Car Sport 2011: Kia Sorento

Showing posts with label Kia Sorento. Show all posts

12/3/09

Kia to Drop the Ball on 2011 Sorento Billboard at Times Square on New Year's Eve

Hyundai's Times Square billboard in Manhattan will soon be joined by a new outdoor campaign from the Korean automaker's sister company, Kia. In preparation for the arrival of the all-new 2011 Sorento, Kia has announced that it has secured a 60 by 40 foot billboard showcasing its CUV / SUV at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Times Square. The new advertisement will become visible when the famed ball drops on New Year's Eve.

"From tourists and theatergoers to the New Year's Eve ball drop, millions of people from all over the world will get their first glimpse of the all-new Sorento, the latest chapter in Kia's design-led brand transformation," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA.

"Kia Motors' U.S. marketshare is growing quickly, and establishing a presence in America's most iconic advertising venue is a natural fit for the first Kia vehicle to be built on U.S. soil."

The Korean automaker said that in addition to the Times Square campaign, the new Sorento is also the "Official Vehicle of the NBA" for the current basketball season.

First U.S.-Built Kia Rolls off Production Line at Georgia Plant

The first ever U.S.-made Kia, a 2011 Sorento, rolled off the production line, at the South Korean automaker's newly built factory in the state of Georgia, on Tuesday. The US$1 billion manufacturing plant is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles a year at full capacity and employ 2,500 workers directly, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating another 7,500 additional jobs in the area.

"The start of production at our first manufacturing facility in the United States further demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America and we are proud to be adding 2,500 jobs to the local economy," said B.M. Ahn, President and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG).

With the opening of the Georgia plant, Kia's total global production capacity currently stands at 2.56 million vehicles per year of which 1.53 million units are built at the firm's factories in Korea, 430,000 units in China, 300,000 units in Slovakia and now, 300,000 units in the US.

Kia: Live Photos of KND-5, Sorento and Forte Hybrid from Seoul Show

Boasting an impressive lineup for the magnitude of the Seoul Motor Show, Kia performed the world debut of three new vehicles at the South Korean capital including the firm's first ever hybrid model, the Forte LPI Hybrid that will go on sale in Korea this August. Also on stand were the second generation Sorento that will make its European premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this fall and the KND-5 concept sedan that has gathered a lot of positive reviews for its tasteful exterior design.

New Kia Sorento: First Videos of 7-Seater CUV

Our South Korean sources -chic- have provides us with the first videos of Kia's reborn Sorento that was unveiled at the 2009 International Seoul Motor Show that runs for the public from April 3 to 12. Unlike its more rugged predecessor that featured a body-on-frame structure, the 2010 Sorento uses a unibody architecture as Kia aims to target the more lucrative crossover segment. Depending on the market, the new Sorento will be available with 4-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines plus a 277HP 3.5-liter V6 petrol. Watch both promotional videos after the jump or click here for more info and high-res pictures.

Kia took the wraps off its second generation Sorento today at the opening of the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in Korea (April 3 - 12). Partially inspired from the KND-4 concept, the new Sorento is bigger than the model it replaces with seating for up to seven occupants but also less capable off road as the Korean automaker ditched the body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new unitary (monocoque) bodyshell - hence the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) moniker.

"The dynamic design of new Sorento adopts simple, linear lines to create a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, the new Sorento represents a new breed of vehicle," commented Kia's chief designer, Peter Schreyer.

Longer and lower, the new Sorento measures 4.7 meters or 185-in. in length and can accommodate seven passengers in three rows of seats. Kia claims that interior headroom is increased by 64 mm (to 906 mm) and legroom by 102 mm (to 795 mm) while luggage space has been increased by 15 percent (258lt behind the 3rd row and 1,047 behind the 2nd row), thanks to moving the tailgate back by almost 70 mm.

Depending on the model and the market, the new Sorento will be equipped with keyless entry, engine start button, reversing safety camera, built-in sat-nav and panoramic glass sunroof and a six, eight or 10-speaker audio system, with MP3 and iPod connectivity.

Kia's all-new Sorento will be offered with up to four different engines. In Korea, buyers will able to choose between three engines, including a 2.7-litre V6 unit running on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) that delivers 165HP and 244 Nm of torque, a four-cylinder 2.4-litre Theta II petrol engine with 175HP and 225 Nm, as well as a new four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel producing 197HP and 435 Nm.

Aside from the 2.4-liter petrol unit, in North America, the new Sorento will also be offered with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 277HP and 335 Nm. Depending on the engine, the Sorento can be equipped with five-speed and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Sorento buyers will be able to select between two-wheel and four-wheel drive layouts. The 4WD versions can tow trailers weighing up to 2,500 kg or 5,511 lbs.

"With the new Sorento, we have created an all-new, seven-seater CUV that will soon be recognized as an 'exciting all-rounder' with a much broader customer appeal," commented Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO of the International Business Division. "Despite the current economic uncertainties, we are confident that the new Sorento will significantly increase Kia's share of the CUV market, achieving annual global sales of 140,000 units from 2010," he added.

Worldwide sales of the new Sorento are expected to begin towards the end of the year.

New Photos of 2010 Kia Sorento SUV

In a few weeks time, Kia will officially perform the world premiere of its second-generation Sorento SUV at the Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12. In addition to the official pictures released by Kia, the folks over at Kia-World have got their hands on a new set of images that were allegedly taken during a photo-shoot in Korea.

Rumored to make its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in April, the new Sorento is longer than its predecessor measuring in at 4,685mm (+95mm). However, we're still not aware if it will be available with the option of seven-seats.

The 2010 Sorento's engine line-up is said to include 4-cylinder and V6 gasoline units, a 200HP 2.2-liter diesel and a 2.7-liter unit that can run on LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas).

Via: Kia-Forums

2010 Kia Sorento SUV Officially Revealed in Korea - First Photos

These are the first official pictures of the second-generation Kia Sorento SUV that was revealed today in Korea ahead of its public debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12. While Kia has yet to disclose information on the European or North American-spec model, the company did release initial details on the Korean-market Sorento that will be initially offered with Hyundai's new 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine that produces 200HP and returns 39.8mpg US (7.1 lt/100km) on the combined cycle (automatic transmission).

Depending on the market, the new Sorento will also be available with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline unit, a 2.7-liter LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine as well as a V6 gasoline unit.

The 2010 Sorento is longer than its predecessor measuring at 4,685mm (+95mm) but has retained the same width at 1,885mm while the SUV's height has been reduced by 15mm to 1,710mm. In its official Korean market press release, Kia did reveal whether or not the new Sorento will be offered with the option of 7-seats.