim, creates a warm atmosphere within the vehicle.

The Kia Cadenza’s dynamic design and driving performance, allied with a raft of competitive passenger-friendly high-tech features, will make it a leader in the large, luxury sedan market segment.

Luxury features will include a heated steering wheel for winter driving in cold countries, powered extendable seat cushions to give extra thigh support, automatic defogging of the windscreen and ventilated front seats providing cool comfort in hot countries.

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “The new Kia Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language through the harmonious blend of light and lines. It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology.”

Kia Cadenza is positioned above the existing Magentis model in Kia’s global line-up but currently there are no plans to bring to vehicle to the UK.

Kia Motors (UK) Limited Managing Director Michael Cole commented: “Despite its striking appearance and high-tech engineering I do not believe this is the right time to try and extend our range into a sector of the market that is dominated by German brands. But Kia Cadenza shows clearly how Kia’s design-led philosophy under Peter Schreyer is producing startling new products and it is clear from this car that our future new model program – which starts next year with Venga and the all-new Sorento – is going to continue the dramatic development of our brand in the UK.”

KIA Motors presents the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, which proudly marks another step in the brand’s design and vehicle lineup transformation. Adopting the new Kia signature design cues, the all-new 2011 Sorento is the first vehicle to roll off the line at Kia Motors’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia.

2011 KIA Sorento CUV has a new dynamic and attractive look. More longer and roomier than the previous-generation Sorento, the redesigned seven passengers vehicle is available with panoramic sunroof, the first on any Kia vehicle.

The new modern CUV from KIA is offered with two engines, both more powerful than its direct competitiors – Ford Escape and Honda CR-V. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 172 hp and a larger 3.5-liter V6, which provides the astonishing 273 hp. A new six-speed automatic transmission is mounted to further increase the fuel efficiency and the smooth performance. Both engines can be mated to either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations.

In addition to the smooth ride, KIA offers an impressive technology features that comes as standard, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service2, auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting personal MP3 players, and Bluetooth® connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls to enable hands-free operation for all compatible cell phones. Available push button-start ignition, voice-activated navigation, rear sonar back-up cameras and air ionization purification technology completes the modern and high-tech driving experience.

The all-new 2011 Sorento also benefits from the Kia’s comprehensive warranty program, which offers for this particular vehicle: 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty and five-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan also is part of the comprehensive vehicle coverage.