Kia Amanti Tops Strategic Vision SmartGreenIndexSM

Award-winning full-size sedan honored in new study

# Amanti spotlighted for quality, fuel efficiency and overall value
# Six Kia vehicles recognized as SmartGreenSM

IRVINE, Calif., September 29, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the Kia Amanti topped the large car segment in the newest Strategic Vision automotive metric, the SmartGreenIndexSM (SGISM). The SGI reflects the relationships between perceived quality plus overall value and issues including fuel economy and environmental friendliness.

In addition to Amanti, according to the new SGI, Spectra compact, Rondo CUV, Sportage compact SUV, Sorento midsize SUV and Sedona minivan also scored highly in their respective segments. These placements further express consumers are taking note of Kia's efforts in providing stylish, comfortable and economically-friendly vehicles.

"Seeing Amanti at the top of the SmartGreenIndex is a testament to our continuing consumer satisfaction," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "We also are very proud of the other Kia vehicles recognized by Strategic Vision and consumers, further exemplifying Kia as a consumer-minded manufacturer committed to offering quality, fuel-efficient vehicles to smart, discerning customers."

Strategic Vision calculated the SGI from 44,320 buyer responses who purchased 2008 or 2009 models from September 2007 to March 2008. SmartGreen is based on actual customer experiences and is weighted according to those aspects which best predict customer advocacy, overall satisfaction, future brand choices and loyalty, which ultimately result in increased model and brand sales.

Already a recipient of a J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Award in 2005 and recently awarded a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in side impact crash tests, Amanti offers outstanding safety features, luxury and overall convenience in the full-size sedan segment, coming standard with amenities including: eight airbags; leather, chrome and wood accents; and a 3.8-liter all-aluminum DOHC V6 engine which generates 264 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Borrego takes on rough path

Kia has added a third SUV to its lineup for 2009, this one even more capable than its other two models for the kind of serious off-road driving that spawned the creation of sport utilities in the first place.

Long before SUVs were heartily embraced by soccer moms as the favored replacements for minivans and station wagons, those of us who like to go where no mere car has gone before had been buying sport utilities as our weekend getaway vehicles.

My first, which I purchased "gently used" in 1973 while I was editor of a weekly newspaper in the Cumberland Mountains of upper east Tennessee, was a 1965 Jeep Wagoneer, which came with a Buick V-6 engine and a great four-wheel-drive system.

The Cumberlands, part of the Appalachian chain that runs from Maine to north Alabama, offer some great off-road-driving opportunities, and for that, a Jeep-type vehicle was just the ticket.

Today, there are plenty of SUVs on the market, but their numbers are dwindling as consumers increasingly turn to the so-called CUVs, or crossover utility vehicles, which offer marginal off-road capabilities at best, but are as good as or better than station wagons or minivans at hauling the kids and their soccer gear around town.

With gasoline prices spiking and car buyers pulling even further back on SUV purchases this year, I have to applaud South Korea's Kia for going ahead this fall with the launch of its all-new Borrego. This is a midsize SUV that isn't a crossover, but a traditional truck-based, body-on-frame vehicle that is rugged enough to tackle tough off-road trails such as those I once explored in the Cumberlands.

The Borrego's name is quite fitting for a vehicle that is so off-road capable. It's taken from the name of one of my all-time favorite places for four-wheeling -- the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near Palm Springs, Calif.

Kia began development of the Borrego about four years ago when gasoline was about half the price it is now, and no one was worrying much about fuel economy.

But some other automakers probably would have pulled the plug on the Borrego this year if it had been their vehicle. Kia, though, doesn't have much to lose and plenty to gain with the launch of the Borrego.

That's because even with its traditional SUV chassis, the Borrego's EPA fuel-economy ratings are as good as those of some of the popular crossovers -- 16 miles per gallon city/21 highway with the base 3.3-liter V-6 engine and four-wheel drive (17/22 with two-wheel drive).

Another bold move is the introduction of a 4.6-liter V-8 as the optional engine in the Borrego, borrowed from the new Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan. This is the first V-8 in either a Kia or Hyundai vehicle, and some would argue that it's a little late coming, especially now that consumers seem to be abandoning V-8s in record numbers in favor of less powerful, more efficient four- and six-cylinder engines.

The Borrego accomplishes two goals for Kia, a subsidiary of Hyundai. It gives the company its most powerful and best-equipped vehicle yet, and it shows consumers that the brand once known mostly for value and economy can field a credible entry in a near-premium vehicle segment.

The vehicle seats up to seven people, and it has a roomy and comfortable interior that looks more like that of a luxury sedan than an off-road-capable SUV.

Yet when equipped with the optional four-wheel drive, the Borrego is just as home on the range as it is on the freeway.

Of course, it comes with a two-speed transfer case with low range gearing, a necessity on steep mountain trails and in deep sand, such as one might find while driving north on the beach at South Padre Island.

Base prices range from $26,245 for the entry two-wheel-drive LX model with V-6 engine, to $30,995 for the uplevel, two-wheel-drive, V-8 powered EX version.

The V-8 LX model with four-wheel drive is the same price as the EX V-8; the V-6 version of the EX with two-wheel drive is $27,995.

Four-wheel drive can be added to the LX V-6 for $2,050 and to the EX V-6 or V-8 for an additional $2,000.

The V-6 is rated at 276 horsepower and is connected to a five-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces EPA mileage of 17 city/22 highway with two-wheel drive, and 16/21 with four-wheel drive.

With the V-8, there is 337 horsepower and 323 foot-pounds of torque. Standard is a six-speed automatic. EPA ratings are 15/22 with two-wheel drive and 15/20 with four-wheel drive.

The Borrego, which is sold as the Mohave in markets outside North America, was designed with occupant safety in mind. It has earned the highest five-star crash safety ratings from the U.S. government for all seating positions.

"Borrego is Kia's newest vehicle, and it is a prime example of our commitment and dedication to providing the best and most up-to-date standard safety features in vehicles for consumers," Byung-Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America, said in announcing pricing for the vehicle, which went on sale in August.

Among its standard safety features are advanced front air bags, front seat-mounted side air bags, side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seats, a driver's knee air bag (V-8 models only), four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control and traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, electronic brake-force distribution and electronic brake assist.

For those with boats, horse trailers or small travel trailers, towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for the V-6 models and 7,500 pounds for the V-8.

Standard amenities include air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 six-speaker audio system with USB and auxiliary input jack, power windows/mirrors/door locks with remote and Sirius satellite radio.

Kia says the Borrego has more interior space than the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee or the redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot.

G. Chambers Williams III

Kia introduces Soul compact in Seoul

Kia plans to sell 18,000 units of the new model, called Soul, by the end of the year, and will boost annual sales to 136,000 units from next year, the Seoul-based automaker said in a statement. Exports to Europe and the U.S. will begin in the first half of 2009, it said.

Chairman Chung Mong Koo is betting on new small autos to improve profitability at Kia after operating losses in the past two years. Kia this year began selling a revamped Morning minicar and Forte small car as consumers demand more fuel-efficient vehicles to cope with a 5.2 percent increase in South Korea's gasoline prices since December.

The Soul is fitted with a 1.6-liter or 2-liter engine, both on petrol and diesel variants. It will sell for between 14 million won ($12,300) and 20.8 million won, the statement said.

Kia spent 190 billion won in the past two-and-a-half years to develop the model, it said. The automaker hired former Volkswagen's head designer Peter Schreyer as Chief Design Officer in 2006 to overhaul its lineup.

"Kia's strength in small cars would help it weather a setback in global auto demand,'' said Cho Soo Hong, a Seoul- based analyst at Hyundai Securities Co., which isn't related to Hyundai Motor Co., Kia's parent company.

With the introduction of four new or revamped models this year, Kia's local market share rose to 25.4 percent in the first eight months of this year, compared with 22 percent a year earlier, according to Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Kia's domestic sales rose 16 percent from a year earlier in that period, the most among South Korea's five carmakers. Overall sales including exports gained 6.6 percent.

By Seonjin Cha
Bloomberg News

2009 Kia Borrego Review: Great Drive and Great Chance to Win One for Yourself

There's an old joke about how one gets to Carnegie Hall - practice. In a analogy spin on the joke, the only way you'll get to experience a really good midsize luxury car is to drive it. And not just because Kia is running a national sweepstakes, either.

This is an enjoyable drive. Period. I know, cause a few weeks ago I was able to test drive the Borrego through some of the most beautiful country in the U.S., the Eastern Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington.

From the flats of the lush valleys to the climb up some nifty, twisty roads to reach a beautiful lake for some fishing - this is a tough job - I was pleased and a little awed by the luxury Kia has been able to inject into this vehicle. Its impressive, damn impressive in and out. Which for some dumb reason, difficult for most manufacturers of SUVs to accomplish. Kia got it right.

Built on a platform with a wheelbase of 114.0 inches with an overall length of 192.3 inches and overall width of 75.4 inches, Borrego stands wider and longer than the Chevy Trailblazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner its competition in this class. Its wide stance allows for a roomy, comfortable interior with standard three rows of seating for up to seven adult passengers.

Two all-aluminum engines are offered - a 3.8-liter V6 and 4.6-liter V8 engine, the most powerful in Kia's line to date. While the horsepower on both is nice V6 at 276 and the V8 at 337 hp, it's the torque that's cool.

The smaller engine puts out 267 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, and the V8 generates a class-leading 323 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm - more powerful than the previously named SUVs as well as the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Acadia.

Given the price per gallon these days, the Borrego is not exceptional. It's okay when considering the impressive horsepower and torque with the unique-to-Borrego and new-to-Kia six-speed automatic transmission. The V8 engine has an EPA rating of 15/22 while the V6 is 17/21 city/highway. How 'bout adequate?

Available in LX and EX trims, Borrego's spacious cabin comes well equipped with a slew of standard convenience features, including: air conditioning; power door locks, windows and mirrors; keyless entry; cruise control and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 six-speaker audio system.

Complementing the audio system, Borrego comes standard with USB and auxiliary input jack and is the first Kia vehicle to offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio with three months of complimentary service for hours of uninterrupted amusement.

Adding even more refinement and upgrades, the EX trim level includes an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, four-way power adjustable front passenger's seat, floor mats, dual-zone automatic climate control, Homelink with compass, steering wheel audio controls, trip computer, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The new midsize SUV also offers Kia's first voice-activated navigation system, with a Rear Seat Entertainment Package that includes an eight-inch widescreen television (EX models) for passenger entertainment during long car rides or around-town adventures.

Nice package, right? So head to the Kia dealers near you to enter the sweepstakes or go online at BorregoExperience.com/win. Good luck.

by Marty Bernstein
Detroit Bureau
The Auto Channel

Borrego Go: Kia's national "BorregoExperience" campaign tour

Kia's first midsize luxury SUV has been thrust onto the American market, and to assist marketing and promotion of the SUV, Kia has developed a national interactive promotional tour called the "BorregoExperience."

Starting September 16, 600 individuals and families became part of a product research study for the Borrego through extended Borrego VIP Test Drives based in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Phoenix. The individuals and families received brand-new SUVs to test drive, which also allows Kia to monitor and analyze consumer feedback. The feedback is important to ensure the vehicle will be well-tailored to the American masses, especially those unfamiliar with Kia vehicles.

Also part of the BorregoExperience is a nationwide sweepstakes and national exhibition with a paid test drive. The sweepstakes allows licensed drivers 18 years of age and older to enter for a chance to win one of five new Kia Borregos. The national exhibition has been touring great American cities since May 2008. Test drivers of the Borrego can receive a $20 gift card.

The next stops for the tour are in Cleveland, Phoenix, Indian Wells, and Tampa. The Cleveland, Ohio, stop will be from September 20 through 21, Phoenix, Arizona, stop from October 3 through 5, Indian Wells, California, stop from October 10 through 12, and Tampa, Florida, stop on October 25.

By Benson Kong
Source: Kia Motors Press Release

Test Drive: Borrego is a nifty SUV, but is its time past?

Kia's timing is off. It's hit the market with a traditional, truck-based SUV -- available with Kia's first V-8 engine -- just as Americans decided such fuel-thirsty SUVs are as appealing as poison ivy.

Its marketing pitch also might be off. Kia -- long the brand you bought for price -- is promoting the new Borrego SUV as a luxury model.

Of course, Kia might wind up with the midsize, truck-based market to itself as other makers flee to more popular, car-based crossover SUVs that are lighter, nimbler and potentially more fuel-efficient.

Kia is not dumb, just unlucky. Product plans are locked in several years before a vehicle hits showrooms. The automaker says that nobody could have forecast the sudden run-up in fuel prices and implosion of sales for this type of body-on-frame SUV.

In Borrego's favor is that it feels tauter and crisper than most truck products. Both the V-8 and V-6 early-production test trucks were sporty and satisfying to drive. Not as refined as a well-done crossover, but commendable nonetheless. Don't turn up your nose at Borrego based on its underpinnings.

Mileage wasn't great, but no worse than rivals, whether crossovers or truck-based SUVs. Expect 15 mpg, plus or minus, in the suburbs; better with a light foot. The V-6 was a little better than the V-8.

On paper, the optional V-8 powertrain is a hottie: 4.6-liter, 337 horsepower, 323 pounds-feet of torque, six-speed automatic. Behind the wheel, though, it had to be revved a bit to get that hoo-boy feeling you want.

The surprise was the base V-6, a 3.8-liter unit rated 276 hp and 267 lbs.-ft. of torque, mated to a five-speed auto. It was lively from the get-go through speeds that'll put you at odds with people in cars with flashing lights. Perhaps because of its be-happy persona, the V-6 drank fuel nearly as fast as the V-8. Conservative drivers would do better.

Both transmissions shifted up and down crisply -- not always true even in pure luxury vehicles. And both provided a manual-shift mode that was easy and inviting to use.

Despite some flaws, Borrego had a barbed appeal -- it got under your skin and was hard to get out. There was a bit of anticipation heading out each day to fire up the Borrego. Accounting for that:

-Sportiness. Agility made the Borregos seem less like clumsy trucks. Steering was especially nice, neither twitchy nor numb. The body didn't lean much in tight corners.

-Comfort. The leather bucket seats in the testers were a nice blend of cosseting and corseting. Second-row seats slid fore and aft and reclined.

-Ambience. Befitting a premium machine, controls felt good to operate, surfaces were appealing to eye and hand, and the design and layout inside were attractive.

-4x4. Borrego's the good kind. You can leave it in automatic four-wheel-drive mode or lock into 4x4 high for challenging roads or 4x4 low for true off-roading. Kia says the system sends up to 35% of power to the front wheels and anticipates the right power split based on acceleration and other factors.

It was flawless in heavy rain with barely a peep from the rears before the fronts clawed for grip.

-Features. Thoughtful touches include a little extra cargo space under the rear floor, standard skid plates underneath, a 115-volt power outlet on some models, easily deciphered three-zone climate control on deluxe versions and optional heated seats in the second row instead of only in front.

-Noise. Not much.

But, no, the Borrego's not a home run, because:

-Ride. Too much pitch and toss; too stiff even for truck-lovers, and jarring on sharp bumps.

-Price. The V-8 test truck was $39,295; the V-6, $36,295. Yet, both lacked rear-seat DVD, backup cameras, power tailgates and one-touch windows. Back-up camera and rear DVD are options. Kia expects to have one-touch up/down windows in the 2010, and plans a power gate in a few years.

A Limited model with most features standard is planned this fall. Kia has not set that price yet.

On the other end, Borrego starts at about $27,000, similar to the Ford Explorer, a truck-based SUV that is its closest rival. Compared with Explorer, Borrego has a stiffer ride, but a classier interior, better drivetrain and better mileage.

Borrego starts about $1,300 less than the new-design 2009 Honda Pilot midsize crossover SUV (Test Drive, May 8). Borrego rides and handles worse than the Honda and uses more fuel.

If you like truck-based, midsize SUVs, Borrego is a very good example of a vanishing breed.

2009 Kia Borrego What? Madness: A truck-based SUV at a time nobody's buying them. Midsize. Four doors. Three rows of seats. Choice of V-6 or Kia's first V-8 engine. Rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (4x4). When? On sale since mid-July.

Where? Made in South Korea.

Why? Kia didn't anticipate Americans fleeing truck-based SUVs for mpg's.

How much? Starts at $26,995 including shipping for rear-drive V-6. Top-of-the-line V-8 4x4 starts at $31,745.

How powerful? V-6 is 3.8-liter rated 276 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 267 pounds-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Optional V-8 is 4.6-liter rated 337 hp at 6,000 rpm, 323 lbs.-ft. at 3,500 rpm.

V-6 with five-speed automatic, V-8 has six-speed. Both have manual mode.

How lavish? Standard features include stability control; side-impact and head-curtain air bags; anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution and assist; back-up warning system; air conditioning; power steering, brakes, windows, locks, mirrors; AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sirius-ready audio; cruise control; slide/recline second-row seat; remote locks.

Four-wheel-drive option has full-time automatic setting, 4x4 high/low ranges.

How big? Near a Ford Explorer but about 200 pounds lighter: 192.1 inches long, 75.4 in. wide, 71.3 in. tall on a 114-in. wheelbase; 4,248 lbs. to 4,5621 lbs. Tows 5,000 lbs. (V-6) or 7,500 lbs. (V-8).

Cargo space in cubic feet listed as 12.4 behind third row, 43.1 with third row down, 97.6 with second, third down.

Turning circle is listed as 36.5 ft.

How thirsty? V-6 is rated 17 miles per gallon in town, 21 highway, 18 combined with rear-wheel drive; 16/21/18 with 4x4. V-8 is 15/22/18 with rear-wheel, 15/20/17 with 4x4.

In combined suburban, freeway driving, trip computer showed 15.3 mpg in V-6 4x4 test truck, 14.6 in V-8 4x4.

Regular (87-octane) gasoline is specified. Tank holds 20.6 gallons.

Overall: Stiff-riding and some versions pricey, but a generally nice truck.

Kia introduces Borrego SUV during difficult climate

As a noun, a desert refers to an arid, hostile environment. As a verb, it means to abandon or forsake someone or something.

Kia's all-new 2009 Borrego is named for a desert in Southern California. It arrives at a time when both meanings describe the climate that greets it.

The Borrego is a mid-size, body-on-frame, seven-passenger SUV with V6 or V8 power, a type of vehicle that only recently was wildly popular. But with gasoline prices seemingly stuck at more than $4 per gallon, it faces a forbidding environment, with buyers deserting these vehicles in droves.

It's unfortunate because the South Korean manufacturer has produced an exceptional first effort in a segment in which it has not competed. The company views that as a reason for optimism because each sale is a plus it would not have otherwise.

"Kia has never been in this segment before," said Tom Loveless, the marketing vice president. "We used to be always the second car in the driveway. This gives us a chance to be the first."

As a body-on-frame SUV, the Borrego competes with truck-based SUVs like the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It also targets the Honda Pilot, which is a unit-body crossover utility vehicle.

Generally speaking, truck-based SUVs are more rugged, have more power, better towing capability and, with four-wheel drive, more suited to off-road adventures. Crossovers, on the other hand, usually deliver better handling and fuel economy, and have all-wheel drive mainly for adverse on-road conditions.

Despite its underpinnings, the Kia Borrego does not have a truck-like feel. The impression is more crossover than SUV, not unlike that of the Hyundai Veracruz or Toyota Highlander. It cruises serenely on the highway, with confident handling and little intrusion of wind, mechanical or road noise.

However, despite a good ride on smooth surfaces, the suspension system is harsh, transmitting road shocks to the passengers' behinds when the going gets choppy.

But the Borrego has all the attributes, including its available V8 engine, regarded as important by customers who tow boats and trailers, and take their vehicles off-road.

With the 337-horsepower V8, an all-new design that, with different tuning and transmission gearing also powers the new Hyundai Genesis, the Borrego can tow up to 7,200 pounds.

Moreover, with four-wheel drive (a $2,000 option), the Borrego can be shifted with a dash-mounted switch from on-road all-wheel drive to high- or low-range four-wheel drive for adventures into the wilderness.

The Borrego has three rows of seats with a surprising amount of flexibility for passengers and cargo. The third-row seat actually can accommodate two people up to six-feet tall in reasonable comfort, though it takes some agility to get back there.

The second row seats, divided two-thirds and one-third, can be adjusted fore and aft. There's about a foot of travel with four locked positions to divvy up the space among the three rows. The seatbacks also recline.

There's more than adequate room in the second row for three adults, with a nearly flat floor, although the center position is shortchanged on cushion comfort and the intrusion of the center console.

Kia touts the fuel economy as best in the class. On the V6 with rear drive, the city/highway EPA rating is 17/21 miles per gallon. The V8 model actually does slightly better on the highway side, at 15/22, owing to its newer design and the use of a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the five-speed automatic on the V6 model. With four-wheel drive, the V6 rating is 16/21 and the V8 gets a 15/20 rating.

Buyers have come to expect a lot of stuff for the bucks from South Korean manufacturers, and the Borrego is no exception. The base Borrego LX two-wheel drive model starts at $26,995, which is about what some compact two-row crossover SUVs cost.

Standard equipment includes a full complement of safety equipment: electronic stability control, antilock brakes, side airbags and side-curtain air bags, tire-pressure monitoring, backup warning system, and, for off-road duty, downhill brake control, hill start assist, tow hooks and underbody skid plates.

Also standard are air conditioning, an audio system with satellite radio, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, remote locking, and power windows and mirrors. The upholstery is a comfortable, sturdy cloth and the supportive front seats are adjustable for height.

An unusual item of standard equipment is a power closing system for the tailgate, not unlike those featured on luxury cars that snub down the trunk lid. When the tailgate makes contact, the mechanism pulls it tightly closed.

The test Borrego was a V8 model with four-wheel drive. It had a base price of $33,745 and, with options, topped out at $39,295. That included leather upholstery on the first two rows of seats (the third row has a vinyl covering), a motorized sunroof, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning, running boards, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a memory system for the seats, mirrors and steering wheel, and an upgraded audio system.

By FRANK A. AUKOFER, Scripps Howard News Service
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service)