Kelly Blue Book has just released an all new set of awards called the Total Cost of Ownership Awards for current model-year vehicles and brands.

The awards are based on the initial five years of ownership costs, and go to those brands and models with the lowest figures. Costs included are finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, expected fuel costs, depreciation and state fees.

Kia and Audi topped the list with the lowest cost of ownership for the brand and luxury brand categories, respectively. Notable wins include Audi, receiving recognition for fuel economy and low depreciation, while Kia got noticed for its improvement in quality. The Chevy Volt managed to beat out the Nissan Leaf in the Electric car category, while the Nissan Versa just edged out the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris for supcompacts. Honda competed against itself in the hybrid category, with the Insight beating the Civic Hybrid and the CR-Z.

All of the category winners are as follows:

2012 TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP: BRAND
KIA

2012 TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP: LUXURY BRAND
AUDI

2012 TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP: BY VEHICLE CATEGORY

SUBCOMPACT CAR:
Nissan Versa

COMPACT CROSSOVER:
Nissan JUKE

COMPACT CAR:
Kia Soul

CROSSOVER:
Hyundai Santa Fe

MID-SIZE CAR:
Hyundai Sonata

LUXURY CROSSOVER:
Lexus RX 350

FULL-SIZE CAR:
Chevrolet Impala

MID-SIZE SPORT UTILITY:
Jeep Wrangler

ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY CAR:
Volvo C30

FULL-SIZE SPORT UTILITY:
Ford Expedition

LUXURY CAR:
Audi A5

LUXURY SPORT UTILITY:
Audi Q7

HIGH-END LUXURY CAR:
Lexus LS 460

HYBRID UTILITY:
Ford Escape

SPORTS CAR:
Mazda MX-5 Miata

MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK:
Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab

HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAR:
Lexus IS F

FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK:
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab

HYBRID CAR:
Honda Insight

MINIVAN:
Mazda MAZDA5

ELECTRIC CAR:
Chevrolet Volt

- By: Alexandra Koken

“The Optima SX Limited was introduced to the world in our ‘Drive the Dream’ Super Bowl commercial and now visitors to the Chicago Auto Show will experience it firsthand,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “The Limited delivers upscale features and premium materials that discerning midsize sedan customers are not able to find in many of our competitors. The Optima has been earning design, performance and value awards since arriving in showrooms in early 2011, and the Limited is the latest example of the brand’s compelling package of style, fuel economy, technology – and now opulence – to appeal to an even wider consumer base.”

The Kia Optima Limited will be offered exclusively in Ebony Black, Snow White and Titanium Metallic colors and features LED daytime running lights, chrome-accented rear spoiler, lower door sills and wood interior trim. It also gets red front-brake calipers and chrome 18-inch wheels. Based on the Optima SX Turbo, power comes from a 2.0 liter turbo GDI engine making 274-hp with a fuel-economy of 22/34 mpg (city/highway).

On the inside, the Kia Optima Limited gets high-grade black or white Nappa leather on the seats, door panels, center console armrest and center fascia trim. It also has wood accents on the steering wheel, interior door trim and shift knob, and a black tricot fabric headliner, sun visor, and A, B and C pillars. Oh, and just in case it also has a first-aid kit and cloth door weather strip.

Tech wise, the 2013 Kia Optima Limited gets Optima SX equipment including: unique front and rear lower bumper design, sport-tuned suspension, HID headlamps, Supervision meter cluster with LCD display, steering wheel paddle shifters, metal pedals, illuminated door scuff plates, panoramic sunroof, 4-way power front passenger’s seat, driver’s seat memory, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, navigation system with back-up camera and SiriusXM Traffic and Infinity audio system and speakers.

Yes, Kia is moving on up in the world.

- By: Omar Rana

Later this week, Kia will take the wraps off of its Track’ster Concept that will debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The concept was teased earlier this month.

Check out the original teaser here.

Kia says that the Track’ster Concept is based on the Soul city car  and ‘displays the distinctive design direction that the Korean manufacturer is taking.’

The Kia Track’ster will hint at a performance version of the Kia Soul.

- By: Omar Rana

Kia has promised its dealers 100,000 more units this year than last year as it keeps strong in its efforts to keep the Korean brand’s momentum going.

“It’s a work in progress, but that’s our goal,” said Tom Loveless, vice president of sales for Kia Motors America.

If the move is made, an extra 100,000 units would be a 20 percent increase for Kia in 2012. The Korean automaker sold a total of 485,492 units in 2011, a 36 percent jump over 2010.

Kia showrooms faced a tight supply during most of 2011 due to high global demand that put a strain on the company’s production capacity.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

A three year old concept Kia released at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show has been dusted off and scheduled for production.

The Track’ster Concept is the model that will be making its debut next week at the Chicago Auto Show. In the press statement on the release, Kia noted that the Soul’ster convertible is “currently under final assessment for production”.

No details have been given on the upcoming model, but if it is in the final assessment stage, expect to seen the model on showroom floors in the near future.

If the production model is anything like the original concept, expect a convertible-pick up blend, with a roll bar hidden beneath a two-piece removable roof, and room for four.

Power is likely to be shared with the five-door Soul.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: CarScoop

Kia has released its ad spot for Super Bowl XLVI that will be shown during the big game on Sunday.

The commercial, titled ‘Drive the Dream’ the 2012 Kia Optima limited races through a Gen X couple’s wildest thoughts as they sleep – included in the dream is Victoria’s Secret Angel Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag at a speedway; an in-your-face Motley Crue 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. Perfect.

Check out more news on the Kia Optima.

“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.”

Check out the commercial after the jump along with 5 hours of Adriana Lima.

- By: Omar Rana

Usually, the Chicago Auto Show is quite a dull show in terms of press day debuts – however, this year it seems to be turning out quite nicely. Kia has confirmed that it will be debuting a new concept based on its Soul city car model at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show next week.

Known as the Kia Track’ster, the concept was designed by California studio Chief Designer Tom Kearns and his team.

“Powerful and dynamic, Kia’s new concept car displays yet again the distinctive design direction that the Korean manufacturer is taking,” Kia said in a statement. “Track’ster is intended to be the ultimate performance-inspired representation of Kia’s Soul B- segment SUV.

Kia sold more than 102,000 Soul units last year in the United States.

- By: Omar Rana

Super Bowl XLVI is approaching, and Kia, along with all the other automakers, is teasing its upcoming ad campaign for the Feburary 5th event.

To follow up Kia’s time-travel themed ad from last year, the automaker went for a campaign titled “Drive the Dream” for the 2012 Optima Limited edition for this year.

Noam Murro is returning as the director for the 60-second commercial, which features rock band Motley Crue, champion bull rider Judd Leffer, mixed martial arts champion Chuck Liddell, and Victoria’s Secret Angel model Adriana Lima. Murro is confident the ad’s star power and display of “ultimate fantasies in a fun and lighthearted way” will create plenty of buzz for the automaker.

“Mötley Crüe had a blast doing the Kia commercial,” said the group’s bassist Nikki Sixx. “A hot model, a fast car, a pro fighter, pyrotechnics and rock n’ roll…What’s not to love?”

A teaser has already been released, and the “Drive the Dream” campaign will debut on February 2nd on movie screens throughout the U.S.

Check out the teaser after the jump.

By: Alexandra Koken

Kia has just released its first rendering for the upcoming brand new cee’d model, which is set to be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor show.

The five door-hatch body style allows for interior space, while the exterior styling has sport coupe appeal, fitted with accents like tough lines and chrome framed windows.

On the inside, there aren’t many details so far, but we do know that Kia plans on making sure they deliver quality materials, and a driver-focused design.

European deliveries start second-quarter this year, with UK delviers set for June.

- By: Alexandra Koken

The stunning Kia GT four door coupe unveiled at the ‘11 Frankfurt Auto Show may be offered as a 2013 model aimed squarely at the Audi A4/A5 sportback and even the equally fantastic A7.

Kia insiders reveal that the car may be offered not only as a four door coupe but also as a two door and even a wagon, priced very competitively with the aforementioned European offering.

The GT concept currently sports a 3.3 liter gasoline powered ‘six with 390 bhp hooked up to an eight speed automatic, this powertrain choice seems competitive with Audi’s offerings.

This might be a far and away offering for Kia, but ex-’Dub/Audi Peter Schreyer feels differently, since joining Kia in 2006 as their Chief Designer. Schreyer also voiced interest in building a Mazda MX-5 fighter, though this project is only in the musing stage it seems.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: Inside Line

Hyundai Motor Group, which consists of the Hyundai and Kia brands, has plans to invest a total of $12.2 billion research and development and facilities in 2012. The investment is a 15.6 percent increase from 2011.

$4.4 billion of the investment will go into r&d efforts to “accelerate the development of eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles,” Hyundai said. $7.9 billion is earmarked for new facilities. $2.6 billion of the $7.9 billion will be used to upgrade and construct facilities in South Korea and overseas locations.

Hyundai and Kia both reported record sales in the United States in 2011.

The group aims to sell about 7 million vehicles globally in 2012, as compared to 6.5 million in 2011.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

The GT concept currently sports a 3.3 liter gasoline powered ‘six with 390-hp hooked up to an eight speed automatic, this powertrain choice seems competitive with Audi’s offerings.

Click here for our original post on the Kia GT Concept.

This might be a far and away offering for Kia, but ex-’Dub/Audi Peter Schreyer feels differently, since joining Kia in 2006 as their Chief Designer. Schreyer also voiced interest in building a Mazda MX-5 fighter, though this project is only in the musing stage it seems.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: Inside Line

The front-wheel-drive Kia Ray EV is powered by a 50 kW electric-motor that gets its fuel from a 16.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack that the company says is engineered for a 10-year life cycle. With a peak torque of 123 lb-ft, the Kia Ray EV runs from 0 to 62 mph in a long 15.9 seconds with a top speed of 81 mph.

Recharging time comes in at 6 hours when using a 220V outlet and 25 minutes when using a fast-charging mode.

While in D mode, drivers have the option of selected the Eco or Brake mode. The Eco mode obviously optimizes delivery of torque to maximize the use of miles provided by the battery. B mode allows for downhill driving on highways and mountain roads.

There are currently 500 slow/fast charging stations in Korea and the government plans on increasing that number to 3,100 by the end of 2012.

Hit the jump for the technical specs.

Kia Ray EV / Technical Specification

DIMENSIONS
Length 3593 mm Width 1595 mm
Height 1700 mm Wheelbase 2520 mm
Kerb weight 1185 kg

POWERTRAIN
Electric motor 50 kW
Max power 68 ps Max torque 167 Nm (17.0 g/km)

BATTERY
Power 330V Lithium ion polymer
Capacity 16.4 kWh
Charge time 6.0 hrs (slow) / 25 minutes (fast)

PERFORMANCE
0-to-100 kph 15.9 sec (to 62 mph)
Max speed 130 kph (81 mph)
Max range 139 km (86 miles)

- By: Omar Rana

The current Kia Forte Sedan has been on sale in the United States since 2009 and it seems like its time for an update.

A leaked image/sketch shows a possible hint at what the next-generation Forte sedan could look like. The model will debut as 2013 model year and will go on sale sometime next year.

Click here for more news on the Kia Forte.

Power for the current Kia Forte sedan comes from a 2.4L making a 173-hp. Fuel-economy for the Forte is estimated at  22/32 mpg when mated to a 6-speed manual and 23/31 mpg when mated to a 5-speed automatic.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: KiaWorld

And we’re not just talking about the hottest selling products in the automotive industry. According to Advertising Age, the Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Soul and Jeep Wrangler are generating a lot of buzz and posting strong sales – so much so that they are among America’s hottest products in 2011, joining Dove soap, Goldfish crackers and Arizona Tea.

The publication says that the three models have been succeeding in the country with savvy marketing and a steady rebound in the U.S. light vehicle market.

Chevrolet Cruze: GM has sold more than 200,000 units of the Cruze during the first 10 months of 2011, making it GM’s hottest selling car after the Malibu, of which it sold 181,000 units in the same period.

Kia Soul: Through October, Kia sold 405,095 vehicles, with the Soul accounting for more than 85,000 of those.

Jeep Wrangler: Jeep‘s overall sales have jumped a nice 44 percent this year through October to 339,526 units. The Wrangler is Jeep’s best selling model in the U.S. this year accounting for 101,820 units sold through October.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Spurred perhaps by the success of the Hyundai Genesis Coupes and sedan, Kia voiced interest at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in the four-door coupe market with their GT concept. Today, that concept is making its North American debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show.

It follows a lot of rules that are popular now such as having a small engine with a turbo in favor of a larger, less efficient unit. The carbon fiber wheels, metallic cinnamon leather seats and suicide doors are unlikely to remain, but the basic shape should remain and if the car makes production, expect it to head in the direction the the Genesis R-spec sedan.

Reports suggest that the Kia GT will enter production some time in 2013.

All Photos Copyright © Sawyer Sutton – egmCarTech.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

“The Kia Ray city car will provide consumers with economical motoring and a spacious and highly versatile interior, while standing out from the crowd thanks to its striking box-type exterior design,: Kia said in a statement.

Kia said it will announce powertrain options closer to launch date (not that it matters to us).

Either way, welcome to the world Ray – you boxy looking Soul.

- By: Omar Rana

While attending her classes at Stanford University, Wie shuttles herself around in a Soul the same ‘So Blue’ exterior paint scheme and 5-spoke 20-inch wheels as shown in the picture. All of the designs also incorporate her original artwork. Additionally, Wie’s artwork and personal logo are integrated into the Soul’s ‘Snow White’ leather headrests, which gets a baby blue painted dash and pink headliner and seating.

Click here for more news on the Kia Soul.

To further emphasize her love for the sport, if Wie ever feels like she’s missing the golf course, the “Hole in One” Soul also offers artificial grass flooring, a virtual driving range and a 26-inch LED TV monitor mounted into the rear hatch and a Microsoft X-Box 360 video game console with Microsoft’s Kinect system to play golf out of the back of the vehicle. So basically, it’s a pro-shop on wheels. For her passengers, the “Hole in One” Soul features TV mounted in headrests and 8-inch speakers and a subwoofer.

- By: Omar Rana