Kia Motors America Announces Kia Classic Winner to Receive New Range-topping Optima Limited

The third annual Kia Classic, from March 19-25, is attracting a strong field of LPGA players who will compete for a $1.7 million purse with the winner taking home a first-place check for $255,000 and one of the first range-topping 2012 Optima Limited midsize sedans to roll off the production line at Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia.

"Kia is one of the fastest growing auto brands in the U.S., and sports marketing initiatives such as our involvement with the LPGA have significantly raised awareness and consideration for the brand and our vehicles," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "We are pleased to offer an enhanced prize package for the winner of this year's Kia Classic. The Optima Limited is Kia's most refined and premium product offering to date, and we are excited to showcase the vehicle to golf fans at the Kia Classic and reward some of the tour's best players for their outstanding performances."

In addition to the Kia Classic winner, Kia will honor the outstanding achievements of LPGA players this season by presenting the winners of the Kia Performance Award with an Optima Limited. The awards, which will be presented at the CME Group Titleholders event in November, include:

Kia Power Drive - Awarded to the player with the longest average driving distance Kia Drive to the Top - Awarded to the player with the most Top 10 finishes Kia Most Compelling Performance - Recognizing a player with exceptional performances throughout the year; this award is chosen by fans through an online vote Kia Community Assist - Recognizing a player who makes exceptional contributions to charity organizations or community programs

Following strong event-attendance and TV-ratings growth in the tournament's second year, Kia signed on as the "Official Automaker of the LPGA." Kia also serves as the "Official Tournament Vehicle" of eight LPGA events.

New 2012 Optima LimitedProduced at Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia[1], the new 2012 Optima Limited is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine delivering a class-leading 274 horsepower[2] and achieving 22/34 mpg[3] (city/hwy). Offered exclusively in Ebony Black, Snow White Pearl and Titanium Metallic exterior colors, the Optima Limited is equipped with sporty red front brake calipers and uniquely designed 18-inch chrome wheels. Other premium-level features include LED daytime running lights, chrome-accented rear spoiler and lower door sills. Interior appointments and amenities include rich wood trim, high-grade Nappa leather seats, a panoramic sunroof and an Infinity®[4] audio system.

Kia's Unprecedented GrowthKia 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 quality[5] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[6]. 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 sedan[7]. 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.

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Is Kia's new Cee'd the look of next-gen Forte for U.S.?

Kia showed off at Geneva today the second generation of the only car in the world with an apostrophe in its name -- Kia's European, oddly named Cee'd compact. The Cee'd is Euro-only, but is sold in modified form in the U.S. and elsewhere as the Forte.

Unveiled were a five-door hatchback model and a wagon model, both of which will go on sale in Europe later this year.

 

Kia said full details will come later, but said the Cee'd will offer Kia's new Gamma 1.6-liter, 135-horsepower direct-injection four in Europe, as well as a 1.4-liter gas engine and two diesels.

The 1.6 will be mated to a new, Kia-developed dual clutch automatic designed for more mpg's. Kia claims a 4% fuel-efficiency gain across the engine lineup.

The new model is a little longer and lower and swoopier than its predecessor, and Kia says it will have an upgraded interior and electronics.

 

Source: USAToday

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Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Produces 500,000th Vehicle

This morning, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) celebrated production of the 500,000th vehicle at the West Point, Ga. automobile manufacturing facility.

KMMG began mass production of the Kia Sorento CUV on Nov. 16, 2009, a vehicle that quickly became the brand's best-selling product in the U.S. Then, on Sept. 2, 2011, KMMG began production of the Kia Optima mid-size sedan, a vehicle that led the brand's U.S. sales in December 2011 and January.

Since opening, KMMG has added two additional shifts of production with more than 3,000 team members hired by the plant to date. In 2011, KMMG completed a $100 million expansion that pushed the plant's total capacity to 360,000 units per year.

"Building 500,000 vehicles in just over two years is quite a milestone for our first U.S. manufacturing plant to accomplish," said Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO for Kia Motors America and KMMG. "The commitment from each one of our team members is a big reason we've been able to achieve 17 consecutive months of record sales. Their dedication to building world class, high quality vehicles is apparent in each vehicle we produce."

Vehicle number 500,000 was a snow white pearl Optima SX and will now be allocated to one of KMA's more than 755 dealerships nationwide.

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia, and began mass production on Nov. 16, 2009. KMMG is home to the 2012 Sorento CUV and the 2012 Optima mid-size sedan, two of the brand's top selling models in 2011. Beginning in 2012, the plant has the ability to build 360,000 vehicles annually from U.S. and globally-sourced parts.