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Kia wows market with Trade Up Deals

Kia announces launch of Soul

Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that its all-new production model, the Kia Soul, will be marketed globally with a choice of three highly efficient engines when it becomes available in early 2009.

The most powerful engine will be a 2-litre gasoline unit. A smaller capacity 1.6-litre gasoline engine will be offered in most countries along side the 1.6-litre diesel engine, featuring a VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger).

Both 1.6 litre, four cylinder,16-valve DOHC power units are based closely on engines fitted to the hugely successful, European-built Kia cee’d.

Kia has also confirmed that the new model which will be available exclusively as a five-door hatchback with front wheel drive will have an overall length of 4,105mm, and a 2,550mm wheelbase. Height will be 1,610mm and width 1,785mm – excluding door mirrors.

To be manufactured in Korea starting in November 2008 for overseas markets, the Kia Soul will defy conventions and appeal especially to the young-at-heart-whatever their age. The Soul was created by Kia’s European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Kia Motors Europe, under the guidance of Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

Kia Soul is not a replacement for an existing vehicle and is destined to play a unique role within Kia’s global product line-up. Kia Soul will provide a creative platform for buyers to individualise and match their vehicle to their own personality.

The World Premiere of the Kia Soul will be celebrated on October 2, 2008 at the Paris Motor Show. The exciting new Kia model is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in February 2009, with sales in the USA and remaining overseas markets beginning in April 2009.

The Kia Soul was bared in the Philippines by Columbian Autocar Corporation, manufacturer and distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines at the 1^st Philippine International Motorshow in 2007.

For exclusive images of the new Kia Soul, please visit the official Kia Buzz blog www.kia-buzz.com or visit www.kia.com.ph.

Kia Congressional Opens

Kia lovers at the heart of Quezon City no longer have to go far as Columbian Autocar Corporation recently opened its newest dealership along Congressional Avenue, the first and only Kia dealership within North of Quezon City that has a full service facility.

Located on 146B Congressional Avenue, Kia Congressional boasts of a brand new showroom facility where test-drives can be easily arranged and customers can avail of Kia’s best-in-class financing programs and Trade-up deals. Kia Congressional also boasts of its full parts and service center that can service multiple units per day.

“As the first Kia dealership with a full service facility North of Quezon City, Kia Motors Congressional is committed to bring you the fulfillment of your driving pleasures. We are devoted to provide you the highest customer service satisfaction we can offer,” said Kia Congressional President, Niko Sebastian. “We truly value customer partnerships, which goes beyond your purchase of a Kia, as we extend our uncompromising service and customer-centered offerings for a memorable Kia experience,” he added.

Kia Motors Corp. now provides the Philippine market a wide range of vehicles that give buyers value for money in terms of comfort, design, and fuel efficiency. This includes popular and multi-awarded models such as the Picanto, Rio Sedan, Carens, Sportage, and Carnival. According to Sebastian, “People can expect great things from the Kia brand as Kia Motors Corp. continue to expand in the Philippines and the rest of the region with its range of economical and well-designed vehicles.”

Columbian Autocar Corporation is the sole distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, envisions in providing world class vehicles in response to the growing needs and demands of the dynamic automotive market.

Kia opens US Design Center

Kia Motors officially opened the doors to its new $130 million, 21.7-acre Kia Motors America (KMA) Corporate Headquarters and state-of –the-art Kia Design Center America (KDCA) in Irvine, California, recently.

The corporate headquarters’ custom-built facility is home to the KMA U.S sales division, as well as its marketing, public relations, consumers affair, technical service, research development, product planning and administration departments. The new facility also houses the KMA western region office and IT services.

The design center was developed with tremendous input from Kia Motors U.S design team to ensure an aesthetically and physically functional layout that encourages creativity. It consist of a design studio, a modelling studio that allows up to eight vehicle models to be worked on simultaneously, a milling shop featuring 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 an a secure, underground garage.

“By establishing the first Kia-exclusive U.S. design center, 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 also designed to serve as a distinctive architectural gateway to the city and an example of eco-friendly features. The modern glass and steel main structure features a 36,000 square foot reflecting pool visible to drivers on Interstate 5 and Kia was one of the first companies in the area to voluntarily install a bioswale system 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.