2015 KIA K900 and Soul Named Best Family Car | Keffer Kia | North Carolina Kia Dealer

 

Kia stands out in Luxury Large Car and Hatchback segments

Kia Motors America (KMA) is proud to announce that U.S. News & World Report has honored the K900 flagship1 sedan and the 2015 Soul urban passenger vehicle with “Best Cars for Families” awards in the Luxury Large Car and Hatchback categories, respectively. U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings for new vehicles sold in America since 2007, and the awards continue each vehicle’s string of recent accolades from respected organizations such as Robb Report, Cars.com and Kelly Blue Book.

“Having the Soul and K900 named to U.S. News and World Report’s ‘Best Cars for Families’ list demonstrates how far the Kia brand has come in terms of quality, safety, packaging, and amenities,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, KMA. “The entire Kia model line – including our iconic urban passenger vehicle and luxury flagship sedan – offers a winning blend of sophisticated design and user-friendly technology with a consistent emphasis on value.”

The award methodology combines professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume figures and the availability of family-friendly features. Within each of 19 categories, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the Best Car for Families in that category.

“Parents might first look at Kia models for their value, but the Soul and K900 prove there are many other reasons to consider the brand,” said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor, U.S. News Best Cars. “Features like heated rear seats, proximity key, and Kia’s UVO® system work together to make family life easier and families more comfortable. Excellent safety and reliability ratings make the Kia Soul and K900 cars that families can feel good about driving.”

At our NC Kia dealership, we have a wide selection of new Kia vehicles for you to choose from. Whether you want a fuel-efficient sedan like the Forte or Optima or you're looking for something spacious like the Soul or Sorento, we have what you need on our lot in Mooresville. Check out our easy-to-use online Kia inventory to find the model that interest you, then get in contact with our sales team to set up a test-drive. We're here waiting to give you the best information and service for your new Kia purchase!

Best Safety Rating For 2016 Kia Sorento At EuroNCAP Crash Tests | Keffer Kia Mooresville NC

Great news for the all-new 2016 Kia Sorento, as it has been awarded a 5-star crash safety rating by EuroNCAP. 

Kia’s brand-new crossover vehicle performed well in all areas, scoring 90% in Adult Occupant Protection, 83% in Child Occupant Protection, 67% in Pedestrian Protection, and 71% in Safety Assist. A big reason for the high scores can be attributed to a stronger body shell and great safety features that the vehicle adopted after a complete makeover. One element that was highly praised was the stability of the passenger compartment in the event of a collision. It was found that all passengers, regardless of size, were well protected wherever they were positioned in the vehicle. All passengers, from front row to third, were also protected from whiplash, while pedestrians were aided during impact by the active deployable bonnet.

Crash Test Video 

  

 2016 Sorento Safety Features

The Sorento comes with a significantly stronger structure, with much of the credit going to the extensive use of ultra-high strength steel (UHTS).

The outgoing model consisted of 24.4% UHTS, while this new 2016 model is comprised of 52.7%, which helps improve the integrity of the core structure during a collision. It also helps improve torsional rigidity by 14%.

The new Kia Sorento also has more ultra-strong hot-stamped steel than before, going from 4.1% to 10.1%, which is a move that adds more strength to the A- and B-pillars.

The Safety Assist category was another area where the new Sorento scored well.

The new model comes standard with a Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, allowing the vehicle to remain stable when the driver is braking and cornering, especially in poor surfaces.

This is done by controlling both the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering.

The moment a loss of traction is recognized, both systems kick in, allowing the driver to maintain control.

See more at: http://www.kia-world.net/safety-rating-2016-sorento-crash-test/#sthash.bzaHNmbE.dpuf

The all-new third-generation Kia Sorento has clearly been making waves in the automotive world after it was unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The third-generation Kia Sorento is much more than just an upgraded SUV; it’s more of a luxury SUV. The latest Sorento was designed as a collaborative effort among Kia’s design teams in Korea, the United States and Europe. The end product? An SUV you just can’t take your eyes off of.

Taking design cues from architectural structures, the all-new Sorento is both luxurious and sophisticated, the two design concepts that were the focus for both the exterior and interior.

The initial exterior sketches below give us a peek into the process of conceptualizing the new Sorento model.

We asked the design team experts, Kia designers Kurt Kahl and Ralph Kluge, to get a better idea of the design story behind the 2015 Kia Sorento. These two designers were responsible for the all-new Kia Sorento from start to finish—from the initial design sketches to the final product.

What was the main foundation and background for the design of the all-new Sorento? What did the design team particularly focus on when coming up with the new design concept?

 

Designer Kurt Kahl: When designing the exterior of the all-new Sorento, our main focus was to retain the strengths of the predecessor while giving it a greater sense of premium quality and sophistication. The shoulder is very powerful and blends into a sculptural side body. We created a strong ‘down the road’ presence for the Sorento’s front end, with sharply angled headlamps intersecting a dimensional chrome-framed grille. The rear retains hints of the previous Sorento with rectangular tail lamps and a forward swept backlighting that still reflects a spacious interior. The interior design was based more upon ‘sophistication.’

Designer Ralph Kluge: For the all-new Sorento’s interior, our concept keywords were “muscle and brains.” We reached out to create a strong and confident surface language with increased levels of sophistication and richer details, while simultaneously avoiding the “rugged SUV” clichés. We wanted a refined and sophisticated design language: muscular shapes fused together with refined details. The word “premium” should immediately come to mind when you get inside the all-new Sorento.

Can you explain the architectural inspiration behind the design?

Kluge: We paid careful attention to the ergonomics and layout of all individual elements to form a logical basis for the physical volumes, just as you would with architectural structures. A good example of this is the clearly structured instrument panel: screens and vents are positioned high up for the best ergonomics and visibility, while interface buttons are kept simple and placed lower down in the perfect reach zone for all passengers.

What is particularly different about the third-generation Sorento compared to the design of the previous generations?

Kahl: The third-generation Sorento is longer and sleeker, with a sculptural quality that lends a humanistic feeling to the shape compared to the previous Sorento models. Meticulous attention was paid to the lines finessing the surfaces. As a reaction to some current day products appearing too synthetic or digital, Sorento highlights the renewed appreciation for hand-crafted products where the ‘imprint’ of the artist or craftsman is apparent.

How would you describe the typical ‘third-generation Sorento driver?’

Kahl: I think the Sorento driver can be anyone looking for an upscale and refined SUV.  The Sorento is a sweet deal in terms of size and pricing. It offers spacious utility but is still easily maneuverable, and is luxurious but not overly expensive. I would like to see customers look at the all-new Sorento as a very competitive alternative to other luxury mid-size SUVs offered by the European and Japanese manufacturers.

What are the current trends for the SUV market worldwide?

Kluge: We see the “classic” SUV becoming more and more of an on-road vehicle. People really enjoy the higher seating, combined with the “go-anywhere” attitude. Moving forward, the biggest challenge is to improve fuel efficiency and ride quality, and I think Kia delivered in these departments with the all-new Sorento.

How do you see the design trends for vehicles in general evolving?

Kahl: There seems to be a general trend for all vehicle models to blur the lines of their segments. Just as an SUV in most cases has become a more car-based CUV, other segments are beginning to blend together to make new vehicle spaces that offer unexpected features and unique profiles.

This behind-the-scenes design story is not just about the Kia Sorento, but rather shows how Kia’s design direction has been shaped over the years.

Check out the video below of the Sorento on a drive through Paris and see for yourself the cool design evolution of the popular Kia Sorento, complete with a review of its newest features!

Kia Soul Named Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year! | Keffer Kia Mooresville NC

What better way to enjoy a more active lifestyle than with a car that suits that lifestyle? Take the 2015 Kia Soul for instance, which was recently named the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, for the third time in a row, at the 11^th annual Active Lifestyle Vehicle awards. The 2015 Kia Soul is a fun and funky urban passenger vehicle that is perfectly suited to a fun and funky urban lifestyle.

Nina Russin, founder of the Active Lifestyle Vehicle program, noted that the Soul’s “cargo area, [which is] versatile enough to meet the needs of triathletes, cyclists, skiers and kayakers,” was a huge factor in being chosen this year. That with the Soul’s compact frame, easy maneuverability, style and design made it a clear stand-out over other candidates.

The Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year is chosen by local media and athletes, who rated the Kia Soul the best in the urban category in static and dynamic evaluations. Unsurprisingly, the 2015 Kia Soul is one of Kia Motors America’s best-selling cars, with more than 115,000 units sold already this year.

Thanks for the award (again)! We are so honored that the 2015 Kia Soul was picked as an Active Lifestyle Vehicle for this year, and Kia will continue on in our efforts to make the most attractive and versatile vehicles, suitable for all drivers and lifestyles.

 October 29th, 2014 Posted in Events, Motor Shows & Awards,Vehicle Models