2011 Kia Naimo Electric Concept
Kia car maker has unveiled new car elctric concept at the Seoul Motor Show, it’s named 2011 Kia Naimo Electric Concept. Naimo name is derived from “Ne-mo ‘the Korean word which means’ the square’. And this is one concept that does not run away from the boxy design. It features no B-pillar and rear-hinged doors.
But Naimo designs influenced by Asia Celadon pottery style, with asymmetrical shape that is reflected in the roof design of this concept and in front of the LED lamp dot-style also provides a center-off feel the car. They regularity-off design cues meant to contrast with the shape of a square car. Naimo is powering PMSM (permanent magnet synchronous motor) motor with an output of 80 kW (109 hp / 109 hp) and 280 Nm (206 lb-ft) of torque. Read more…
Kia Rio 5 / Hyundai Accent Hatchback Installation
INSTALLATION STEPS
1) Lower exhaust for ease of installation.
2) Remove heat shield and cut out corner nearest to hole which gets enlarged, then reattach heat shield.
3) Raise hitch into position, and place 1/2″ carriage bolt into safety chain plate above vehicle’s tow loop and fasten finger tight with 1/2″ flange nut and CM-SP61 spacer as shown.
4) Fasten two M12 bolts with 1/2″ connical tooth washers to existing weldnuts in driver side frame rail finger tight as shown.
5) Enlarge hole in passenger side frame rail to fit 1/2″ bolt.
6) Fishwire 1/2″ carriage bolt with CM-SP40 spacer through passenger side frame rail from edge of bumper to enlarged hole. Fasten finger tight with 1/2″ flange nut.
7) Torque all 1/2″ hardware to 75 ft-lbs, and all M12 hardware to 65 ft-lbs.
Reattach exhaust to hanger locations removed in step 1.
Kia K9 sedan spied, upscale cues include Maserati-style side vents
Remember the proposed Kia K9 luxury sedan? Apparently, it’s a reality, as spy shots of the Kia flagship have hit a web forum in Korea. As you can see, the K9′s camouflage (which sneakily includes Hyundai Genesiswheels) doesn’t obscure a set of Maserati Quattroporte-style fender ports. Just how upmarket is Kia shooting with this? Well, according to the tipster who sent them to us, the K9 is expected to slot into the market space between the Hyundai Genesis and Equus sedans.
If those two are anything to go on, Kia might be on to something. From these photos, it looks like the K9 will not only sport Quttroporte-referencing vents along its fenders, but long, angular headlights and a protruding grille, leaving impressions of the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XJ – lofty benchmarks, indeed. Read more…
Kia says KV7 Concept presages some sort of production model; Hamstars to return?
The Kia KV7 Concept isn’t only a concept. At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Michael Sprague, Kia’s vice president of marketing, told Autoblog “We tend to use auto shows to presage what will be coming,” and referenced the Kia Kue Concept from 2007 revealing the brand’s design intent as precursor to the Sportage, then the Kia Koup Concept in 2008 and Soul Concepts in 2009 leading to their respective production versions.
The question is what we might see on the retail floor; certainly not the lounge-like seating, the full-length LED dash, or the gill-like LED headlights. Sprague tells AB, “With the KV7 what we see coming eventually is materials on the vehicle that we’d like to see incorporated. Or getting a Kia that’s Wi-Fi enabled, it’s just a question of how soon.” Could this hint at a successor to Kia’s aging Sedona/Carnival minivan?
Either way, it’s likely that the brand’s hilarious Hamstars won’t be selling whatever the KV7 turns into. As to how much longer the furry rappers can keep it moving in the Soul’s ad campaign, Sprague admits “We might have another one in us.” Otherwise, the marketing push is that “we’re going to market more sporty as Hyundai goes more premium,” and the brand’s creative like the Sweet Dreams ad stresses “making rational things fun.”
Detroit 2011: Kia KV7 Concept is a van with a plan
Kia certainly knows a thing or two about embracing the box design. After all, the styling of the Soul is certainly a perfect interpretation of the good things boxy shapes can create. With that in mind, Kia has set to reinvent the van with its new KV7 Concept here at the Detroit Auto Show. But we aren’t talking minivan – this is pure, boxy conversion van hotness.
Inside, there are clever features like swivel chairs for all occupants (including the driver), and the rear quarters are set up in a sort of lounge fashion. There are nifty gadgets like a floating table-top computer and full wireless internet capability. Wrap that in a sleek, boxy package that boasts a 285-turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the end result is a van that means serious business. As much as we’d love to see this concept come to fruition, we’ll chalk this one up as just another example of what happens when you let automotive designers run wild.
Categories: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Kia Tags: Detroit Auto Show
LA 2010: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is good-lookin green-drivin
Kia is just now beginning to roll out its sexy new 2011 Optima, with the 2.4-liter GDI version priced from only $18,995. Much like its sister car, the Hyundai Sonata, the Optima will be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in EX and SX trims, and here at the LA Auto Show, the Kia has unveiled its third member of the Optima family – the Hybrid.
Much like the Sonata Hybrid, the gas/electric Optima uses the same 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four, mated to an electric motor. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Optima Hybrid will yield 40 miles per gallon on the highway – besting its eco-minded competitors, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Categories: Auto Show, Hybrid, Kia, LA Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons Tags: Kia, LA Auto Show
2010 New York Auto Show Live:2011 Kia Optima introduced with DI, turbo and hybrid
At the New York Auto Show today, Kia officially introduced its new 2011 Optima mid-size sedan and, as we expected, it shares much with the recently launched Hyundai Sonata. In spite of the same wheelbase and almost identical dimensions, however, this is no case of badge engineering. The Optima has completely different styling from its corporate sibling with a crisp, modern look that is in keeping with other recent Kia introductions.
What it does share with the Hyundai is its complete powertrain lineup, including a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Theta II inline-four, a turbocharged 2.0-liter version of the same engine and the new 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain. The latter two configurations were both announced by Hyundai yesterday for the Sonata. Each of the engines features direct injection and variable valve timing with the non-hybrids being rated at 200 and 274 horsepower, respectively. All the powertrains are mated to six-speed transmissions, with the base model being available with a manual and the others being all automatic.
Categories: Auto Show, Hybrid, Kia, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons Tags:
