Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Kia Motors dreams up Super Bowl Commercial
- “Drive the Dream” campaign’s soundtrack includes The Chordettes’ recording of “Mr. Sandman” and Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart”
- Noam Murro, director of the upcoming Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ “300” prequel, helms fast-growing automaker’s Super Bowl ad for second consecutive year
IRVINE, Calif., January 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Dreams have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout history, and Kia Motors America (KMA) is tapping into the idea of dreams revealing true desires in a new 60-second commercial set to air during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. In the spot, titled “Drive the Dream,” the new 2012 Optima Limited races through a Gen X couple’s wildest thoughts as they sleep, including: Victoria’s Secret® Angel Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag at a speedway; an in-your-face Mötley Crüe concert; mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell battling in the ring; a heroine and hunk on horseback in a romance novel setting; champion bull rider Judd Leffew taming a bucking rhinoceros; and a fairy tale ending.
Kia returns to the big game for the third straight year with a fully integrated marketing campaign incorporating TV, cinema, digital, print, social media and in-dealership components. In a Super Bowl advertising first, the complete “Drive the Dream” ad will premiere on February 2 on more than 18,000 movie screens nationwide in National CineMedia’s FirstLook pre-show program before airing in the game. Kia also will run 15-second teaser ads featuring Adriana Lima on TV and in cinema beginning on January 27, while also leveraging the Twitter and Facebook channels of the spot's celebrity cast. A special expanded version of the ad will be available at YouTube.com/Kia beginning on February 2.
“With more than 100 million people watching the Super Bowl broadcast and millions more viewing content online around the world, Kia will once again deliver a memorable, one-of-a-kind campaign that entertains people before, during and after the game and leaves them wanting to see the Optima Limited fantasy again and again,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “We selected an eclectic group of celebrities and personalities for ‘Drive the Dream’ to enable us to tap into a diverse body of fan bases and leverage each talent’s expansive social media footprint.”
Created by David&Goliath, “Drive the Dream” opens with the familiar notes of The Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” as a real-life Mr. Sandman enters the bedroom of an unsuspecting young couple who are asleep. After being sprinkled with “Sweet Dreams” dust, the woman smiles and envisions herself on a horse with a romance novel-like hunk in a beautiful green meadow. Meanwhile, Mr. Sandman accidentally stumbles and spills his entire night’s dust supply on the man, launching an extreme dream sequence that begins with the roaring guitars of Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart” and Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag as he blasts around a race track at night in a Snow White Pearl Optima Limited with thousands of bikini-clad fans cheering him on from the stands.
As he circles the track with Lima looking on adoringly, the dreaming driver receives nods of approval from the band as bursts of flames and fireworks surround their stage as well as Chuck Liddell, champion bull rider Judd Leffew, and a pair of lumberjacks sawing a massive submarine sandwich.
“Mötley Crüe had a blast doing the Kia commercial,” said bassist Nikki Sixx. “A hot model, a fast car, a pro fighter, pyrotechnics and rock n' roll...What's not to love?”
Much to the disbelief of Lima and drummer Tommy Lee, the high-octane dream turns into a fairy tale when the husband makes a conscious decision to drive the Optima Limited off the race track and into his wife’s fantasy to win her back from Prince Charming.
“After working with Kia for the Super Bowl last year I was drawn to work with the fast-growing brand again by the idea of exploring people’s ultimate fantasies in a fun and lighthearted way, and I am certain we have created a spot people will be talking about after the game,” said director, Noam Murro.
As part of the “Drive the Dream” campaign, beginning on Thursday, February 2 consumers can download a $25 pre-paid test drive voucher1 at Kia.com that is redeemable after eligible consumers visit a Kia dealership and complete a test drive of any Optima model.
New for 20122, the Optima Limited adds a new level refinement to the premium technology, convenience and performance features found on Kia’s award-winning turbocharged Optima SX. In addition to head-turning design, class-leading horsepower and fuel efficiency and a class-exclusive panoramic sunroof, the Optima Limited offers elegant touches that modern drivers would expect to find in the car of their dreams, such as: unique design 18-inch wheels, high-grade Nappa leather seating, LED accent lights, chrome exterior accents and sporty red brake calipers.
Kia Motors is the one of the world’s fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America’s full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality3 and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking4. Kia’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company’s two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan5. Kia’s value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.
Courtesy of Kia Media
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Kia Rio now with three doors
This week's relentless cavalcade of small cars continues with Kia opening the order books on the first three-door version of the Kia Rio, the Korean automaker's ever-popular hatchback.
There are four engines on offer - two petrol and two diesel. The most efficient is the 1.1-litre 74bhp diesel with CO2 emissions at 99g/km and fuel economy at a rather pleasing 74.3mpg. Torque is at 125lb-ft, not bad at all for a compact car. Bump yourself up to a 1.4-litre diesel and you'll get 89bhp, 162lb-ft of torque, emissions at 105g/km and fuel economy at the 70.6mpg mark. The stop-start feature is standard on all new Rio diesels.
The two petrol engines are the entry-level 1.25-litre Kappa engine with 83bhp and 89 lb-ft of torque, also on offer in the new Picanto, Kia's smallest car. The 1.4-litre Gamma engine offers 107bhp and 101lb-ft of torque as well as the option of an automatic gearbox.
Four levels of trim are on offer, just like the five-door version and at the entry level there are still plenty of good standard features such as daytime running lights, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and wing mirrors, speed-variable front wipers, headlamp levelling, front electric windows, 15-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver's seat, two-way steering column adjustment on the petrol model, a tachometer and trip computer, split folding rear seats, a boot light, a 12-volt power socket and an MP3-compatible RDS radio and CD player with USB and AUX ports.
At the top of the range, the level '3' specs include17-inch alloys with low-profile tyres, LED daytime running and rear combination lamps, automatic air conditioning with auto de-fog, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic projection-type headlights, heated front seats and six speakers.
Standard safety specs include electronic stability control, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, emergency stop signalling, Hill-Start Assist Control, front and rear crumple zones, twin front, side and curtain airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners with load limiters in the front.
Courtesy of Totally Motor
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Kia Motors America renews NBA team partnerships and establishes a new one
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IRVINE Calif., January 19, 2012 - Kia Motors America (KMA), the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.1, has added a new team to its National Basketball Association (NBA) team partnerships by becoming the "Official Vehicle of the Golden State Warriors." Beginning with the 2011-2012 basketball season, KMA also has renewed relationships with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Miami HEAT, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, while the Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers remain on Kia Motors' roster in 2011-2012 as part of multi-year agreements. Kia's U.S. sales have increased 78 percent since 2008 and the company's unprecedented growth is the direct result of expanded brand visibility through high-profile partnerships, including involvement on- and off-the-court in professional basketball. Kia is currently in its fifth year as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA, which is the brand's largest U.S. sports marketing initiative. After he leaped over an Optima midsize sedan to become the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest champion, NBA All-Star Blake Griffin became a global brand ambassador for Kia. The brand also serves as the Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star, title partner of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, and an Official Automotive Partner of NBA Cares. Kia also is the title sponsor of ESPN's "Kia NBA Countdown." "Kia's involvement with the NBA and nearly half of the league's teams has driven dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand and was a major factor in our best-ever sales total in 2011," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "All of our team partnerships leverage the excitement of the game and increase Kia's interaction with the passionate fan bases in each market, and we are proud to add the Golden State Warriors to our roster and establish a relationship with Bay Area basketball fans." Kia's 13 NBA team designations are as follows:
Kia's growing roster of sports initiatives includes basketball, women's professional golf and motorsports and is designed to increase brand awareness among a new and more affluent group of consumers. Michelle Wie is the brand's official golf ambassador and Kia was recently named the Official Automotive Partner of the LPGA in addition to its role as title sponsor of the annual Kia Classic tournament in Southern California. In just its second year, Kia's U.S. racing program captured the company's first-ever championships in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and it will expand to include the Pirelli World Challenge in 2012. With several key initiatives planned for 2012, Kia Motors is poised to continue driving increased consumer interest and expanding its brand presence with new and enhanced partnerships while continuing to deliver world-class design, cutting-edge technology, modern conveniences and amenities, and outstanding safety features in all its vehicles. Kia's Unprecedented Growth  Courtesy of Kia Media |
Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
2012 Kia Rio 5-door named "Subcompact Car of the Year"
All-New Hatchback Recognized for Standout Combination of Safety Features, Fun-to-Drive Performance and Tremendous Value
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IRVINE, Calif., January 12, 2012 - Adding another feather to its cap, Kia Motors America's (KMA) all-new 2012 Rio 5-door has been named one of the top five cars of the year by FAMA's "Mujeres Al Volante." FAMA is a leading modern lifestyle magazine in Spanish, and the Mujeres Al Volante awards honor vehicles that meet the priorities of U.S. Hispanic women when considering a new vehicle. The Rio 5-door was recognized for its long list of standard safety features, modern amenities, outstanding fuel economy, strong family appeal and world-class design.  "The 'Subcompact of the Year' award for the all-new Rio 5-door from Mujeres Al Volante is the latest example of the impact the Kia brand is having in the U.S. market with unprecedented growth and an exciting lineup of vehicles that deliver cutting-edge technology, eye-catching design and class-leading fuel economy," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "Kia is one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.3, and vehicles such as the Rio 5-door continue to raise awareness, perception and consideration for the brand by attracting new, style-conscious consumers to our showrooms." The Rio 5-door's innovative green technology and features also impressed the Mujeres Al Volante editors. In addition to being the first in the segment to offer the fuel-saving Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology (available later this year), the Rio 5-door's seat foam material is made from 100-percent biodegradable and non-toxic castor oil, which reduces the use of petroleum-based products. At the end of its lifespan, 85 percent of the all-new Rio's materials are recyclable. "The Rio 5-door has exceeded our expectations, and we think it's in the top of its class when it comes to appealing to Hispanic women," said Ileana Muniz, editor-in-chief of FAMA's Autos Mujeres Al Volante. "On top of its outstanding design, the Rio 5-door handles well and is environmentally friendly with 40 MPG and ISG technology." About the 2012 Rio
Courtesy of Kia Media |
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Taking “Green” to the Next Level
What’s your idea of a “green” car? Good fuel economy? Low carbon emissions? Neon green paint job? ;-) Let’s add two more factors to the list: energy usage during a vehicle’s manufacturing and percentage of recyclable parts when it’s time for a car to hit the salvage yard. Kia has continued to raise the bar for years in order to protect the environment as a truly eco-friendly company.
For instance, all Kia factories have been reducing the amount of water used for production by 27 percent over the past seven years. Since 2005, we’ve been recycling heat from the manufacturing process to steadily decrease the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. These innovative green processes have been reinforced by Kia’s commitment to set higher standards on reducing pollutants beyond government requirements.
Our US Georgia plant in particular has a “Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) Environmental Policy Statement,” which was put in place to reaffirm environment-friendliness as a core value. It emphasizes:
• Compliance with legal and other environmental requirements
• Continuous improvement of environmental programs and performance
• Pollution prevention, waste minimization, and resource conservation
• Reduction of environmental impacts
The Georgia plant isn’t alone. Our plant in Zilina, Slovakia has been using advanced technologies for minimal impact on the environment. This factory was recognized in 2008 as an “environmentally-friendly” facility, earning the ISO 14001 International Certificate of Environmental Management.
Figure 2. Kia Zilina Plant
In addition, domestic plants in Sohari and Hwasung South Korea have implemented a “zero landfill waste” policy for the last two years. Last year, the top three Korean plants: Sohari, Hwasung and Gwangju, recycled almost 94 percent of waste from their production.
Figure 3. Kia Sohari Plant Figure 4. Kia Hwasung Plant Figure 5. Kia Gwangju Plant
Kia has completely transformed to not only providing green cars, but to also consider the impacts on the environment when producing them. Don’t forget that there is more to “green” than just good fuel economy and fewer CO2 emissions.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Automakers Rush To Offer Apps in Cars
An infotainment revolution is coming to cars and, yes, there's an app for that.
Just as apps have transformed smartphones and tablets, car console screens are the next frontier. While thousands of apps are available for download for personal devices, automakers have so far allowed only a select few to show up while you are driving. Ford Motor will announce it is doubling the number of apps available for its Sync in-car infotainment system to 10 at next week's International Consumer Electronics Show. Mercedes-Benz and Kia are going to reveal the first apps for their respective infotainment systems at the same Las Vegas trade expo. As revolutions go, this one started fitfully with just a handful of apps. Drivers can activate the car's controls to make dinner reservations through Toyota's Entune system or use the car's voice-command system to select music over Ford Sync. But the number of available apps is expected to multiply to dozens or perhaps hundreds over the next few years, just as they proliferated for Apple's iPhone or Google's Android smartphones. "It's much more about extending the digital lifestyle to the vehicle," says Thilo Koslowski, automotive practice leader for Gartner, a research and consulting company. The car becomes "the ultimate mobile device." Using apps behind the wheel, however, isn't the same as ambling down a sidewalk with a smartphone. Automakers are being careful to roll out only those they don't think will raise issues about driver distraction. Most of the existing apps are automotive versions of ones available to all smartphone users. Many in the next wave will be specifically aimed at enhancing the driving experience. Some possibilities: Instead of receiving generic Groupon-style local deal offers, imagine getting location-specific discounts as you drive near a business and then being given turn-by-turn directions to get there. If you're a news radio fan, you could get a tailored newscast in which you hear only the stories or topics of most interest to you - instead of listening to the standard fare. Accidentally leave the printout of the party invitation on the kitchen table? No problem if you can transfer e-invites and calendar items directly to your car, which would then direct you to your destination with turn-by-turn instructions. Why apps? Because automakers say they are trying to fill in a big gap in their customers' electronic lives. "When people get in their cars, they feel like they are not connected anymore. We want to change that," says Alfred Tom, a researcher and investment analyst at General Motors' Silicon Valley outpost. "That's what apps are going to do: Make people feel connected." Lots of ideas In the pursuit of new apps, automakers are being bombarded by developers pitching ideas. Of the thousands of Web developers who have approached Ford Motor about creating apps for cars, only a relative few will make it through the development process, says Julius Marchwicki, Sync AppLink product manager. "We are moving forward as best we can," he says, noting the complications of finding apps that can be used at 70 miles per hour. "Our solutions, as they are today, are much safer than using a handheld device." Among major automakers, Ford Motor has shown arguably the greatest interest in apps, making them the focus of its Sync system developed in conjunction with Microsoft. Ford already has five apps - music services Pandora, Stitcher, Slacker Radio, iHeartRadio and Twitter interface OpenBeak. Besides the ones being announced next week, Ford says to expect a slew of new ones in the next three years. "If we don't have more than 50 to 75 apps, I will be disappointed," says Doug VanDagens, global director of Ford Connected Services. To find new ones, Ford held a contest at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon last year in San Francisco, where about 100 teams labored 24 hours to try to come up with realistic apps for cars, then made a presentation about them. The winner: Roximity, a Denver start-up that has developed an app to present real-time deals to motorists, then directs them to the location for that cheap burrito or pair of Nikes. "We left that day knowing we had won," says Danny Newman, one of Roximity's founders. The deal app was developed initially for mobile phones, but cars soon became a natural target when developers figured out they could combine the discount deals with GPS directions to deliver customers literally to a business' front door. For the car, simplicity is the key: A deal will pop up on the car's dashboard display as a driver motors along. Pushing a single button will direct the car to the location, Newman says. Or a driver can initiate a search. Craving Thai food? Roximity will be able to direct a driver to the closest restaurant that's part of its deal network. Each automaker is taking a different approach. Mercedes-Benz, for instance, is creating an app-studded infotainment system that doesn't require drivers to bring their smartphones into the car. Ford has distinguished itself with a system based on voice commands so drivers don't have to become distracted fiddling with the car's controls. Kia's voice-activated system is going to focus on a single app that acts as an umbrella over a suite of services, such as one that informs parents if their teenagers drive outside of a zone that they had approved. "You have 18 different car manufacturers and 18 different approaches," says GM's Tom. Keeping image in mind Each also wants its own distinctive look, incorporating apps that look and feel compatible with the heritage or image of the brand, says Derek Kuhn, vice president for QNX Software Systems, which creates software for auto infotainment systems. BMW has developed apps for both its mainline German luxury brand and its quirky Mini brand. For Mini, it has taken an open approach, allowing such popular services as Facebook, Twitter and Google searches. Now, as the company looks to its next choices, it sees myriad options. "There is no one winner right now," says Rob Passaro, head of the BMW AppCenter, also in Silicon Valley. "You are going to see a lot more experimentation." But Mini will clearly keep its orientation toward youthful automotive fun as it scouts for apps, he says. Passaro points out that since your car knows the current weather, why couldn't an app suggest music to play based on a sunny day or a foggy one? No wonder that music services are flocking to developing their own apps. Music service Slacker is working to draw automakers to its apps "because there's a great advantage for us to be a first mover," getting out ahead of other apps, says Jonathan Sasse, senior vice president of the customizable music service. Others see apps as a way to extend the brand. IHeartRadio, a digital service created by Clear Channel, one of the nation's largest radio broadcasters, is aimed at allowing motorists to listen to content from its 800 stations and be able to customize it. While 93% of Americans listen to radio, only 5% listen to digital radio. Now they will be able to, says Brian Lakamp, president of Clear Channel Digital. A revolution? "Without question," Lakamp says.Courtesy of Kia Media Tracking Report.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Kia Optima Named Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year
Kia's midsize sedan heralded for design, technology, performance
| IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 - Following a year in which Kia Motors America (KMA) received more vehicle awards and accolades than ever before, the brand's stylish Optima mid-size sedan kicked the New Year off in high gear by being named "2012 Sedan of the Year" by Autobytel. Recognized by the automotive research website's editors as "setting the bar" in the sedan category, the Optima took top honors against tough competition with its head-turning design, roomy interior and outstanding fuel economy. "Since its introduction, the Optima has been attracting new customers to the brand with the right balance of performance, modern amenities and fuel economy that consumers are looking for," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing and communications, KMA. "The mid-size sedan segment is more competitive than ever, and Autobytel's recognition of the Optima continues to keep Kia's momentum going into 2012." Autobytel is an automotive research website providing consumers with the information they need to purchase new and used cars. Over their 75 years of combined experience, Autobytel editors have driven hundreds of vehicles and have chosen the 2012 Sedan of the Year based on the Optima's game-changing market potential, advances in design and overall performance and efficiency options. About the 2012 Optima Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Courtesy of Kia Media |
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