Horne Kia

2011 KIA FORTE KOUP NAMED ONE OF THE "TOP 10 COOLEST NEW CARS UNDER $18,000" BY KELLEY BLUE BOOK'S KBB.COM

 

Two-Door Coupe Hailed as Fun-to-Drive and Fun-to-Own by Leading Provider of New Car Information

 

 

The 2011 Kia Forte Koup has been named to the "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" list by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a leading provider of new and used car information. Kia Motors America's (KMA) performance-inspired Koup was selected for offering consumers a stylish and affordable vehicle filled with modern technologies at a tremendous value.

 

"Our design-led transformation has dramatically increased consumer perception of the Kia brand, and the Forte Koup's recognition by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com as a 'cool' vehicle is further validation of our strategy to provide consumers with a compelling combination of aggressive styling and performance, a long list of standard safety features and strong overall value," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "The Koup, like the rest of the Kia lineup, continues to raise the bar in its segment by offering fun-to-drive performance and modern technologies that contribute to an outstanding ownership experience."

 

The annual "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" list published by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com features vehicles that are fun to drive, fun to own and, most critically, possess the decidedly subjective "cool factor." Editors at Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com compiled the list of qualifying vehicles using Kelley Blue Book's exclusive Fair Purchase Price, which reflects vehicle transaction prices paid by consumers and is updated weekly to reflect changing market conditions.

 

"Having an attractive car that others haven't seen – that's cool. The 2011 Kia Forte Koup isn't just the sportiest-looking car on our list, its standard equipment list includes a satellite-ready audio system, Bluetooth®1 wireless technology and USB/iPod®2 integration," say editors from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "For buyers who think cool and obvious are mutually exclusive concepts, the uncommon Forte Koup is about as cool as it gets for less than $18,000."

 

Available in two trims, EX and SX, Forte Koup offers consumers an aggressively styled and performance-inspired two-door coupe with an abundance of amenities as well as impressive power. All Forte Koup models feature Bluetooth® wireless technology with steering wheel-mounted controls that enable voice-activated hands-free operation for compatible cell phones and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio with three months complimentary service3. For added listening convenience, steering wheel-mounted audio controls also come standard on all models, as well as USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod® and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit or steering wheel-mounted controls while maintaining a starting price of under $17,000 (MSRP).4

 

Designed and engineered as a driver's car, Forte Koup is powered by either a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine (EX models), producing 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque5 that features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection, or an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine (SX models), also with CVVT, which delivers 173 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque6.

 

Adding to the Forte Koup's "cool factor" is the fact that its outstanding driving dynamics and performance-inspired styling provided the basis for Kia's U.S. motorsports program, which competes in GRAND-AM's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in the Street Tuner class. The No. 10 and No. 12 Infinity Audio Forte Koups have proven to be a road racing force to be reckoned with in their sophomore season, capturing five-consecutive top-ten finishes and two podium appearances, including a victory at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

Horne Kia invited new and pre-owned car owners to a gathering to inform them of some of the service options and procedures in the dealership. It's a chance for Horne Kia staff members to get reacquainted with customers and help them enjoy their new or pre-owned car to its fullest.

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ASU MENS BASKETBALL COACH HERB SENDEK GETS HIS NEW KIA

Sam Cooper GM and Robert Horne deliver the newly designed 2011 Kia Optima SX Turbo to Arizona State University mens basketball coach Herb Sendek.

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KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES ALL-TIME QUARTERLY SALES RECORD

Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced sales of 30,071 vehicles in September, a 39-percent increase over the same period last year and an all-time sales record for the month of September. Kia's sales were led for the ninth consecutive month by the 2011 Sorento CUV, which posted sales of more than 10,000 units for the first time since its debut. The monthly sales record is Kia's second in the past three months – and sixth overall in 2010 – and helped the brand achieve its best quarterly sales total in company history at 97,955 units.

KMA's year-to-date sales of 268,024 units are up 12.3-percent over 2009 and the company is on pace to achieve its 16th consecutive year of market share growth. Kia's growing stable of new vehicles resulting from the brand's design-led transformation – the 2010 Soul, Forte and Forte Koup; and the 2011 Sorento and the all-new 2011 Sportage – accounted for 76.7-percent of sales in September.

"Our record sales, including Sorento's best performance ever with more than 10,000 units sold, are a result of the brand's complete design and product transformation that continues to drive more style-conscious consumers to Kia retail showrooms," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "The most aggressive new vehicle launch cycle in the auto industry will continue with the arrivals of the functional Forte 5-door later this month and the highly anticipated all-new 2011 Optima midsize sedan in November."

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KIA SOUL NAMED ONE OF AAA'S "TOP VEHICLE PICKS FOR DOG OWNERS"

The 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle recently was named to the "Top Vehicle Picks for Dog Owners" list by AAA, North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization. The uniquely styled vehicle was selected as a good choice for transporting smaller and mid-size breeds, and recognized by AAA for its roomy interior, handling, fuel economy and variety of available accessories that offer ease and comfort for both dogs and owners.

"The versatile and uniquely styled Soul offers dog owners the complete package of style, value and numerous safety features that keep both drivers and their canine companions safe and comfortable on the road," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "We are happy that the Soul is able to offer owners a little extra piece of mind while they are transporting their dogs."

AAA Auto Buying's team of experts selected vehicles for a wide variety of factors including: crash test ratings, safety features, fuel economy, ease of animal ingress and egress, cargo size area, availability of tie-down hooks and easy-to-clean interiors. The list includes vehicles aimed toward a variety of lifestyles, and all winning vehicles were selected for their ability to keep drivers, passengers and canine companions safe and comfortable while on the road. Vehicles were selected in the following categories: Luxury, Active Lifestyle, Kids, Dogs & Everything Else, Efficient and Fun, Green and Economical.

A 2009 and 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Soul has a trophy case full of awards and accolades, including "Best Family Cars for 2010" by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, "2010 Top Cars for Families" by Motherproof.com, "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" and "Top 10 Back-to-School Cars" for 2010 from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Soul is available in four trims – Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport. Pricing for the versatile five-door begins under $14,000¹.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors' funky five-door is a perfect embodiment of the brand's current design-led transformation with its unique design. In addition to immense style and value, all four Soul models also offer consumers the same high level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.

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ALL-NEW SPECIAL EDITION 2010 KIA IGNITION SOUL

Sizzling Limited-Run Special Edition Soul Hits Dealer Showrooms

• Ignition Soul offers scorching new color, prominent wheels and rally-inspired skin
• Second in line of special edition Souls offers same value, safety and myriad personalization options as the original Kia Soul

IRVINE, December 16, 2009 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the arrival of the special edition Ignition Soul, the second of four special edition Souls to roll into dealerships. The 2010 Ignition Soul, named for its unique exterior color treatment, extends the youthful urban passenger vehicle’s radical styling even further and demonstrates Soul’s expansive list of personalization options. The Ignition Soul joins all other Soul models as a 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This second special edition Soul offers consumers yet another opportunity to find a Soul as unique as their own personalities and is matched with impressive fuel economy figures and standard safety features.

"Soul continues to demonstrate its styling versatility and ability to evolve," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "Ignition Soul offers consumers yet another way to express their individuality in a new way, packaged with the same value, safety and technology as the standard trims."

Exclusive to the Ignition Soul is a unique ignition orange exterior color, striking black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents, an athletic-looking body kit and rear spoiler found standard on sport trims, an alloy fuel door for an even more contemporary appearance and a bold off-set black racing stripe to complete the overall appearance. Like the previously launched special edition Denim Soul, Ignition Soul is based on the Soul+ model and is fully loaded with the Audio Upgrade Package (center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music), an iPod® connection cable for full functionality via the radio head unit and steering wheel controls, carpeted floor mats, moon roof, fender vents with side marker repeaters and fog lights. The special edition Ignition Soul starts at $17,500¹ with a five-speed manual transmission.

Building from the Soul+ model, Ignition Soul also offers standard keyless remote entry, privacy glass on the rear and rear side windows, body-color door handles and dual body-color power side mirrors. Soul+ offers additional standard features including cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity, dual 12-volt power outlets and tweeter speakers, all enhancing creature comforts on the road, as well as a covered upper storage bin, dual visor vanity mirrors with covers and dual map lights. Black cloth seats are adorned with Soul logo inserts, further personalizing the cabin.

About the Kia Soul

The Soul has won numerous accolades since arriving in dealerships, including two "Top Safety Pick" awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a "2010 Automotive Excellence Award" by Popular Mechanics, a "Super Value Award" by The Active Network, Inc., being named to Ward’s Autoworld’s "Interior of the Year" list for "Grooviest Interior, named to 2009 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 list by Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com," among several others. Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, pricing for the versatile five door begins at $13,300 for the base trim, while Soul+ starts at $14,950. Enhancing to the Soul! or Soul sport offers a price beginning at $16,950.

Standard Kia Safety Features

Soul continues to offer the same high level of standard safety equipment as all new Kia vehicles, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags. An Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) also are standard. Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard on all Soul models, making for a comprehensive list of standard safety features.

Industry-Leading Warranty

Like all new Kia models, Soul is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year/100,000-mile antiperforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan also is part of the comprehensive coverage program.

 

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KIA FORTE NAMED "CAR OF THE YEAR" BY NADAGUIDES.COM

• All-New 2010 Kia Compact Given Esteemed Honor by Online Consumer Automotive Resource
• Forte recognized above competition for offering new-edge styling, value and fuel efficiency
• Kia Forte sedan and Koup give consumers entire package and class-leading combination of standard safety features

IRVINE, Calif., December 3, 2009 – On the heels of being named "Car of the Month" for August by NADAguides.com, the respected online automotive source has named the all-new 2010 Kia Forte "Car of the Year." Selected from the nine vehicles chosen as a "Car of the Month" throughout the year, Forte was honored for its attractive styling, value and an extensive list of class-leading features.

"Consumers as well as dealers have come to recognize the Kia Motors brand for attractively designed and priced vehicles with impressive fuel efficiency and a long list of standard safety features all backed by an industry-leading warranty, and the all-new Forte and Forte Koup are no exceptions," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). "Forte is a very strong contender in the popular compact segment and it has definitely helped us continue to raise our brand awareness."

The NADAguides.com "Car of the Month" program aims to provide consumers with useful commentary, information and reviews on available new cars, trucks and SUVs, and showcases vehicles that offer impressive fuel economy, safety features and amenities. The editors at NADAguides.com carefully review the vehicles previously chosen as a "Car of the Month" to select the most deserving "Car of the Year." To be eligible, vehicles must be new for the model year and have a combination of impressive styling, fuel efficiency, low price point and cost of ownership. For the complete review, go to http://www.nadaguides.com/Garage-Blog/NADAGUIDESCOM-AWARDS-2010-KIA-FORTE-CAR-OF-THE-MONTHe2809d-FOR-AUGUST.aspx.

"Not many cars can boast a full package when it comes to design features, price, performance and fuel economy, but the Forte leaves a lasting impression with all that and more," said Michael Caudill, automotive expert for NADAguides.com.

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, pricing for the all-new Forte sedan starts at $13,6951 for the LX trim, while the EX begins at $15,995 and the SX starts at $17,495. Pricing for the stylish Koup, available in EX and SX trims, starts at $16,595 (EX), while the SX trim begins at $17,695. In addition to competitive pricing, Forte comes well-stocked with a long list of standard amenities, starting with a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service2. Also standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players3 as well as Bluetooth®4 connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, which enables hands-free operation for all compatible mobile phones.

In addition to emotion-evoking performance and great design, Forte and Forte Koup also showcase a class-leading combination of standard safety features with active front headrests, advanced two-stage airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), brake assist (BAS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), a traction control system (TCS) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).