USA - Kia launches a new model within the Soul range, the New Soul Exclaim comes with 40 more HP and better Torque.

New Soul Exclaim Adds 1.6-liter Turbocharged GDI Engine with 40 More Horsepower, 45 More lb.-ft. of Torque and More to Love

• More power makes Kia’s funky urban runabout more fun than ever
• More power and improved fuel economy
• Other love-inducing additions include specialized trim and upscale, sportier features

It’s hard to make something great even better, but Kia did when it added a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine to one of its best-selling, most-iconic and most beloved vehicles. 

Fans of the Soul had long lobbied for a little more zip in their favorite ride and the 2017 Soul Exclaim didn’t disappoint when it was revealed to media today.

“We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. 

“The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up.”

Though the 1.6-liter turbo engine adds 40 horsepower, fuel economy is 28 miles-per-gallon, city and highway combined¹—slightly better than the combined mileage of the 2.0-liter normally-aspirated 161-hp engine in the Soul Plus and in the Soul Base 1.6-liter, which produces 130 horsepower.

Performance in the turbocharged Exclaim is further enhanced by the addition of a new 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which, via quicker and smoother shift points and no shift shock, makes for more dynamic acceleration and contributes to a more engaging driving experience.

In addition to the turbo engine, the Exclaim includes specialized trim and sportier features, including: exclusive 18-inch wheels; red-accented body trim; chrome grille surround, unique Soul tailgate badge; and, for the first time on Soul, dual chrome twin-tip exhaust.

The Exclaim also gets a standard leather-wrapped, D-shaped steering wheel, pushbutton start with smart key and UVO3² with e-Services with integrated Android Auto™³ and Apple CarPlay ™⁴ . A thumping 315-watt Harman Kardon^{® 5} premium audio system with eight speakers, including a center channel and subwoofer, navigation and 8-inch touchscreen display is also available. Other new options for the 2017 model year are convenience systems such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection are also available⁶.

The 2017 Soul is available in three trim levels: Base with manual or automatic 6-speed transmission; Soul Plus with the 6-speed automatic; and the Exclaim turbo with the new 7-speed DCT. There are also two new exterior colors. Redesigned headlights and fog lights, along with front and rear fascias lend a more aggressive appearance while two dedicated USB charge ports and an available 8-way power passenger seat add convenience and comfort.

USA - The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport puts an exclamation point on the fully realized Elantra sedan lineup.

• Value-Laden Package Delivers Turbocharged Fun and Unique Features

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport puts an exclamation point on the fully realized Elantra sedan lineup. 

It’s not just an appearance package, the most dynamic Elantra ever adds a healthy dose of fun along with a host of model-specific powertrain, chassis and equipment upgrades. All this comes at a starting MSRP of just $21,650 with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. 

Drivers who prefer automated shifting can opt for the Elantra Sport with a 7-speed DCT and paddle shifters for $22,750. Both are subject to an additional $835 destination charge.

Included in the base price is a 1.6L Turbo-GDI engine that produces 201 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. To complement that increased output (up from 147 hp and 132 lb.-ft. in Elantra), Elantra Sport receives a model-exclusive multi-link rear suspension, higher spring and damper rates, revised steering, exclusive 18” alloy wheels and upgraded brakes.

Inside, Hyundai builds on Elantra’s award-winning user experience—recently named one of Wards 10 Best—by adding unique heated leather sport front seats with more aggressive bolstering, a leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel, red contrast stitching, and a black headliner. These upgrades nicely complement the comprehensive standard feature set that includes, among other items, an AM/FM/HD/SiriusXM 7” Display Audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HID headlights and proximity key with push button start.

For $2,400, drivers may add the available Premium Package, which adds an 8” navigation system, 8-speaker Infinity premium audio system with Clari-Fi Music restoration technology, Blue Link connectivity, a power sunroof, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-traffic Alert & Lane Change Assist, dual automatic temperature control with auto defogger, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink and a compass.

“With Elantra Sport, we deliver a relentlessly fun daily driver that offers unprecedented performance for the Elantra nameplate,” said Mike Evanoff, product manager for the Elantra lineup. “Just as importantly, Sport continues Elantra’s superb value story by offering a compelling mix of standard and available equipment at pricing that undercuts rival sport sedans in its category. With Elantra Sport’s arrival, we are able to offer an Elantra for every type of driving personality.”

USA - Millennials choose ILX at a greater rate than any other model in the segment, and see's huge growth.

• Millennials choose ILX at a greater rate than any other model in segment1
• ILX continues strong sales through first quarter of 2016
• 12-month year-over-year ILX sales up over 40 percent

The 2017 Acura ILX has gone on sale from April 13, retaining the popular enhancements introduced last year that helped make it one of the most popular models in the entry luxury segment. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP)² of the 2017 ILX starts at $27,990.

As Acura's most affordable sport sedan and serving as the gateway to the Acura lineup, the ILX has captured a higher rate of under 35 year olds than any other vehicle in the entry-luxury sedan segment since 2010¹. Also, with KBB.com naming Acura as the luxury brand with the lowest projected 5-year cost of ownership and Edmunds.com voting the brand as the 2015 Best Retained Value® Luxury Brand, the ILX is a wise choice for gateway luxury vehicle customers.

The ILX received significant upgrades for the 2016 model year including styling, powertrain, technology, luxury refinement and safety features. The 2017 ILX carries over the freshened exterior styling including Acura's signature Jewel Eye® LED headlights, 201 horsepower³ 2.4-liter direct-injected DOHC i-VTEC engine paired with an 8-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle-controlled Sequential Sport Shift, and signature Acura technologies such as the available AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies. The 2017 ILX is available in three new exterior colors, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and San Marino Red. The ILX is also available in Bellanova White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Catalina Blue Pearl.

2017 ILX Pricing and EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Model	MSRP2	EPA MPG4 Ratings (city/highway/combined)
ILX	$27,990	25/35/29
ILX with AcuraWatch™ Plus Package	$29,290	25/35/29
ILX with Premium Package	$29,990	25/35/29
ILX with Premium & A-SPEC Package	$31,980	25/35/29
ILX with Tech Plus Package	$32,990	25/35/29
ILX with Tech Plus & A-SPEC Package	$34,980	25/35/29

The 2017 ILX is available in three grades – the standard ILX, the ILX with Premium Package, and the line-topping ILX Tech Plus Package; in addition an A-SPEC Package is available with the Premium and Tech Plus grades. The ILX A-SPEC Package further accentuates the ILX's premium and performance image with sporty side sill garnishes, a trunk spoiler, front fog lights, 18-inch, 10-spoke machined alloy wheels, and several unique interior appearance touches. View, build and price a 2017 Acura ILX at www.acura.com.

Kia c'eed breaks company records with over a million produced in just nine years.

• One millionth Kia cee’d built in Europe since 2006
• The first-ever Kia model designed and manufactured in the region
• cee’d recognised for signalling a qualitative revolution for Kia in Europe
• New GT Line specification and new downsized engines to be introduced later this year

The 1,000,000th Kia cee’d has today been manufactured by Kia Motors in Europe, a major milestone since starting production in 2006. The cee’d has played a significant role in Kia’s sustained growth and success since its introduction to the European market nine years ago.

The 1,000,000th cee’d to roll off Kia’s European production line was a high powered Kia cee’d GT five door hatchback in ‘Fusion White’. 

The car and its 201hp 1.6-litre T-GDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine were both produced in Slovakia – the car is destined for a buyer in the Netherlands.

Manufactured exclusively for the European market, at Kia’s state-of-the-art production facility in Žilina, Slovakia, the cee’d accounts for over 21 percent of Kia’s total European sales. 

More than 75,960 were sold in 2014, making the Kia cee’d the brand’s second best-selling model in Europe after the highly-acclaimed Sportage compact SUV, which is also produced in Žilina.

In the UK, Kia sold 13,189 cee’ds in 2014 and is the third best-selling vehicle, behind the ever popular Sportage and Picanto.

Artur Martins, Vice President Marketing of Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The cee’d has helped establish Kia in Europe as a maker of high-quality, well-designed cars, and it has been one of the key drivers behind our continued growth and success in the region. 

I’d like to congratulate all my colleagues at Kia Motors Slovakia on this latest milestone, and thank the million customers who have made the cee’d such a popular model.”

Martins added: “Since we began production in 2006, the cee’d range has come a long way, with Sportswagon and pro_cee’d three-door hatchback models expanding the line-up and taking us into new segments of the market. 

Our high-performing GT models, launched in 2013, have once again put us in front of a more emotional buyer, seeking great design and an enjoyable driving experience. 

Our future plans for the cee’d will continue to develop a model that has been the foundation upon which we have built the success of the Kia brand in Europe.”

Later this year, Kia will launch the GT Line model to the range, which blends the style and sportiness of the cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT with the versatility of the conventional cee’d model line-up. 

The new GT Line specification will be available for all three members of the Kia model family (five- and three-door hatchbacks and Sportswagon estate).

In addition, the new cee’d GT Line signifies the arrival of Kia’s all-new downsized 1.0-litre T-GDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine and new seven-speed double-clutch transmission in Europe. 

The new engine and transmission are engineered to improve fuel consumption and emissions while offering strong, willing performance and immediate responses to driver input.

cee’d: a major turning point in Kia’s history

The launch of the first-generation cee’d marked a new era for Kia’s growth in Europe, as the very first Kia model to be designed, engineered and manufactured exclusively in Europe. Designed at Kia’s Frankfurt Design Centre, the cee’d surpassed the rising expectations of existing Kia buyers and attracted European consumers who hadn’t yet considered Kia.

The cee’d’s name highlights its European origins, with a model code indicative of Kia’s commitment to the continent. Codenamed ‘ED’ during the development of the first, standing for ‘European Design’. Meanwhile, the ‘CE’ symbolises the car’s conception, development and production in – and for – the Community of Europe.

An instant success, 646,305 units of the first-generation cee’d were manufactured from 2006 to 2012. The second-generation of the car has found 353,695 buyers across Europe since its introduction, offering a high-quality, classy interior, striking exterior design and wide range of fuel-efficient engines. 

Like every Kia car sold in Europe, the cee’d benefits from Kia’s unique 7-Year, 100,000 mile warranty.

The cee’d model family has grown to a three-strong model line-up, incorporating the five-door cee’d hatchback, cee’d Sportswagon and pro_cee’d three-door hatchback. 

In 2013, Kia developed the range further with the introduction of the high-powered cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT, Kia’s first ever performance models. Both performance models are also manufactured in Žilina.

Last year, Kia produced over 323,000 cars and 493,000 engines in Slovakia, representing a 12-month production record for the company. Kia Motors Slovakia employs over 3,800 staff, working three shifts on the modern production line.

Since volume production began, the popular Kia cee’d model family has accounted for half of overall production, followed by the Sportage and Venga. Kia models from the facility are exported to 76 global markets, with the majority of cars going to buyers across Europe and Russia. 

From 2006, Russia has accounted for over one fifth of all cee’d sales (207,597), while the car has also proven popular in the UK (102,858) and Germany (99,080).