My thoughts on all things motoring, press releases, reviews & techie stuff, from around the world.
Please note that the pictures of vehicles within this blog are used as examples of the specific press releases, on occasions, due to the lack of available official pictures, examples are re-produced.
ANY AND ALL PROFANITIES WILL BE REMOVED AND THE PERSON/S RESPONSIBLE WILL BE BANNED, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Purpose
I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.
High specification for new three-door special edition
Three-door only with standard Titanium Silver metallic paintwork
Manual and auto versions available with 1.25-litre 84bhp engine
Priced at £11,895 (manual) and £12,495 (auto)
On sale now
Kia’s popular city-car Picanto range has been widened with a new highly-specified special edition model – the Picanto Quantum. Forming part of Kia’s ‘Originals’ range – a line-up of models with distinct personalities that are changed at regular intervals along the lines of a fashion collection – the Quantum is uniquely available in 3-door guise but with the choice of a manual or automatic transmission.
Powered by a 1.25-litre petrol engine, developing 84bhp at 6,000rpm and 120Nm torque at 4,000rpm, the Picanto Quantum is finished in Titanium Silver metallic paintwork with premium black cloth interior upholstery and sits alongside the existing Picanto ‘White’ in the ‘Originals’ programme.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch five-round-spoke alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, a smart key entry system with engine start/stop button, electric sliding and tilting sunroof, electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors with LED indicator lights, front foglights, a six-speaker audio system, body-coloured side sill mouldings and automatic headlight control with ‘see-you-home’ and ‘welcome’ lighting.
The Picanto Quantum also adds to its list of standard equipment with an ‘Urban Pack’ consisting of reversing sensors, LED ambient interior lighting, a premium Supervision instrument cluster and an illuminated driver’s side vanity mirror. There is also UV solar windscreen glass to reduce glare and UV light in the cabin and privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate.
The Quantum manual version costs £11,895 and has a five-speed gearbox. Its combined fuel economy is 62.8mpg with CO2 emissions of 106g/km. It has a top speed of 106mph and accelerates from 0-60mph in 11.0 seconds.
The four-speed Quantum automatic is priced at £12,495. Its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are 50.4mpg and 130g/km respectively, while the performance details are 0-60mph in 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 101mph.
Both models benefit from an insurance rating in group 12, Kia’s industry-leading fully-transferable seven year warranty and are available with Kia’s inflation-proof and fixed price Care-3 servicing package for just £299. The Picanto Quantum models are now available in showrooms.
Enhanced driving dynamics thanks to new cee’d-based chassis
Priced from just £12,600
A new, second-generation version of the Kia Soul, the stylish and highly original compact crossover which started the design-led revolution that has transformed perceptions of the company in the UK, is now on sale from just £12,600.
It delivers even more dramatic SUV crossover styling, greater space in a revitalised and higher-quality cabin, enhanced safety and sharper driving dynamics thanks to a new chassis based on that of the Kia cee’d. The new Soul is available with a choice of two efficient engines and five trim levels. It draws extensively from Kia’s highly praised Track’ster concept car from the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.
The first Soul from 2008 – fresh, funky, original and bold – demonstrated that Kia could design and engineer cars which were out of the ordinary, without losing its focus on practicality and value for money. It went on to become a top five car in its class and market leader in the United States and China. In 2012, the last full year the original model was in production, Kia sold almost 165,000 units, despite the arrival of several newer competitors.
The new model arrives at the perfect moment to take advantage of the boom in the compact crossover market. Annual sales of this type of car in Western Europe are forecast to rise from around 380,000 in 2013 to more than 600,000 by 2015. Just over a quarter of buyers are British.
All versions are front-wheel-drive five-door crossovers – Kia research has shown that while buyers desire the appearance, semi-elevated driving position and perceived safety advantages of a 4x4, they do not want the higher fuel consumption and taxation that four-wheel drive entails.
The new Soul in a snapshot
As with the previous model, the new Soul offers buyers a choice of efficient 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol and turbodiesel engines tuned for effortless driving flexibility. The diesel Soul has CO2 emissions as low as 132g/km and fuel economy as high as 56.5mpg. Kia has already announced that towards the end of 2014 there will be a fully-electric version of the car, called Soul EV – the company’s first global commercial EV – with zero tailpipe emissions.
There are three regular trim lines – Start, Connect and Connect Plus – which will be joined in the summer by the Soul Mixx and Soul Maxx, with even more extrovert styling and higher levels of technology than ever before.
More stylish, more SUV in appearance
The new Soul design team, led by Tom Kearns, chief designer at the company’s California studios, has adopted as many elements of the Track’ster concept as is feasible for a production car. The result is a sportier, more tough-looking new Soul which maintains what Kearns calls the “bulldog” proportions of the Track’ster.
The upright stance, square shoulders and distinctive bumper flares instantly identify it as a Soul, but it has a 20mm longer wheelbase – now 2,570mm – which stretches the car by a corresponding amount to 4,140mm, and it is 15mm wider at 1,800mm. With the height lowered by 10mm to 1,600mm, the new car appears more squat, sporty and purposeful. There are benefits for practicality, too: the tailgate opening is 62mm wider and provides access to a four per cent larger boot – 354 litres with the rear seats upright, With the rears seats folded the luggage capacity is 994 litres to the cargo cover and a maximum of 1,367 litres up to the roof level.
Exterior similarities to the Track’ster concept include the large trapezoidal lower air intake at the front, front foglights mounted low and pushed to the outer edges, a restyled version of Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille and a floating body-colour ‘backpack’ panel set into the tailgate.
Much-loved themes from the first Soul, such as the wraparound greenhouse – with privacy and solar glass on the Soul Mixx and Maxx – and high-mounted stacked tail lamps have been preserved. But a great deal of effort has gone into giving the new car more of a premium look through detailing like the LED indicators in the mirror housings on all but the Soul Start; the projection headlights with LED daytime running lamps, LED rear lamps and chromed exterior door handles on the Soul Mixx and Maxx; and panoramic sunroof on the Soul Maxx.
More room, more quality
Themes from the Track’ster concept car are also to be found in the interior, especially in the use of circular patterns. The ideas were inspired by the ripples which spread outwards when drops of water land on the still surface of a pond.
There is also a more premium look and feel to the interior. This has been achieved through the choice of materials; the soft-touch facings on the instrument panel, centre console and door panels; the leather-covered steering wheel rim and gearlever knob (except Soul Start) and the high-gloss black finishings on the fascia panel, steering wheel bezel, door armrests and upper console cover (Soul Connect upwards). In the three upper-grade versions there are front speaker mood lights, while the range-topping Soul Maxx has a TFT instrument cluster and leather upholstery.
The new Soul provides more passenger and luggage space than the previous model and has new seats that offer increased sideways and thigh support. There is more head and shoulder room for the driver and front passenger, while in the rear of the cabin up to three people enjoy more knee and leg space. The step-in point and hip point are also lower, making it easier to get in and out. The windscreen pillars are further away from the front occupants, and there is a lower centre tunnel to improve arm and elbow space.
Occupants will also find the cabin is quieter thanks to liberal use of expansion foam, replacing the previous block foam, in the body cavities. A reinforced isolation pad in the cargo area and polyurethane-layered carpet also contribute to a reduction in interior noise of almost three decibels.
Direct injection boosts driveability and efficiency
Both engines adopt direct fuel injection to ensure they use only as much fuel as they need at any time. Direct injection, with turbocharging in the case of the U2 diesel engine, also helps to boost low-speed response and driveability.
The 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine was designed and engineered at European Technical Centre at Russelsheim, just outside Frankfurt, and is made at the company’s manufacturing facility at Žilina, in Slovakia. It develops 126bhp and 260Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-60mph is achieved in 10.8 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox, while the top speed is 112mph. The figures with the six-speed automatic gearbox are 11.8 seconds and 110mph.
Manual versions have combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg with CO2 emissions of 132g/km, while the figures for the automatic are a highly impressive 47.1mpg and 158g/km.
The new Soul is also available with Kia’s 1.6-litre GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine. GDi makes it possible to raise power and torque levels while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It develops 130bhp and 161Nm of torque and accelerates from 0-60mph in 10.6 seconds, with a top speed of 115mph. Average fuel consumption of the Start, Connect and Connect Plus models is 41.5mpg with CO2 emissions of 158g/m, while for the Mixx and Maxx with 18-inch wheels the figures are 38.7mpg and 170g/km.
The Soul’s fun-to-drive handling characteristics are bolstered by improved ride quality to cope with deteriorating roads. New suspension bushing, a suspension insulator at the front and revised suspension geometry at the rear have improved both comfort and quietness. All of this has been aided by the greater rigidity of the new Soul thanks to a considerable increase in the use of high-tensile steel in the construction.
The Soul continues to use Kia’s Motor Driven Power Steering system, now with the adoption of Flex Steer, the variable-assistance function which allows drivers to adjust the degree of assistance provided according to preference and where the car is being driven. For parking or manoeuvring in narrow town streets the Comfort setting offers increased assistance, while for highway driving at speed the Sport mode reduces the amount of help to maximise feedback and stability. There is also a Normal setting that is suited to most everyday driving conditions.
More equipment, more technology
Kia will offer five trim options with the new Soul in the UK, all featuring significant upgrades in equipment and technology compared with the previous model. The five grades are Soul Start, Soul Connect, Soul Connect Plus, Soul Mixx and Soul Maxx.
New standard features on every Soul are a DAB radio, Flex Steer variable power-assisted steering and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Also fitted to every model are painted bumpers, door handles and side mirror casings, keyless entry, air conditioning, electrically adjustable door mirrors, electric windows all round, steering wheel-mounted controls, USB and AUX ports and six airbags.
Soul Connect adds artificial leather cluster housings, door centre trim and armrests plus a rear power socket. It has 17-inch alloy wheels in place of the 16-inch steel wheels of Soul Start, front foglamps, door mirror heaters, cruise control with a speed limiter, Bluetooth, a reversing camera, leather steering wheel and gearshift knob, a high-gloss black finish on the centre fascia panel, steering wheel bezel, door armrest and upper console and a storage box between the front seats.
The Soul Connect Plus additionally has a premium Infinity sound system, satellite navigation integrated within the DAB radio a reversing camera and front speaker mood lights.
Soul Mixx has 18-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting colour roof and door mirror casings, high-gloss black bumpers, chrome exterior door handles, LED rear combination lamps, privacy and solar glass, a cooled glovebox, heated front seats and a luggage floor undertray. It is also fitted with the urban styling pack consisting of front, side and rear skirts and a wheel-arch garnish.
Topping the range is the Soul Maxx, which features unique 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a TFT supervision cluster, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors and a smart-entry key and engine start/stop button.
Warranty and Servicing
In common with all Kias, the new Soul is covered by a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty covering all labour and parts except those subject to normal wear and tear. The warranty is transferable if the car is sold before the time/mileage limit expires.
For retail customers, the new Soul is available with Kia’s Care-3 (three years) and Care-3 Plus (five years) servicing and maintenance packages. These ensure fixed-price, inflation-proof routine care using only Kia factory parts and Kia trained technicians. They are transferable to subsequent owners if the car is sold before they expire.
New top-of-the-range Picanto ‘4’ and Rio ‘4’ versions added to range
pro_cee’d becomes available in ‘SE Tech’ trim
Picanto ‘3’ and Rio ‘3’ now offered with automatic transmission
Sorento ‘KX-4’ becomes flagship of the Kia range
Models fulfil demand for increasingly higher specification levels
All available with Kia’s all-inclusive Care-3 servicing packages and seven year warranty
Kia is adding high-spec models across its line up and making automatic transmission more widely available on the Picanto and Rio. The additions are in answer to customers seeking even greater luxury, and will help Kia maintain its phenomenal record-breaking sales growth in the UK.
Luxury touches and extra technology make the Sorento ‘KX-4’ the brand’s new flagship, offering customers features usually associated with high-price premium brands. New top-of-the-range Picanto ‘4’ and Rio ‘4’ variants introduce features never previously available on Kia’s smaller cars, while the stylish and sporty pro_cee’d is now offered in ‘SE Tech’ specification, with substantial equipment upgrades over the previous top version, the ‘SE’. At the same time the Picanto ‘3’ and Rio ‘3’ offer the option of a four-speed automatic gearbox, that will appeal to buyers who spend substantial amounts of time in heavily trafficked urban areas.
Sorento ‘KX-4’
The new addition to Kia’s larger SUV range still features the standard 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine common to the model with a CO2 figure of 178g/km. But customers will benefit from the extra technology and luxury added to the car to meet increasing demands from customer for a higher specification. Parallel Park Assist automatically monitors parking spaces through 10 sensors and automatically operates the steering wheel to neatly park the vehicle in the available space. The memory seat function on the driver’s seat allows two users to have automatically set adjustment. Stylish 19-inch alloy wheels, rear side door sunshade blinds and a silver front mesh grille and chrome surround add identifiable touches to the Sorento’s road presence. The Sorento ‘KX-4’ is priced at £36,495 and is in insurance group 22.
pro_cee’d ‘SE Tech’
The pro_cee’d ‘SE Tech’ is the most lavishly equipped version of Kia’s European-designed, European-engineered and European-built three-door hatchback. It is available exclusively with a 1.6-litre 126bhp CRDi turbodiesel engine and six-speed manual gearbox, and is priced at £22,795.
It has identical insurance, economy and performance figures to the pro_cee’d ‘SE’ fitted with the same engine – officially rated 65.7mpg on the combined cycle, CO2 emissions of 112g/km, 0-60mph in 10.5 seconds, 192lb/ft torque between 1,900rpm and 2,750rpm, and a 122mph top speed. The insurance category is group 13.
Standard equipment additions over the ‘SE’ include black leather seats with contrasting mesh inserts, an electric tilting and sliding sunroof with an automatic electric roller blind, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, front parking sensors and Kia’s Parallel Park Assist System (PPAS), that identifies suitable kerbside spaces and steers the car into them automatically.
The instrument cluster features a totally digital LCD colour display that graphically illustrates the chosen Flex Steer system mode and the operation of the PPAS. The font size can be enlarged if required and the display can be switched to kilometres per hour for European driving. The upgraded equipment is completed with an automatic parking brake that frees space in the premium centre console for a new sliding armrest and cup-holder. A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is also standard.
Picanto ‘4’
The range-topping five-door Picanto ‘4’ is powered by a 1.25-litre 84bhp petrol engine driving through a five-speed manual gearbox linked to Kia’s fuel-saving ISG engine stop/start system. The car maintains the extensive equipment offered on the Picanto ‘3’ – including automatic air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and LED rear combination lights, a premium Supervision instrument cluster and heated front seats – and supplements it with a number of luxury features.
The comfort and appearance are enhanced by an electric tilting and sliding sunroof and, for the first time in a Picanto, UV solar windshield glass to reduce glare and UV light in the cabin and privacy glass on the rear windows and tailgate. Usually the preserve of larger and more luxurious vehicles, a heated steering wheel also makes the standard equipment list as does a smart key entry system and engine start/stop button.
The performance and fuel economy details are: 62.8mpg on the official combined cycle, CO2 emissions of 106g/km, a torque output of 89lb/ft at 4,000rpm, 0-60mph in 11.0 seconds and a top speed of 106mph. The Picanto ‘4’ is in insurance group 12 and is priced at £11,995.
Picanto ‘3’ Automatic 5-door
The five-door Picanto ‘3’ Automatic is also powered by the 1.25-litre 84bhp petrol engine, producing 89 lb/ft torque at 4,000rpm, and is priced at £11,045. It is identically equipped to other Picanto ‘3’ variants, but features the four-speed automatic transmission previously available only on the three-door Picanto White and five-door Picanto ‘2’. In automatic form the Picanto ‘3’ is capable of 53.3mpg on the official combined cycle and has CO2 emissions of 125g/km. It accelerates from 0-60mph in 12.9 seconds, has a top speed of 101mph and is in insurance group 10.
Rio ‘4’
The new top-of-the-range Rio ‘4’ adds to the existing ‘3’ specification with convenience touches including a smart key with engine start button, a power sliding and tilting sunroof, black leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel.
Rio ‘4’ is available in petrol and diesel engine variants. At £15,495 the 1.4 four-cylinder 107bhp petrol version features a six speed manual transmission, CO2 emissions of 124g/km and an insurance group of 9. The six-speed manual transmission, 89bhp 1.4 CRDi diesel variant produces 105 g/km of CO2 and is priced at £16,595 with an insurance group of 7.
Rio ‘3’ Automatic 5-door
The Rio ‘3’ Automatic is also available only as a five-door model, has a 107bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine producing 101lb/ft of torque at 4,200rpm and costs £15,100. Standard equipment matches that of other Rio ‘3’ versions, but with the deletion of the ISG engine stop/start system fitted to manual-gearbox models. Combined fuel economy is 44.1mpg, with CO2 emissions of 150g/km. The car accelerates from 0-60mph in 12.7 seconds and has a top speed of 105mph. Previously, the four-speed automatic was offered only on the Rio ‘2’.
In keeping with every Kia, these new additions to the line-up come with the company’s industry leading seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, subject to certain wear and tear conditions. It is fully transferable should the car be sold before the time or mileage limits have been reached.
All of these new versions are available with Kia’s Care-3 and Care-3 Plus servicing package, offering retail customers fixed-cost, inflation-proof servicing for the first three or five years. All work is carried out by trained technicians using genuine Kia replacement parts and specified oils. Packages cover the car, not the owner, so are transferable should the vehicle be sold. If a vehicle with a Care-3 package is sold on then the next owner may upgrade to the five year service package. Care-3 packages are priced from £299 – for the Picanto and Rio ranges – £329 for the pro_cee’d range and £349 for Sorento.
