autoMedia Auto News Blog : Kia

Sneak peek: 2011 Kia Amanti

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:28:00 GMT

Kia unveiled its all-new K7 sedan in Korea today, offering the world a sneak peek at a car known as Cadenza in the Middle East and Amanti in North America. The current-generation has been sold around the globe for a decade, and it is more than ripe for replacement. Just one look at the styling reveals a serious product about to be unleashed. The new car is slightly shorter than the current model, though rides on a longer wheelbase. Within the more space-efficient package is an abundance of creature comforts, with dual-zone climate control, push-button start, rearview camera, and parking sensors being among the announced features. Kia has announced a 3.5-liter Lambda II V6, though it would seem a natural to also offer the upcoming direct-injection Theta II four-cylinder engine that parent corporation Hyundai has described as being essential to its fuel economy efforts. We expect to see this future Amanti on the auto show circuit this season. Read our last Kia Amanti review ....(read more)

autoMedia CARnival 11-06-09: This week in Auto Blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT

It's the week ending November 6, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather the highlights from each. ...(read more)

2011 Kia Sorento – Larger, More HP

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:38:00 GMT

The 2011 Kia Sorento follows its competitors into the car-based crossover market, leaving behind its rear-drive heritage that made it entertaining in the dirt. The new Sorento is longer and wider than the model it replaces, opening space to accommodate three rows of passengers, while offering more head and legroom.

The larger vehicle steps it up with packaging, with an AM/FM/Sirius/CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary and USB audio input jacks and Bluetooth connectivity. Available push button-start ignition, voice-activated navigation, rear sonar and back-up camera, and air ionization purification technology will help position the Sorento above the Sportage.

Two engines will be offered: a 2.4-liter, 172-horsepower four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter, 273-horsepower V-6. Both mills will be matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, and available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. These powerplants and size should give the Sorento an edge over the sales-leading Honda CR-V and position it well against the popular Toyota RAV4.

The Sorento will be the first vehicle built at the new West Point, Georgia, factory. The 2011 Sorento goes on sale in January 2010.

Read our review of the current Kia Sorento. Research Kias in the new car buyer’s guide.

August Auto Sales Show Shopping Success

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:40:00 GMT

By all the reports we've seen from the Department of Transportation and other automotive blogs, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was "wildly successful" at driving consumers towards dealerships. With nearly 700,000 vehicle transactions utilizing "Cash for Clunkers" trade-ins, not to mention standard purchases that didn't include the government-subsidized rebates, it's clear that manufacturers benefited from a giant sales infusion during the month of August.

When comparing sales figures for August 2009 against August 2008, Ford was the most successful American manufacturer with an increase of 16.99 percent (182,149 units sold) for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for just the Ford brand itself. Toyota Motor Company and American Honda were up 6.41 (225,088) and 9.93 (161,439) percent respectively. Unfortunately, even with the incentives, some manufacturers still sold fewer cars than they did a year ago, notably Nissan North America was down 2.93 percent (105,312 units sold), Chrysler was down 15.43 percent (93,222), and General Motors was down 20.19 percent (246,479) from a year ago. (Many thanks to John Neff at AutoBlog for his monthly sales report, from which these figures are derived.)

However, if you compare these figures to the sales reports from last month or even the month before, the impact of the CARS program becomes much more apparent (see chart below). Even though the percentages of sales only look good for a few of the manufacturers when comparing July 2008 to July 2009, watch what happens when you compare August 2009 to July 2009 and June 2009: Everybody wins with sales increases ranging from 17.37 percent for Ford, 36.50 percent for Chrysler, and 39.59 percent for General Motors all the way up to an increase of 60.76 percent for Honda, 70.97 percent for Toyota, and a whopping 80.64 percent for Nissan from over two months ago.

Ironically, while DOT Cash for Clunker reports make it look as if the imports were the biggest winners in the C4C transactions, a report at AutoBlog says that "Ford came out as the clear winner in the Top Ten list," based on additional analysis by Edmunds.com. According to their story, "Ford captured three of the top four positions. The Toyota Corolla, which is at the top of the government's list, falls to number five on Edmunds' list behind the F-150, which didn't even make the government's Top Ten. The Chevy Silverado didn't make the government's Top Ten either, but it's number eight with Edmunds."

As far as getting a clear cut answer from all of this, Mark Twain summed it up well when he said: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." A skilled analyst can make a list of numbers demonstrate anything he wants it to show, but one thing is certainly clear: auto sales for all manufacturers have shown a definite trend upwards in the past few months, and as a result of the additional demand, many manufacturers have increased their production schedules and have brought back some employees who had been laid off in recent months.

It will be interesting to see what the next few months show!

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Brand	August 2008	August 2009	Increased Volume % over one year ago	July 2009	Increased Volume % over one month ago	June 2009	Increased Volume % over two months ago
American Honda	146,855	161,439	9.93	114,690	40.76	100,420	60.76
Chrysler Group LLC	110,235	93,222	-15.43	88,900	4.86	68,297	36.50
Ford Motor Company	155,690	182,149	16.99	165,279	10.21	155,195	17.37
General Motors	308,817	246,479	-20.19	189,443	30.11	176,571	39.59
Hyundai	41,130	60,467	47.01	45,553	32.74	37,943	59.36
Kia	25,065	40,198	60.38	29,345	36.98	26,845	49.74
Nissan North America	108,493	105,312	-2.93	71,847	46.58	58,298	80.64
Subaru	18,932	28,683	51.51	21,839	31.34	18,620	54.04
Toyota Mo Co	211,533	225,088	6.41	174,872	28.72	131,654	70.97

autoMedia CARnival 7-31-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:44:00 GMT

It's the week ending July 31, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. The biggest news was the implementation and nearly immediate suspension of Obama's Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program.

It took less than a week, but reports indicate CARS may have already burned through its billion dollar funding. Passed at the beginning of the month and officially set into motion on Monday, a brief story published last night at AutoBlog indicates that nearly 23,000 cars have already been sold. According to AutoSpies, when shoppers heard that the program could be stalled so the feds could reconcile the backlog of sales and trade-ins, last-minute buyers crawled out of the woodwork to take advantage of last-minute sales opportunities. As explained at Edmunds Auto Observer, however, a great concern to dealers is the that they must destroy the clunkers and provide proof they have been destroyed before they can even apply for the government voucher. If the money runs out, the dealers must honor the deal without receiving the reimbursement.

AutoblogGreen says compressed natural gas-powered vehicles are the invisible children of the green car scene in the U.S. While there are nearly 10 million natural gas vehicles in the world they're not common on American roads. This week's Greenlings column gives the scoop on CNG vehicles in America.

Oh yes, we know that cars are a part of American culture. We grow up in them, live in them, love them, but like the culture they reflect, cars change over time. Jalopnik shares a photo gallery of ten things you experienced your kids probably won't.

After being previewed by a trio of concept cars over the last two years, not to mention being the subject of numerous spy photos in the Southwestern United States and on Germany's Nuerburgring, Suzuki's Kizashi has finally been officially introduced. According to LeftLaneNews, the midsize Kizashi will begin arriving in showrooms this winter in North America. You can get a sneak peek of the Suzuki Kizashi here at autoMedia.com.

It seems we've seen no shortage of crashed Camaro pix in the news lately. Unfortunately, this popular ponycar seems ripe for the wrecking, as demonstrated by video reporting the first crash of a New Camaro in April at Jalopnik and these photos recently published at BangShift after some ~~dumb kid~~ neophyte driver put down nearly 400 feet of rubber and then smashed his dad's '69 Camaro into the neighbor's front yard. Old or new, the car carnage is equally sad, totaling nearly $30k in damages for this young driver.

Haha! Consumers might love those rock-and-rolling Kia hamsters, but apparently, Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing for Kia USA, told BNET Auto "We didn't want the hamsters to become the spokesperson for our brand. We wanted to be a more serious brand." As a result, allcarsallthetime reports the only hamsters you'll be seeing in advertising for Kia's new Forte sedan are the ones that customers have chosen to transport themselves. See how the Kia Soul compares against the Nissan Cube and Scion xB here at autoMedia.com.

Are you a gamer? Then you'll appreciate this report from Motor Trend, which declares when "Gran Turismo" for the PSP hits shelves in October, 638-hp of uncompromised Detroit muscle will be its focus. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the star of the cover, a decision made by creator Kazunori Yamauchi to show his support for the U.S. auto industry. They interview Yamauchi about the game, the domestic auto industry, and his view of the automobile's future.

HybridCars asks what fuel-economy numbers will look like on the window stickers of electric vehicles coming to the US market next year: Trying to find the answer could short-circuit your brain, as consumers must learn a new system for evaluating the efficiency of cars that use little or no gasoline, especially since a consistent system hasn't yet been fully developed.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Special Edition: 2010 Kia Soul Denim

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Kia injected some much-needed personality into its lineup with the funky, Scion-fighting Soul. (Read the full Kia Soul preview.) Without skipping a beat, the Korean automaker is bringing out its first special edition model, dubbed Denim Soul. The name reminds of a certain Levi jeans partnership that resulted in a memorable AMC Gremlin with denim upholstery. Not to worry, Kia has just played off the name for a blue with white cosmetic treatment.

A blue-jean body color is offset by white side-view mirrors with matching white 18-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and a single white racing stripe. The Denim Soul is based on the Soul+ model, which includes cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and dual 12-volt power outlets. In addition, the Denim features a hamster-pleasing Audio Upgrade Package (center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier, and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music), an iPod connection cable and steering wheel controls, moonroof, and fog lights.

Denim Soul pricing starts at $17,300 with a five-speed manual transmission and $18,250 with an automatic.

See how the Kia Soul compares against the Nissan Cube and Scion xB.

IIHS Report: Small Cars Can Be Costly to Repair

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:13:00 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals that small cars may save on purchase price and fuel, but there is a real reason why their insurance premiums aren’t also tiny—accidents cause significant damage and consequently injury risk. In its latest test-based report, the IIHS found that none of seven small cars rated “good” under a new system to evaluate repair costs necessitated by low-speed impacts, putting a dollar value on common accident scenarios. (Learn how the IIHS conducts crash tests on new cars.)

These are the first bumper test results released under a new Institute ratings protocol that's based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns. The new ratings protocol represents the common damage that insurance claims centers process daily, and it is based on four bumper tests representing full-width and corner crashes at low speeds. Weighted average repairs must be less than $500 for a good rating, less than $1,000 for acceptable, and less than $1,500 for marginal. Repairs of $1,500 or more earn bumpers a poor rating.

With the rules established, the tests identified the Kia Rio as the worst performer with $9,380 total damage, earning it a poor rating. The Rio's repair bill is worse than those of most other small and midsize cars and minivans the Institute has tested. This minicar racked up about $3,700 damage, or 30 percent of its purchase price, in the full-front test alone. The Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, and Mini Cooper also earn poor ratings for bumper performance.

The Smart Fortwo is best overall, with $3,281 total damage in four tests. Costs are relatively low for this microcar because its prepainted plastic body panels are dent-resistant, inexpensive, and easy to replace. The Chevrolet Aveo, a minicar, is next best, with $4,490 total damage.

Bumper performance in low-speed crash tests: VEHICLE REPAIR COSTS
	Rating	Front full	Front corner	Rear full	Rear corner	WEIGHTED AVERAGE
Smart Fortwo	ACCEPTABLE	$1,480	$663	$631	$507	$899
Chevrolet Aveo	MARGINAL	$1,071	$1,437	$1,370	$612	$1,155
Mini Cooper	POOR	$2,291	$2,637	$929	$743	$1,637
Toyota Yaris	POOR	$1,688	$1,167	$3,345	$474	$1,951
Honda Fit	POOR	$1,124	$1,216	$3,648	$999	$1,960
Hyundai Accent	POOR	$3,476	$839	$2,057	$831	$2,123
Kia Rio	POOR	$3,701	$1,758	$3,148	$773	$2,705

"You should be able to drive your car home after a low-speed crash, but too often vehicles are sidelined by only minor impacts," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan. "Damage to sheet metal, air-conditioning condensers, and safety equipment like headlights should never happen when your car is bumped at just three to six miles an hour. Bad bumpers add up to one big headache for consumers."

Any accident can be expensive, inconvenient, and dangerous. Safety should play a key role in choosing your next vehicle, placing special emphasis on crash-test performance and key equipment: ABS, side and side-curtain airbags, and stability control. (This information is available in the autoMedia buyer's guide.) Repair cost is an interest consideration, though more difficult to compare.The IIHS does have some data available on vehicles, separated by class. (See an expanded list of repair costs from IIHS.)

Before buying, always consult with your insurance company to get an estimate of annual premiums. These will be influence by repair costs, as well as vehicle cost and average driver claim risk. (Learn what you need to know about car insurance before you buy.)

Pricing: 2010 Kia Forte Sedan

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:49:00 GMT

Replacing the budget-friendly Spectra, Kia has launched the all-new Forte sedan. Measuring about two inches longer and wider, the Forte provides more interior space and it boasts the largest trunk in the class. With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 178.3 inches, an overall width of 69.9 inches and overall height of 57.5 inches, the five-passenger Forte incrementally larger than the Honda Civic sedan—and it is priced more than a $1,000 less.

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, pricing for the all-new compact sedan will start at $13,695. The Forte EX begins at $15,795 and top SX begins at $17,195. For each trim, choosing an automatic transmission adds $1,000.

The LX and EX feature a 2.0-liter/156-horsepower four-cylinder engine rated for 25 city, 34 highway mpg with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. A special $600 “fuel economy” package on the EX teams the 2.0L engine with a five-speed automatic, motor-drive power steering, “smart” alternator, low-rolling resistance tires, and aero enhancements. Combined, these tweaks yield 27 city, 36 highway mpg.

The SX has a spunky 2.4-liter/173-horsepower four-cylinder engine, with a choice of six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings are 22/32 mpg for the manual, 23/31 for the auto box.

In total, the Forte is a feature-packed, budget-priced model that gives shoppers priced-right alternative to segment leaders, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Its extensive safety equipment and long warranties (five year, 60,000-mile basic) should further entice.

For more insight, read our comprehensive 2010 Kia Forte preview. And bargain hunters may want to research the outgoing Spectra. A Koup version in the weeks ahead.

New Cars Under $15,000

Editor — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:20:00 GMT

Do you prefer to start fresh? Would you feel better knowing that your new car doesn’t have a used-car history? If you’re in the market for a brand new car with a new-car warranty, but want or need to keep your spending to a minimum, here are the 16 new models available in trim levels for less than $15,000 (price ranges for some models include trim levels over $15k). Click on each vehicle to learn more about its features and options. Happy hunting!

2009 Chevrolet Aveo ($11,965-$15,365)

2009 Honda Fit ($14,750-$18,960)

2009 Hyundai Accent ($11,070-$15,070)

2009 Hyundai Elantra ($14,120-$17,020)

2009 Kia Rio ($11,495-$14,280)

2010 Kia Soul ($13,300-$16,950)

2009 Kia Spectra ($13,550-$16,450)

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 ($14,690-$20,895)

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer ($14,340-$26,490)

2009 Nissan cube ($13,990-$19,370)

2009 Nissan Versa ($10,990-$16,330)

2009 Pontiac G3 ($14,335)

2009 Scion xD ($14,650)

2009 smart fortwo ($11,990-$13,990)

2009 Suzuki SX4 ($13,299-$15,139)

2009 Toyota Yaris ($12,205-$15,880)

See the rest of our New Car Buyer's Guide for pricing, specs, mileage figures, and photo galleries of all vehicle makes, models, by pricing and category.

-Deborah Neal, Editorial Director

NY: 2010 Kia Forte Koup Unveiled

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:16:00 GMT

At the 2009 New York International Auto Show, Kia introduced a sleek two-door coupe that will join the Forte sedan this year in replacing the out-going Spectra line. Kia’s first true coupe conveys the sporty attitude the company hopes will define the brand, along with the establish virtue of value.

Measuring 176.4 inches, about an inch longer than a Honda Civic coupe, the Koup is slightly shorter in length and height than the Forte sedan. The front-drive car uses an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar and a torsion beam rear suspension with struts and coil springs. The SX trim also comes with a sport-tuned suspension providing for a firmer ride with reduced body roll and improved handling.

The Koup is powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, producing 156 horsepower and 144 lbs.-ft. of torque, notably more than several key competitors. The engine is offered with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Both combinations promise 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway.

For greater performance, the uplevel SX features an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 173 horsepower and 168 lbs.-ft. of torque. The 2.4L comes with a six-speed manual transmission, with a five-speed automatic with manual gear selection is available. The automatic is projected to deliver 23 mpg city, 31 mpg rating.

Inside, the five-seat Koup boasts greater volume than the Civic coupe, Chevrolet Cobalt coupe, and Scion tC. Relatively well equipped, the base Koup includes air conditioning, power windows/door locks, cruise control, keyless entry, a driver’s seat height adjuster, adjustable rear seat headrests, tilt steering column, rear defroster, and variable intermittent wipers.

Progressing to the SX trim offers additional standard touches such as unique sport cloth seats with vibrant red stitching, a tilt and telescoping steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, metal pedals and metal finish trim and a “Supervision” gauge cluster with trip computer further enhancing its energetic personality.

Key options include a power moonroof and leather upholstery and trim.

On the safety front, the Koup includes front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC).

The Forte sedan goes on sale in early summer, with the Koup expected to join the range in late summer.

See our complete 2009 New York auto show coverage.

Read our complete 2010 Kia Koup preview. Of course, the imminent arrival for these new models means deals may be found on the 2009 Kia Spectra.

Research the Kia Spectra sedan and hatchback.

Carpocalypse Now: Cars Sales Plummet, Again

admin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:16:00 GMT

The tragic trend continues, car sales continue to slide from bad to worse as the nation reels amidst the troubled economy. As automakers, suppliers, and dealers struggle to survive and restructure to face the changing challenges, the plummeting sales figures do mean that tremendous deals can be found for those in the market for a new or even a used car.

Few companies were spared deep double-digit declines in Februrary when comparing the month year to year. In the 40-50 percent range, Acura, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Pontiac, and even Toyota saw such steep declines. The 50-60 percent range includes Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Mitsubishi, Saturn, and Volvo. The scariest thing, there are brands in the 60-70 percent range, such as Chrysler, Hummer, Saab, and Suzuki.

At the corporate level, the numbers still look dreadful. BMW is down 32.7 percent, proving that even the well-heeled are sheepish about new car buying. Chrysler is down 44 percent—notably less than Ford Motor Company at 48.4 percent and General Motors at 52.9 percent. Even Honda saw a 38 percent decrease, made higher by the 41.5 percent drop in Acura sales. Nissan is off by 37 percent, and Toyota Motor Company is down 39.8 percent.

The big winner? Subaru, with a 1.4 percent uptick, no doubt fueled by winter months adding appeal to its AWD line up. Victory can be also claimed for Kia with a humble, though celebration worthy, 0.4 percent increase.

As the automakers grapple with these latest figures, expect enticing deals to continue and more creative marketing to appear. Hyundai has done this with the expansion of its successful Assurance program. Chrysler has just announced a free Hemi V8 upgrade for Ram buyers. And the new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids are eligible for a $3,400 tax credit till the end of March.

If you’re in the market, do your research and you’ll find great deals on just about every vehicle.

Research in the new car buyer’s guide. Or, scan our more than 3 million used car listings to find the best car for you.

AUTO SHOW: Kia Soul’ster Open-Air Concept

Editor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:57:00 GMT

It’s cold outside Cobo Center, home of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, but Kia’s Soul’r Yellow open-air concept vehicle—Soul’ster—radiated a lot of excitement at its debut. Based on the upcoming, unconventionally designed Kia Soul crossover, the Soul’ster is a two-door, four-seat convertible with a funky, hip attitude and LED headlamps, dual chrome exhaust tips, 19-inch wheels, non-floor-mounted “cantilevered” seats that when viewed from the side look like they’re suspended in air, tons of storage and a choice of possibly up to four engines, including a turbodiesel. “Soul’ster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today’s buyers—a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, KMA.

Pricing: 2010 Kia Soul Under $14k

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:37:00 GMT

Looking to solidify its value reputation, Kia has priced its adorable Soul just under $14,000, with destination charges. Looking like a cross between a compact hatchback and small SUV, the Soul combines personality, versatility, and affordability in one appealing package.

The 2010 Soul will be available in four trims: Soul, Soul+, Soul!, and Soul sport. Soul+, which includes standard keyless entry remote, solar glass and 16-inch alloy wheels, will start at $14,950 and top out at $17,100 when options including the audio package and power moonroof are included. Stepping up to the excitable Soul! adds the power moonroof, fog lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels and will be priced beginning at $16,950 and peak at $17,900 with all available options included. The Soul sport includes side sills, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, and unique front and rear fascias. The range-topping sport starts at $16,950 and ends at $18,600 with all available options included.

See our preview for the full scoop on the Kia Soul, or catch our Soul coverage from the LA Auto Show where it made its official debut.

Research Kia in the new car buyer’s guide.

Foreign Auto Plants Received $3.6 Billion in Aid

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:42:00 GMT

With all the muckraking surround federal aid to the Detroit 3, the media hasn’t dug deep into how foreign transplant factories have been subsidized with state funds. Good Jobs First reports that $3.6 billion in aid has been provided since 1980 through property and sales tax exemptions, income tax credits, infrastructure aid, land discounts, and training grants.

A national policy resource center for grassroots groups and public officials, promoting corporate and government accountability in economic development, Good Jobs First says this estimate does not include joint ventures with U.S. companies, nor funds granted to hundreds of foreign-owned auto supply companies that have located in the same areas.

Government-supplied subsidies include:

Honda, Marysville OH, 1980, $27 million
Nissan, Smyrna, TN, 1980, $233 million
Toyota, Georgetown, KY, 1985, $147 million
Honda, Anna, OH, 1985, $27 million*
Subaru, Lafayette, IN, 1986, $94 million
Honda, East Liberty, OH, 1987, $27 million
BMW, Spartanburg, SC, 1992, $150 million
Mercedes-Benz, Vance, AL, 1993, $258 million
Toyota, Princeton, IN, 1995, $30 million
Nissan, Decherd, TN, 1995, $200 million
Toyota, Buffalo, WV, 1996, more than $15 million
Honda, Lincoln, AL, 1999, $248 million
Nissan, Canton, MS, 2000, $295 million
Toyota, Huntsville, AL, 2001, $30 million
Hyundai, Montgomery, AL, 2002, $252 million
Toyota, San Antonio, TX, 2003, $133 million
Kia, West Point, GA, 2006, $400 million
Honda, Greensburg, IN, 2006, $141 million
Toyota, Blue Springs, MS, 2007, $300 million
Volkswagen, Chattanooga, TN, 2008, $577 million

Through these subsidies, states have secured major manufacturing facilities that provide thousands of local jobs. This highlights how many so-called “imports” are actually American made.

LA Auto Show: 2010 Kia Soul

admin — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:51:00 GMT

The Kia Soul has made the show circuit since 2006, and it was last seen in modified form at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. (Read "SEMA – Kia Soul Burner Concept.") The production Soul made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show. Kia had about 10 examples on display, showcasing a variety of colors and a few demonstrating the aftermarket potential.

The Soul looks to be case of right vehicle at the right time. A more-SUV-like alternative to the Scion xB, the charismatic Soul has instant appeal. At 162 inches, the Soul is slightly smaller than the xB, but it does have a commanding presence.

It will be offered with a choice of two four-cylinder powerplants, 1.6-liter/120-horsepower and 2.0-liter/140-horsepower engines. The small engine is offered on just the base trim level. The three higher trims get the bigger, more appealing engine. Transmission offerings are a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

There is a clear progression through the trim levels, with each adding cosmetic and functional features. The base Soul includes black door handles and side mirrors, body-colored bumpers, rear wiper/washer and 15-inch steel wheels. Upgrading to Soul+ offers keyless remote entry, solar glass, privacy glass on the rear side and rear windows body-color handles and power side mirrors along with 16-inch alloy wheels. Soul! adds power moonroof, fog lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels, while Soul sport features side sills, rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, and unique front and rear fascias.

The standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system is outfitted with Sirius satellite radio capabilities, along with auxiliary and USB input jacks.

Like other recently designed Kia models, the Soul boasts a robust roster of standard safety equipment. Notable features include front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). An antilock brake system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), and rear disc brakes are standard on Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models.

Pricing and on-sale date were not announced, though the Soul is expected to arrive at dealers in early 2009.

Read our Kia Soul preview, research Kia models in the 2009 new car buyer's guide, and see "2009 Kia Soul Coming to U.S."