Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com names Kia Motors America “BEST TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP BRAND”!

The price a consumer pays for a new car is only a small piece in the big picture when it comes to the costs involved in owning and operating a vehicle. Other factors that come into play in the overall cost are fuel prices, financing, car insurance, maintenance repairs and Kelley Blue Book -KBB residual values.

With that in mind, KBB introduced a new 5-year cost tool last July; the tool was designed to inform car buyers which brands had represented the best overall vale during the first 5 years of ownership.

When the latest results were announced on August 17th, it was great news for Kia Motors America with Kia and Hyundai placing 1st and 2nd respectively in the Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO) in the non-luxury car under $40,000 segment. The major factors which swung the results in their favor where the fuel economy, which the KMA brand has become synonymous with, and depreciation value; where the average vehicle come in at 30% of MSRP after 5 years, Kia and Hyundai are now hovering in the 45% range.

Amanda Frayer, an analyst for KBB vehicle valuations, says the increase in resale value has helped put both Kia brand and Hyundai on the radar. “Undoubtedly, the raise in residual value has helped both brand secure their leadership places in the TCO comparison,” said Amanda.

This, as well as a host of other awards and plaudits received in the past couple of months is a sure sign that Kia Motors America are now reaping the rewards of the brand re-design they have instituted, with the onus on safety, value and fuel economy.

“Kia Motors is committed to offering consumers a full array of high-quality cars and crossover vehicles that offer a combination of world-class styling, cutting-edge technology and an abundance of standard convenience and safety features, and being recognized as a cost of ownership leader by kbb.com is further proof of the brand’s compelling value equation. Consumers are looking to make smart purchases and stretch their dollars, and every Kia vehicle allows them to do just that with low starting prices and outstanding fuel economy, without sacrificing fun-to-drive performance or the modern amenities new car shoppers now expect,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.

KBB has long been the place to go for car buyer’s looking for more detailed information on pricing and re-sale value, and their 5-year cost tool is a shining example of passing on information that is invaluable to a car buyer looking to make an informed decision. [Source: Kia]

Interesting facts about the 2012 Kia Rio: First unveiled at Geneva Auto Show earlier this year, the all-new 2012 Kia Rio hatchback joins the carmaker’s product range with striking exterior design, revised interior and impressive performance.

The fourth-generation Rio sub-compact car will be available in two body-styles for the first time. The five-door model is set to go on sale in Europe in several weeks, while the three-door Rio arrives at Kia dealerships in early 2012.

The 2012 Kia Rio is available with a highly efficient 1.1L CRDI diesel engine that emits only 85 grams of CO2 per kilometer. U.S. market Rio is available with a highly-advanced 1.6L GDI four-cylinder engine that churns out 138 horsepower and achieves 40-mpg on highway. Six-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions are available.

The new Rio is noticeably larger than the car it replaces. Its wheelbase is 70mm longer, while the body is 20mm longer and 25mm wider. Inside the Rio offers 45mm more front legroom and seven percent more luggage room than its predecessor.

Safety features available in the 2012 Rio include six airbags, anti-lock brake system -ABS, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, electronic stability control -ESC, hill-start assist control, vehicle stability management system -VSM, active front seat head restraints and emergency stop signal.

Kia Racing wins yet another motor competition as Michael Galati and Nic Jönsson drive their Kia Forte Koup first to the finish Line.

With Kia Motors America still celebrating their historic first win in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge -CTSCC in April, the motoring team of the company has added another feather in its cap by winning the Road America 200 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Michael Galati and Nic Jönsson were the winners in the GRAND-AM, and they have shown their mettle once again by winning this latest

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You can do this or you can do that? Congrats to Tony Lynch and his family on the purchase of their new 2011 Kia Soul… From your friends at Lifetime Kia..

The Kia 2011 Forte Koup has been named one of the “Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000″ by Kelley Blue Book’s popular site kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book is the leading and one of the most popular providers of information regarding new and used cars in the USA.

The “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″ list surveyed the marketplace for new cars that were fun to own, drive and, most importantly, had the “cool factor”. The editors of kbb.com included the cars by checking their Fair Purchase Price from Kelley Blue Book, which accurately reflects the changing prices in a changing marketplace.

The 2011 Forte Koup was selected for the list because of its style, affordability and modern technologies that it provides at the given price range. According to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, the Kia Forte Koup was also the sportiest looking car in the list.

Those who don’t know much about the stylish sports coupe from Kia, let us reveal you a few important facts about it. The Forte Koup comes in two trims, EX and SX, and is a two-door coupe that come pre-installed with an overabundance of amenities and power.

The 2011 Forte EX model is powered by a 156-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder engine, whereas the SX model comes with a 2.4L inline four-cylinder that delivers 173 horsepower. The torques delivered by the engines are 144 and 168 pound-feet, respectively. The starting price of the car is under $17.000 (MSRP).

The Forte Koup comes with standard equipment that includes Bluetooth wireless technology, USB/iPod integration, and a satellite ready audio system. It is available with a six speaker MP3 audio system that is outfitted with Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The steering wheel is mounted with voice-activated controls that use Bluetooth for easier functioning.

According to Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, Kia Motors America, the Forte Koup’s recognition by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com as a ‘cool’ vehicle is further validation of the carmakers strategy to provide consumers with a compelling combination of aggressive styling and performance, a long list of standard safety features and strong overall value.

The Forte Koup, like the rest of the Kia lineup, continues to raise the bar in the segment by offering performance and modern technologies that contribute to an outstanding experience for every owner.

Congratulations to Joel and Melinda Teesateskie on the purchase of their 2006 Kia Sorento. From all of your friends at lifetime kia…

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Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com name 2012 Kia Sorento CUV one of the “Best Family Cars of 2011″!

The Sorento CUV has been a favorite of consumers ever since its launch in early 2010, making it Kia Motors’ best-selling vehicle in the States. The reasons for its success were brought to the fore again when it was named one of the “Best Family Cars of 2011″ by Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com.

Kia Sorento was selected for this honor because it offers families a number of convenience and safety features, including a spacious interior, the option of third row seating, responsive handling and a low price. The car has been mentioned in other Best Cars of 2011 lists, including in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s “Best Cars for Families”, and Kelley Blue Book or kbb.com’s  “Top 10 Cars for 2011″.

Editors from Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine adjudged different cars on their safety, handling, fuel efficiency and family-friendly features. They considered three best cars each from five separate categories – crossover, eco-friendly, big cars, sedan and budget cars.

From such a wide diversity of cars did they try to find the cars that were best suited for a family. To ensure the safety features of the cars, only the ones that came standard with side, front and side-curtain airbags, electronic stability control and antilock brakes were considered.

The 2012 Kia Sorento is built in the Kia Motors first USA plant, located at West Point, Georgia. Following its commitment to producing great cars, the company makes sure that the quality of work that goes into the production of the car is one of the best in the world.

Updates included with the 2012 Sorento CUV

The latest 2012 model of Kia Sorento will come with a 191 horsepower four-cylinder engine, which will make it one of the most powerful cars in its class. Consumers will have the option to buy a new hands-free entertainment  and communications system (called UVO) based on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform.

Other new features in the 2012 model include memory seat/power passenger seat , power-folding mirrors, heated and wood trim steering wheel and ventilated driver’s seat. The base price of the 2012 Kia Sorento is $21,250.

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Congratulations to Whitney Tucker on the purchase of her 2009 Toyota Corolla. Have fun Whitney and enjoy your new car.. From your friends at Lifetime Kia.