Novo Kia Soul é apresentado em Nova Iorque

A Kia apresentou em Nova Iorque o novo Soul. Que recebeu algumas alterações no visual e também na parte mecânica.

O destaque das modificações exteriores ficou por conta dos farois em LED que também são usados no Sportage e Picanto. O capo teve o desenho modificado juntamente com o friso lateral que acompanha o pára-choques.

Na parte mecânica a transmissão conta agora com versões manuais e automáticas de seis velocidades e motores de 1,6 litros com 135cv e 2 litros com 160 cavalos.

Novo Kia Sorento

Fonte Noticias Automotivas

Kia - Soul Ignition

Kia does an Audi for its 2011 all-new Optima/Magentis

A picture tells a thousand stories as the saying goes...what say you?

Driven: Naza (Kia) Forte 1.6SX

This is one car that's priced to sell for 2010 in Malaysia. Tagged at RM81,800 it is indeed a value buy for a C-segment saloon, priced even lower - but specified even higher! - than the popular B-segment sedan the ubiquitous Honda City 1.5. Indeed, it would have been even better if Naza-Kia had not crossed the psychological RM80,000 mark for this higher spec 'SX' version of their Forte 1.6.




My first interaction with the steering & throttle reminded me much of the new Mazda3 1.6. Not a bad thing since the handling and body control of that Mazda is much exemplary of its class. Ditto the interior, especially the Forte's instruments cluster. Nice. Without running through the extensive list of standard equipments, the two items that impressed me most is the electronic stability control/program which encompasses ABS + EBD, cornering brake control and traction control. The other feature being the rear view electro-chromatic mirror (auto-dimming) which is even a paying option for Porsche(s) the world over.

Of course, the metallic-rubber studded brake and gas pedals are a nice touch too. You can actually save a few bucks and hassle by not having to hop over to the nearest Brother's Car Accessories shop.






In the three days of testing, the Forte 1.6SX endears with its firm but pliant enough ride. Safe handling rules the day and the vehicle is very easy to live with, powering on with just adequate horses for a 1.6 family sedan.Rear passengers comfort are good, with a calm ride complemented by generous cabin space.

It's rather strange how a better spec version of a similar model can be more affable and convincing, even though the lesser 'sibling' 1.6EX have ABS, twin-airbags and a perfectly similar drivetrain. Perhaps it is the soft-touch inserts on the dashboard or the premium-looking 17" alloys. Or is it the chrome-plated door handles both inside and out? Whatever they may be, don't strike the Forte 1.6SX out prematurely from your car purchase shortlist - without a test drive - if you're in the market for a Nissan Latio sedan, Toyota Vios or Honda City. Yes, it's that good - surprisingly splendid for its class, size and price.

First Drive: Naza (KIA) Forte 1.6EX

The Koreans answer to the ever-popular B-segment - in Malaysia at least - is mighty impressive. And it's no less a C-segment sedan the dimensions of a Honda Civic!

Priced at a very competitive RM75,800 the base version, the new Naza Forte 1.6EX is unbeatable value-for-money. Of course, it has to wear the obligatory "NAZA" badges upfront and at the back, but it drives quite decently, has lots of space and even sports a very modern Teutonic design. It is after all, penned by Peter Shreyer, the very same guy who took Audi automotive designs to greater heights in the years before his migration over to Kia.

While I found it took time for me to settle down into the rather 'lumpy' seats at first, I guess the version most representative for the Forte range (for now at least, the 2.0 isn't available on Naza-Kia's media fleet yet) is the higher spec 1.6SX.

Excuse me for the many rather shabby pictures taken with my camera phone. I shall be writing in more details about the new Forte 1.6 after I have sampled the 'proper' 1.6SX version...

Imagens oficiais do novo Sportage

A Kia revela imagens da nova geração do Kia Sportage, que será apresentada no Salão de Genebra em março.

A nova geração do Sportage divide a plataforma com o Hyundai ix35/Tucson e ficou com uma aparência um pouco mais agressiva. A Kia não liberou ainda detalhes técnicos, porém há rumores de que o motor seja o 2.4 litros a gasolina e também a diesel e cambio manual ou automático ambos com 6 marchas.

'New' Naza (KIA) Picanto: only for the fairer sex?

With an unorthodox tagline like "Guys love cars, girls love Picanto" I found myself warming up to the new Picanto facelift model a little warm and fuzzy inside, perhaps even a tad blushy....or have I even gotten myself in touch with my feminine side? I know, I shudder at that thought too.





But truth be told, this Naza reabged Kia is pretty (no pun intended) decent. Though having to make do with just a tiny 1.1 litre 4-pot with old-tech port fuel injection, common distributor coil-to-spark-plug-cables spark ignition system and regular throttle cable for fuel metering, this little hatch feels quite peppy on the move from the word go (till about 100km/h). Decent enough for town driving. The chassis also felt surprisingly solid, while the liquid-filled dampers gives very pliant ride around the city and suburbs, where it intended range of commuting are mostly destined for. Of course, like its i1o cousin, uphill task can be a bit of a chore, after slowing down to pick up pace again.





I can't give you the fuel consumption figure since I had hardly burned off past the fuel tank's half way mark. Sorry about that. But I reckon it would be as economical as the Hyundai i10 since both are 'blood' cousins in more ways than one. Supermini these days also feels more well screwed/bolted together. Such a feeling of solidity on the road can be appreciated by way of nicer planted agility (granted, the suspension setting is still on the soft side) and somewhat tighter body control. Even the steering feels okay with a nice weighting to it. Inside, you don't even feel cramped like you do in an old Perodua Kancil anymore. Shoulder room and elbow room are acceptable here in the Picanto and I am no horse-riding jockey.


The Koreans have indeed come a long way. This 'new' Picanto is a potentially viable alternative to the rather pricey (relatively speaking, of course) 'local' Perodua Viva. For a fact, that was mainly why the Hyundai i10 walked away with NST-Maybank Car of the Year 2009 Award in the entry-level car category.


Interestingly, my wife initially liked this car for its affordability, being a brand new car with manufacturer's warranty, less worry about costly unscheduled maintenance et al. For those with no hang-ups about Korean automotive brand or badge snobbery issues, imagine paying off for this car in four, maybe five years instead of seven. And for whatever the residual's worth after that hire-purchase period, the average damage in depreciation is say, a more manageable RM5k per year? Kinda makes great food-for-thought, financially speaking, yes?



Back to my better half again, she subsequently complained of lack of power after the few days of joint sampling of this tester, and also of bumpier ride than her Mitsu Colt Ralliart. Hmmm....so "Girls love Picanto"? Probably not all girls, especially women...



Related posts:
Perodua Viva Elite
Driven: Hyundai i10

Kia KCV 4 Pick Up

Kia revela esboço de novo modelo esportivo

A Kia revelou na ultima sexta-feira, em uma conferência de design na Coreia do Sul, o esboço do futuro modelo de luxo com linhas esportivas.

O modelo, foi apresentado com o nome código K9, marcará a entrada da marca sul-coreana nos modelos de luxo e deverá ser desenvolvido sobre a plataforma do futuro modelo de luxo da Hyundai, conhecido internamente como BH.

Ambos têm lançamento agendado para 2011 e deverão contar com tração traseira e motores de seis e oito cilindros, a gasolina e diesel.

Novo Kia Cerato

O novo Kia Cerato (também conhecido como Forte em alguns paises) chaga as revendas a partir do dia 22 de agosto.


Ele vai disputar mercado com Citroën C4 Pallas, Peugeot 307 Sedan, Renault Megane, Fiat Linea, VW Bora, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla e Honda Civic, etc.

A versão de entrada do Cerato terá o preço sugerido de de 49.900 reais, e vem com câmbio manual, direção hidráulica, travamento central, vidros e retrovisores elétricos, airbag duplo, computador de bordo, rodas de liga leve aro 15’, conexão para iPod, entrada auxiliar e USB, controle remoto de rádio no volante, keyless com alarme, ar-condicionado manual e motor 1.6, de 126 cavalos.

Kia Picanto com visual mais esportivo

A Kia apresentou o novo modelo do Picanto, na Coreia do Sul.

O Morning, como Picanto é chamado por, lá ficou com uma aparência mais moderna e agressiva, teve alguns itens estéticos repaginados. Os faróis tem um desenho diferente, a grade frontal tem novo desenho, conjunto óptico com fundo escuro e novos pára-choques e novas saias laterais.

O interior ganhou materiais de melhor qualidade e uma nova combinação de cores para os revestimentos e painel de instrumentos, além de um novo volante.

E ainda foi incluído uma câmera na traseira, que mostra as imagens no espelho interno, como acontece com o Soul.

O Kia Picanto é comercializado no mercado sul-coreano com duas variantes do motor 1.0 a gasolina; uma versão de entrada com 67 cavalos e uma mais potente, com 72 cavalos de potência.

No Brasil, o Kia Picanto é vendido por R$ 35.900 na versão equipada com motor 1.0 de 61 cv e por R$ 40.900 na versão equipada com motor 1.1 de 64cv. Como o modelo vendido aqui no Brasil também é importado da Coréia, esta versão atualizada também deve ser comercializada no mercado nacional, porém não há previsão.