(SEOUL) November 18, 2008 — The UK’s oldest motoring magazine, Autocar, has named Hyundai-Kia as its Car Company of the Year at its annual award ceremony in Westminster London, England. The annual Autocar awards event is widely considered Europe’s most prestigious industry accolades ceremony and is where the European Car of the Year Award winner is announced.

Citing the Korean giant’s “mind-blowing” ambition, editor Chas Hallet presented the title to Mr. Nam-Yong Kim, President of Hyundai-Kia’s European Research and Development Centre in Germany.

Hallett commented, “When the irrepressible Hyundai-Kia group started talking, just a few years ago, about wanting to become the world’s fifth largest car company behind Toyota, GM, Ford and Audi-VW, many of us were sceptical.

“Then the Korean group got serious. They hatched a plan to assemble a European design and engineering team to conceive a range of models for Europe. Boldly, they challenged the VW Golf and Ford Focus head on, building cars that looked as good and worked as well – and offering them with a far longer warranty, just for good measure.

“They began to acquire a reputation as the Eastern marques that would bring forth bold design concepts, much as Citroen has been doing in Europe, and they built separate factories for Hyundai and Kia in lower-cost Eastern Europe, servicing both operations from handily placed engine and gearbox plants,” he added.

The product of a merger in 1998, Hyundai-Kia currently dominate the Korean domestic car market with an 80 per cent share and this year became the world’s fifth largest car-maker, according to Automotive News in the US.

With plants in North America, China, Europe and other locations including Russia, the Middle East and South East Asia, Hyundai-Kia have climbed into the top ranks of the world’s biggest car companies in less than 50 years. Both companies began making automobiles in the 1960s and didn’t start exporting their products until the 1980s.

Kia currently builds its cee’d family and Sportage SUV models at its state-of-the-art factory in Zilina in the Slovak Republic and construction of a plant in Georgia, US is nearing completion.

President Nam-Yong Kim commented, “This recognition of the efforts of everyone within Hyundai and Kia is a great honour, coming from such a renowned publication as Autocar. This is a significant recognition of the determination of our Chairman, Mr. Mong-Koo Chung and all of our people to firmly put the Korean automotive industry on the global map.”

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Microsoft Corp. and Korea’s Institute for Information Technology Advancement (IITA) recently opened an IT Center to jointly develop new IT products and services for automotive application.

Kia Motors Corp. President Mr. Euisun Chung, Microsoft CEO Mr. Steve Ballmer and IITA President Mr. Sung-Ok Lee were joined by other government officials and corporate executives from Hyundai-Kia, Microsoft and other officials from the information technology industry held at Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG)’s headquarters in Seoul.

“The collaboration between the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group and Microsoft will have a great synergy effect that will significantly raise our businesses’ capabilities,” said Mr. Mong-Koo Chung, Chairman & CEO of HKAG. “In particular, the IT center, which will be a new platform of cooperation between private companies and the government, will serve as a role model for other industries.”

“Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group share a similar vision for the role that information technology will play in connecting people to information, communications, and entertainment while they are in their cars,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.

“We’re excited by the opportunities this new Automotive IT Innovation Center will create for Microsoft, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, and Institute for Information Technology to continue to work together to develop new innovations that will make the time that people spend in their cars more productive and enjoyable than ever before.”

Before the opening ceremony, Mr. Ballmer met Mong-Koo Chung, Chairman and CEO of HKAG, to discuss cooperation between the automobile and IT industries. Kia Motors’ Mr. Chung hosted the opening ceremony.

The jointly-formed Automotive IT Innovation Center (AIIC) will be located within HKAG’s new research facilities in Uiwang City, south of Seoul.  

Automotive IT Innovation Center 

The opening of the AIIC builds on the HKAG and Microsoft joint announcement made in May to cooperate on the development of the next generation of in-car infotainment systems.

The AIIC will focus on uncovering new IT technologies for automobiles by supporting research and development activities of small and medium IT companies based in Korea.  HKAG will provide the facilities and cars for technical testing and vehicle application, while Microsoft will assume responsibility for software development and launch into the global market.  IITA will extend financial support to eligible small and medium IT enterprises.  The Center will support about 20 companies a year for three years, helping the most promising candidates develop into global players in the automotive IT sector.

The technologies developed at AIIC are scheduled for gradual application in Kia cars beginning in the second half of 2010.  The IT center will focus on developing technologies such as auto telecommunication, telematics, navigation systems and Location Based Service (LBS), and improving the Human Machine Interface (HMI).

The IITA will provide as much as 200 million won per project in funding for outstanding small- and medium-sized companies, as well as working with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy to provide more policy support.  

Kia & Microsoft 

Kia and Microsoft entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems in May. The two companies agreed to deliver new and innovative solutions based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, bringing the future of in-car technology to Kia drivers worldwide.

The first product, a next-generation infotainment system that provides voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices, will be introduced in the North American market in 2010. It will further apply to Asian and European markets, and expand into multimedia and navigation devices. These easy-to-use infotainment systems will allow consumers to enjoy music in various digital formats.

Also, last month, Kia Motors announced that it is a global sponsor of RoboChamps 2008, Microsoft’s virtual-world robotics competition. The sponsorship is designed to encourage the nurturing of professionals specializing in intelligent, autonomous automotive technology as well as further research and interest in auto-IT convergence. For more information on RoboChamps, please visit www.robochamps.com. 

Being a responsible car driver is just as important as being a responsible car owner. Much like the human body, cars deserve tender loving care to ensure optimum performance, efficient operation and to prolong good health. By providing genuine Kia parts and professional after sales service, Kia customers can be assured of the continued smooth and efficient performance of their cars for years to come.

 “At Kia, we give our customers the peace of mind and confidence they deserve to enjoy the use of their Kia vehicles by ensuring the availability of genuine parts as well as having accessible and professional servicing network on hand,” explains Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) Chief Operating Officer, Felix J. Mabilog Jr. Being the sole manufacturer and distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, Mabilog says that CAC’s commitment to uphold the quality of the Kia brand is one of its primary responsibilities towards its customers. With genuine Kia parts and quality Kia service, each Kia customer can rely to receive genuine Kia Care.

Kia and CAC are encouraging its customers to buy and use only Kia genuine parts in their cars. By using original Kia parts, quality is assured because each authentic Kia part is manufactured to high specifications in order to guarantee top notch quality, maximum longevity and superior performance. Mabilog says, “Genuine Kia Parts won’t break or wear prematurely and this means less downtime, less expense and more time to enjoy your Kia on the road.”

Likewise, authorized Kia Service Centers are strategically located nationwide to give easy access to all Kia customers while providing expertly trained mechanics and service crew who can diagnose, maintain and repair their Kia vehicles. “Kia Service Specialists at our various dealerships are the best people to handle your investment,” says Mabilog. He reveals that they have been trained by Kia Motors to follow its high standards and procedures in assessing and maintaining Kia vehicles. Kia Service Specialists know how to work on the intricacies of high technology systems such as those found in each Kia vehicle assuring that customers receive genuine Kia care all the time. Columbian Autocar Corporation, Kia Distributor of the Year in the Asia-Pacific region, has 21 Authorized Service Centers located in various areas of the Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. CAC distributes, markets and services the Kia Picanto, Rio, Sportage, Sorento, Carens, Carnival and the K2700. For a complete list of authorized Kia dealerships and service centers, visit www.kia.com.ph.

]]> http://mykia.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/kia-wows-market-with-trade-up-deals/feed/ 0 tere kia-6x40-trade-up-deals-alien http://mykia.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/kia-announces-launch-of-soul/ http://mykia.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/kia-announces-launch-of-soul/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:57:42 +0000 tere http://mykia.wordpress.com/?p=21 ]]>

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.

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.

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.

With a powerful four-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine, the Sportage can produce a massive 305lb/ft of torque – a definite essential for towing. For added security on braking, the Sportage 4×4 comes with larger diameter disc brakes for stopping power.

Put through five days of exhaustive testing by towing experts, road-testers from What Car? magazine and members of the general towing public, the Sportage was able to see off all-comers to take home the sought after value title.

Yaser Shabsogh, sales Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said, “This accolade simply confirms what our dealers and customers have been telling us for quite some time – it is impossible to find a better package of ability, quality, reliability and value than the Sportage.”

The Sportage has been a very successful SUV addition to the Kia line-up as it exhibits quality and value, now becoming synonymous with the Kia brand. It has impressed anyone who thinks that you have to spend big bucks to get big ability.

The Kia Sportage is distributed in the Philippines by Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC). Visit your nearest authorized Kia dealership and experience the power of the Sportage now!