Kia Canada surprises Montreal Auto Show with Track’ster Concept Vehicle

- Canadian debut of high-performance Soul-based concept - Aggressive design, all-wheel drive and 250 horsepower make for a weekend driver’s dream MONTREAL, Jan. 17, 2013 – Today Kia Canada Inc. took the wraps off of the track-inspired Track’ster concept vehicle for its Canadian premier at the Montreal Auto Show – a region which has a strong automotive enthusiast following. The performance-oriented three-door Soul coupe concept hints at what could possibly be the future design language of Kia’s popular Soul Urban Utility Vehicle, a redesign to be launched later this year. “The idea was to make the Track’ster tough looking, like a bulldog,” explained Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia Motors America, leading the charge for the concept’s development. “But the car had to be approachable as well. We wanted to base the car in reality so people instantly knew it was a Soul, but with a lot of attitude. It had to be a bold interpretation that would change people’s conceptions of what a sporty Kia Soul could be.” Striking Exterior Design: The Track’ster displays an energized attitude, beginning with its eye-catching Whiteout and Inferno Orange exterior paint. The orange paint acts as a contrast on the white, accentuating the sportiness of the Track’ster as the shadows of the white paint draw out the aggressive nature of the concept. Lightweight carbon fibre surrounds Kia’s signature grille, incorporating yet another aspect directly related to racing into the exterior appeal. Integrated headlights, featuring compelling LEDs pronounce the race presence strongly from the front, as do the billet aluminum surrounded LED round fog lights, which play off the trapezoidal features found throughout the concept. Embraced between the fog lights is an oversized lower intake grille, capable of cooling the engine bay even under the most grueling driving conditions. The menacing front end is completed with a lower valance, trimmed in carbon fibre and Inferno Orange paint, riding just inches off the ground. Aggressive front fender flares with custom HRE-K1 monoblock billet performance wheels tucked beneath each corner. The wheels are wrapped in 245/40-19-inch front and massive 285/35-19-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 high-performance tires. The wheelbase on the concept is stretched to 2,570 mm, 20 mm more than the production Soul. As expected on a vehicle with the Track'ster's performance intentions, large 355 mm Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes are embraced by six-piston calipers in the front and 345 mm discs are paired with four-piston calipers at the rear. The Soul’s iconic angled roof carries forward on the Track’ster, however, on closer inspection Soul fans will notice that the concept has gone way with the rear doors. The front doors have been extended and decked with billet push-style handles, echoing the other billet aluminum finishes on the exterior. Similar in style to the lower front valance with Inferno Orange accenting, carbon fibre lower side valances incorporate functional rear-brake cooling ducts. Spirited Powertrain: With a look and name such as Track’ster, it is clear that performance is the concept vehicles top priority. A 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine pumps out 250 horsepower to the pavement, a 66 per cent increase over a production Soul. An electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system connects the power to the road, while a short-throw 6-speed manual transmission, fitted with a racing inspired spherical shift lever gives the driver ultimate control. The Track’ster is lowered on sport suspension tuned specifically for track performance. Go-fast Interior: Opening the driver’s door reveals details that continue from the exterior into the light and airy interior. The Inferno Orange colour finds itself on the deeply bolstered suede-covered racing seats. Granite Gray leather surrounds the entire interior landscape, providing a feeling of strength and stability. Granite Gray suede wraps the sport steering wheel and door panels as well. The instrument cluster glows in a deep red, housing the primary information in a large and easily readable manner. Auxiliary vehicle information is found atop the centre dash panel, while navigation, entertainment and HVAC controls are accessed through a large touch-screen located above the push-button Start/Stop. Behind the front seats is where the Track'ster takes a leap away from Soul similarities. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a fully integrated equipment tray and spare-tire well. Large paneled bins stow racing gear such as helmets, suits, gloves and tools while emergency supplies are housed within a separate and highly visible Inferno Orange container. A custom rear strut brace incorporates a quick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes. The Kia Track’ster will be on display at Kia Canada’s Montreal International Auto Show pavilion from January 18 – 27, 2013, at the Palais des congrès de Montrèal, level 7. ### Kia Canada Inc. (www.kia.ca – www.facebook.com/kiacanada) a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) which was founded in 1999 and sells and services high quality, class leading vehicles like the Soul, Forte, Optima and Sorento through a network of 180 dealers nationwide. Kia Canada Inc. employs 161 people in its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters and four regional offices across Canada, with an all-new state-of-the-art facility to open in Montreal shortly. Kia’s brand slogan "The Power to Surprise" represents the company's global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting & inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.

Kia Optima Hybrid Gets a True Winnipeg Winter Test

Anytime I mention the Kia Optima Hybrid to customers they ask the same question, “How do they work in winter?” In order to answer this question I took a Kia Hybrid on an extended 2 day demonstration. Lots of people write about how the Kia Hybrid operates in winter in places like Vancouver, or Chicago, but Winnipeggers will only trust a true Winnipeg test so now we are giving it the true Winnipeg in January test. By the way average Winnipeg temperature in January is between -23 and -13 degrees C. The Kia Optima Hybrid that I drove was a 2012 hybrid that carried a MSRP of $30,895 plus freight, fees and taxes. Currently at time of writing Kia is showing a $3400 rebate on this vehicle which brings it level with its non hybrid counterpart.

When I was given the keys to this vehicle, it was 6pm at night, so it was dark already. The car was parked in the back lot where it had been sitting unused for the last 30 days or so. It was a cold January evening (-18 degrees C) and the car was sitting under 6 inches of snow and parked behind a plow windrow that was 8 inches high. After clearing the windshield and the driver's door I hopped in and pushed the quick start button. It started up right away and the seat quickly adjusted to the preset position. I let it warm up for a minute while I brushed the rest of the snow away from the top of the vehicle. When I hopped back in the vehicle I turned off the traction control and spun my way out of the snow that I was parked in. I drove the car up to the building and put a license plate on it. When I returned to the car it had already heated up. This was much quicker than I had expected and I was impressed. The number one thing that customers want to know when dealing with a hybrid is what is the fuel economy. Will it save enough fuel to pay for itself? The second is how long will the battery last and how much will it cost to replace it? Let me address the second point first. Kia Canada has put a 96 month 160,000 km limited warranty on the entire hybrid system. So if your battery fails within the first 8 years or 160,000 km it will be covered. This will mean that for the majority of consumers, battery life, and replacement value are non-issues.

Kia Optima Hybrid is in the Guiness Book of World records for “Lowest fuel consumption, 48 U.S. states: gasoline hybrid car” verified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator. In this display they achieved an average of 3.3l/100km. The one thing that we find in Winnipeg in January driving through the heart of the city is that you can throw energuide ratings out the window. No matter what vehicle you drive, ratings will actually be about 75% of actual gas mileage. Others may argue this but with my driving style and vehicle use I generally find these numbers are accurate no matter what vehicle I drive. This was true with the Optima Hybrid. Energuide ratings for this vehicle are 5.8 l/100km for city driving. Energuide ratings for the non-hybrid Optima are 8.6l/100km. The true mileage that I found for these two vehicles under this condition were 8.1 for the Hybrid and 11.7 for the GDI Optima. The Optima Hybrid still saves considerable fuel in Winnipeg in winter over its non-hybrid brother. One disclaimer though is that the vehicle did not run as an electric vehicle until about 17km into the trip so it was sitting between 11 and 12 l/100km until the last km in which it started running completely off the EV and average gas consumption plummeted. So for those who ask the question if the Hybrid will pay for itself , in this application the answer is resoundingly yes. Current rebates on the Hybrid make this vehicle priced about the same as the Optima EX. Therefore, costs of purchasing are approximately the same regardless whether you choose Hybrid or Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). If the vehicle is driven 100,000km with this difference in fuel consumption, the savings will amount to $3780. This number is based on fuel at $1.05/litre. Savings will be greater at a higher gas price. Remember that this is based on winter driving alone. This will increase for anyone who commutes more than 20km per trip. As stated the EV motor started running after 17 km so gas mileage started to improve considerably. At the other end of the spectrum, if you are using your car just to go to the store and get a loaf of bread, you may not notice any winter savings. I will note that while driving the Hybrid in summer, I was running on full EV by the time I went around the block. So for all those that ask me if a Hybrid can stand up to our Winnipeg winters I will say “definitely”. It cold weather started after a long sit, it handled well on snow covered roads, it saved fuel over the long run, and it is priced competitively with the non-hybrid version.

Whether You are a Gas Miser or a Hot Hatch Driver, Rio is the One For You

Whether You are a Gas Miser or a Hot Hatch Driver, Rio is the One For You

This weekend I took a Rio for the day and experienced this vehicle in a number of situations. First of course was the drive home on Friday night. Everyone who looks at the Rio asks me what they can expect for gas mileage. The energuide ratings for the Rio says that it gets 6.8 l/100km (41.5mpg) city and 4.9 l/100km(57.6mpg) hwy. I drove the vehicle through the city on routes with speed limits varying from 50km/hr to 80 km/hr. I was able to keep moving forward and did not spend an unusual amount of time sitting at red lights or train crossings and with the active eco engaged I had an overall mileage of 6.0L/100km which translates to 47 mpg. Not bad for a city drive! The Rio’s Active Eco works by using the cars computer to alter the shifting pattern to maximize fuel economy. If you are looking for hot performance from your Rio, turn the Active Eco off and slip the car from Drive into the Steptronic 6 speed shifting gate. Your automatic transmission now operates like a manual with a clutchless slap stick shifter. Using this method allows you to control when the gears shift allowing the vehicle to climb in RPMs before shifting to the next gear. The difference is dramatic as the car hits maximum torque at 4850 RPM, an engine speed it never reaches on Active Eco mode. The next morning I drove the Rio the 20km or so back to the dealership. This time I left the Active Eco off and used the steptronic shifter. On each shift I let the RPMs climb a little higher than the vehicle had let it get on Active Eco and noticed a considerable difference in performance. The Rio felt like a sports car compared to the Active Eco version I had driven the night before. How did the mileage compare? For the same drive in reverse, the vehicle clocked a 7.5l/100km average. This translates to a 38mpg city drive. For my 20km drive I used .3l more fuel or 36 cents more fuel at current prices. Overall the Active Eco vs Steptronic debate has already been won as 95% of drivers will never use the manual aspect of the steptronic shifter and therefore save themselves a further $90 per year in fuel. So if the wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner etc says they need a vehicle that is top notch in fuel economy vs your desire for a sportscar, Let the Steptronic shifter in the Rio be our little secret.

ROAD TEST ~ 2010 KIA BORREGO

ROAD TEST ~ 2010 KIA BORREGO

It may be the right truck at the wrong time. That statement could very well sum up the fate of Kia's mid-size Borrego SUV that arrived on the market in late 2008 as a 2009 model. Of course, that was just the time that auto sales began to tank with mid-size SUVs leading the nosedive thanks in part to a run-up in fuel prices. Often when a manufacturer is late to the party with a vehicle it works in their favour, allowing them to take the best features of the leading contenders and use them as benchmarks for their new model. That should have been the case for Kia with the Borrego, which in itself is a solid, well-built vehicle. The problem for Kia is that people aren't buying mid-size seven-passenger SUVs in the same numbers these days. Smaller crossovers (SUVs based on a car platform) have now taken over a big chunk of that market. The boxier, truck-style SUVs like the Borrego are much less in demand. But for those who still need a vehicle that can carry up to seven passengers and has lots of cargo room, the Borrego is a nice alternative to SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Hyundai Veracruz. The Borrego is available with two engine choices, a 276 hp 3.8-litre V6 or a 337 hp 4.6-litre V8. Both are available in LX and EX trim levels with a 4x4 system standard across the board. Prices start at $37,395 for the V6 LX, jumping to $41,395 for the V6 EX. The V8 LX starts at $39,895 and the V8 EX is $44,395. Add on a destination and delivery charge of $1,650 and a gas-guzzler tax of $200 for the V6 and $400 for the V8 (in Ontario only). The Borrego is a vehicle that should appeal to cottage-goers and drivers who pull a boat or travel trailer. It has off-road capability with a ground clearance of 217 mm (8.5 in) and the 3.8-litre V6 engine has a towing capacity of 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), while the 4.6-litre V8 will haul 3,402 kg (7,500 lb). Make no mistake, though, this is a big, heavy truck weighing 2,750 kg (6,063 lb) with the V6 and 2,800 kg (6,173 lb) with the V8. As a result of this weight, fuel economy is not the best, with a highway rating of 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) and 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city for the V6. The V8 is rated at 9.7L/100 km (29) highway and 14.4L/100 km (20) city. Both run on regular unleaded fuel. During my time with the Borrego I averaged just over 14L/100 km. My tester was a V6 EX model that has a full time torque-on-demand 4x4 system (the LX features a part-time 4x4 system), mated with a five-speed automatic transmission. A dial on the dash allows you to lock into 4Low or 4High depending upon the conditions. It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels and has dual automatic climate control, leather seats and trim, power driver's seat, auto dimming rear view mirror, electric tilt/telescopic steering column, driver's seat integrated memory system, power tilt and sliding sunroof, fog lights and various exterior chrome garnishes. Safety features included four-wheel anti-lock (ABS) brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, six airbags, downhill assist control and hill assent control. From a styling standpoint, I don't feel the Borrego breaks any new ground. It looks much like so many other truck-based SUVs. It is not unattractive, but it just doesn't stand out from the crowd. As for the interior, it is nicely finished with materials that appear to be more upscale than you normally find in a Kia. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the heating feature on the seats was sure nice on cool mornings. All the knobs and switches seemed easy to access on the dash. During my week with the Borrego, the V6 showed plenty of power for all driving situations, so much so that unless you are using the Borrego as a tow vehicle, there would be no need for the V8. On the highway, the ride was fairly smooth and comfortable but on pothole-plagued secondary roads, the stiff suspension produced a bouncy, noisy ride that at times made you feel you were on a bucking bronco. Overall though, it's an easy SUV to drive and I found myself at home in it almost immediately when I got behind the wheel. I drive a lot of vehicles and often you can never find the "sweet spot" as far as driving comfort is concerned. The Borrego does a lot of things well and is an impressive entry for Kia into the midsize SUV class. But, timing is everything and it may have arrived at the wrong time in automotive history to make much of a dent in the marketplace. BODY STYLE: midsize SUV. DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel drive. ENGINE: 3.8-litre V6 (276 hp, 267 lb/ft) with five-speed automatic transmission; 4.6-litre V8 (337 hp, 323 lb/ft) with six-speed automatic transmission. FUEL ECONOMY: 3.8-litre 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city, 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) highway; 4.6-litre 14.4L/100 km (20 mpg) city, 9.7L/100 km (29 mpg) highway. PRICE: 3.8L LX V6 $37,395, 3.8L EX V6 $41,395, 4.6L LX V8 $39,895, 4.6L EX V8 $44,395. Posted by Formula Publications Team at 01:18:09 PM

Rio5

Review: 2011 Kia Rondo simply does its job

as published on http://www.wheels.ca/Reviews/article/794147

JIL McINTOSH/FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The interior of the Rondo is simple and functional. Those three large dials on the centre stack control the interior climate.

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SPECIAL TO THE STAR  JIL MCINTOSH

New-and-flashy is what makes the headlines, but when it comes to finding the right vehicle for the job, a model that’s been soldiering on for awhile may be the one for you.

The Kia Rondo, for instance, has been out since 2007 and hasn’t had any major overhauls since then. But depending on your needs, it can still be a great alternative to a compact SUV or even a minivan.

Each December the Wheels editor asks the auto reviewers to select the best car driven that year. Rondo was my choice for 2007, primarily because of its functionality. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m still just as impressed with it today.JIL MCINTOSH

American buyers didn’t flock to it — they only seem to like liftgates when they’re attached to giant SUVs — and it’s out of Kia’s lineup there. But the 2011 is now on sale in Canada and the company confirms that it will continue here for 2012.

Two engines are available. There’s a 2.4 L four-cylinder with four-speed automatic, which ranges from $19,995 for the base LX trim ($20,995 if you want air conditioning) to $25,095 for the EX Premium.

My tester had the 2.7 L V6, which comes with a five-speed automatic.

The base trim line for the V6 is the EX, which starts at $23,895; the V6 climbs to $28,195 for the EX Luxury with a navigation system.

Both the four-cylinder and V6 start with five-seat capacity, as my tester did, and can be optioned with a third row to carry up to seven passengers.

Having crawled into those seats on another Rondo, I found it isn’t as cramped as you’d expect for a car this small. And for those who only occasionally fill up all three rows, it could easily take the place of a minivan.

On five-passenger models, the rear space includes two deep storage compartments under the cargo floor, each with its own cover. When the second-row seats are up, the cargo space is 90 cm long. Fold them, and you have a completely flat storage space that’s 170 cm long.

All models include six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and active front head restraints, which help reduce whiplash in a collision. As well, there are power windows, locks and mirrors, USB and iPod connector, Bluetooth, and a warranty that covers pretty much everything for five years or 100,000 km.

Other than the $150 extra-charge paint colour on my car, Kia increases features by trim line rather than offering individual options.

My EX tester included air conditioning, heated mirrors, a de-icer for the windshield wipers, heated seats, cruise control and keyless entry.

Moving up to the Premium and Luxury trim lines, Kia throws in such items as automatic climate control, sunroof, leather chairs, backup camera and navigation system.

The Rondo isn’t a pretty car, but its tall roof gives it considerable headroom, while the large windows provide good all-around visibility. Despite its height, it doesn’t feel tippy around corners.

The V6 can get growly when called on for hard acceleration, but it’s a gutsy little engine that offers plenty of power when needed for passing on the highway. The bigger engine is probably a better idea if you’re planning on filling it with passengers or cargo regularly, and the difference isn’t all that much. The V6 EX is $1,100 more than the four-cylinder EX, and Natural Resources estimates that the six-cylinder adds only $126 a year in fuel costs.

The steering is light and it’s easy to manoeuvre, especially in tight parking lots, where its smaller footprint is an advantage over larger minivans and SUVs.

While its handling is smooth and responsive, it’s not a sports car and doesn’t pretend to be, and that’s what I like about it. It’s just a practical urban vehicle that does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

The interior is simple and functional as well.

Climate is handled through three large dials that have a solid, good-quality feel to them. The EX’s heated seats are operated by buttons that stay on once they’re pressed, so that if you’re running errands on icy days, you don’t have to keep hitting them each time you start the car.

The stereo is equally easy to operate, and all controls are backlit for quick identification at night.

Cross-shopping the Rondo isn’t easy, as few competitors can match that available seven-seat configuration in such a compact package. The Mazda5, redesigned for 2012, comes closest, especially since its six-passenger seating is probably more realistic in a vehicle this size. The Mazda starts at $22,995 with an optional automatic transmission, but it only comes with a four-cylinder engine.

The Rondo is one of the few “crossover” vehicles that’s really deserving of the name, able to do double duty as a car, minivan or SUV for many people.

It isn’t fancy and, frankly, it doesn’t feel all that sophisticated. Instead, it just gets the job done, and sometimes that’s all you want or need.

jil@inter.net

Kia Charges Out of the Wilderness - Winnipeg Free Press

Design guru Peter Schreyer takes automaker forward

By: Graeme Fletcher

Updated: April 13, 2012

Enlarge Image

Kia designer Peter Schreyer at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

GENEVA -- Kia has been on a tear, boasting enormous sales gains for the past 38 months. That rapid growth is due not only the company's new-found style but to the mechanicals beneath the sheet metal.
The stylistic charge is being led by Peter Schreyer, Kia's chief design officer, while Joachim Hahn, manager of powertrain engineering design and testing in Europe, is spearheading the powertrain revolution.
Design is all about proportion and the ability to evolve a company's look to keep it fresh, says Schreyer.
"You cannot sit on your butt and say it is good enough. Design is an ongoing process that involves learning and thinking."
This aspect of Schreyer's philosophy can be found in Kia's signature grille. Once dubbed the "tiger nose," it has evolved with each new vehicle. The latest iteration debuted on the oddly named but stylistically imbued Cee'd shown at last month's Geneva Motor Show.
Schreyer is tough on those who talk about design language.
"Talking about some crease lines that are on the body side, going up and down, is not design language, it is a cosmetic excuse for not getting the proper proportions in the first place and developing a clear architecture for a car. The basics were not right in the first place."
Regardless of what you call it, Schreyer has succeeded in leading a once stylistically moribund company out of the wilderness and into the promised land, where the accolades flow. Under his guidance, Kia has picked up a cabinet's worth of hardware -- specifically a number of prestigious Red Dot design awards.
The award dates back to 1955 and is one of the world's largest and most distinguished design competitions. In 2012, 1,800 large companies and independent designers from 58 countries sent more than 4,500 submissions to the product design category (there are a total of 19 categories).
This year, Kia's subcompact Picanto and recently released Rio were awarded Red Dots, bringing the company's total to seven. The Soul won in 2009, the European Venga mini-minivan in 2010, while the Sportage and Optima claimed top spots in 2011. The Optima also went on to be... more Kia charges out of wilderness - Winnipeg Free Press Autos