NEW KIA SOUL 2011 MODELS

MY11 Soul Launch Announcement

We are delighted to announce the launch of MY11 Soul models, available with immediate effect for ordering purposes. Deliveries are expected to begin during July 2010.

As with most Model Year introductions, there are various changes made to the model range. These are detailed grade-by-grade below.

All models

• The design of the exterior door handles changes from the previous flip-up type to a more stylish and premium pull-type handle. Soul 1 continues to feature black door handles; Soul 2 and Soul Shaker feature body coloured handles; whilst Tempest and Burner feature chrome coloured handles.

• Electric window switchgear panels featured on interior door panel armrests gain illumination to enhance usability when driving at night.

• A trip computer is added as standard to the instrument cluster, showing features such as distance to empty, average fuel consumption, journey time elapsed, ambient temperature.

• All MY11 models will feature the standard fitment of a luggage area parcel shelf. This includes the Soul 1 grade, which previous to MY11 did not feature this item of equipment. This enables luggage and shopping to be safely stored out of sight. It can be removed as and when required for larger loads.




Soul 2

Bluetooth is added as a standard feature to all ‘2’ grades upwards (including all ‘Original’ models). Bluetooth functionality allows a mobile phone to wirelessly connect to the audio system, enabling the driver to safely receive hands-free calls whilst driving. Functionality is provided via buttons mounted on the steering wheel. MP3 music files can also be played from the phone via the vehicle audio system, similar to the CD Audio with MP3 functionality.





New Soul Shaker

As you are aware, it is KMUK’s strategy to implement a rotation process on the high-end ‘Originals’ collection of Soul, in order to keep the models fresh and modern, whilst also showcasing individual character models which suit different customer lifestyles. The first rotation was implemented in Q4 2009 and saw the Tempest model launch in place of the Samba.

MY11 will now see a change made to the Soul ‘Shaker’ range. As one of the most popular Original models, Shaker will continue as part of the MY11 range but will gain a significant design restyle to update the model. For MY11 Shaker gains unique body coloured bumpers in place of the usual front and rear black bumper inserts. This feature adds to the elegant and refined style of this sophisticated model, whilst also significantly altering the appearance of the vehicle.

In conjunction with this new appearance, Shaker is the first Original model to also diversify into a secondary paint colour. Joining the solid Vanilla Shake colour; a stylish new metallic brown paintwork is added - Chocolate Shake. Customers can now choose to have the Shaker in either the solid paint Vanilla colour or in the metallic Chocolate for an additional £395 inclusive of VAT.


The stylish Houndstooth trim remains as the interior for both exterior colours, and both derivatives gain Bluetooth functionality; whilst existing standard features currently found on the Vanilla model are also be found on the Chocolate version, such as an advanced reversing camera system, cream dash interior, USB/AUX ports with iPod cable and an electric sunroof.

The Advanced reversing camera system featured on the Shaker and also its stable-mate Tempest, also gains a design change for MY11 models. Screen resolution is enhanced and distortion is reduced, whilst parking guidelines appear on screen in order to assist the driver in easier, more effective parking.




Soul Burner

The top of the range ‘Burner’ remains as the flagship model in the ‘Originals’ collection but gains some minor additional specification changes.

MY11 sees the introduction of a telescopic (reach) steering wheel adjustment paired to the existing tilt-adjust function. This enables the steering wheel angle and height to be optimally adjusted according to the driver’s height and comfort preference.


Also added to the MY11 Burner models is an update to the mood-reflecting speaker lights which can be set to pulsate in time to music played on the audio system. On previous MY10 models the type of lights used on the front speakers were a clear LED-style speaker surround. For MY11 however, additional colours will be applied, meaning that the lights can pulsate with red, green or blue lighting.

All New Sportage

The all-new Kia Sportage will show a dramatic shift in design direction when it makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on 2 March, 2010.

Embodying Kia’s new visual dynamism, all-new Sportage is a fresh, bold, athletic and sporty design that blends the key features of an SUV – the commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance – in a sleek and urban-friendly design.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, all-new Sportage will offer more space for people and cargo, with improved ride quality thanks to a longer wheelbase.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “Sportage was the car that really made the breakthrough for Kia in Europe and the all-new version will make people sit up and take notice just as the original did. I am convinced it will begin a remarkable new chapter in the Kia story.”

The all-new Sportage comes to the UK later this year, with a range of highly competitive diesel and petrol engines.

The world premiere of the all-new Sportage will take place at 08.45 on 2 March, 2010 on the Kia Stand (No 6441) in Hall 6 at the Geneva International Motor Show.

KIA has come up with a king-sized supermini good enough to rival the top-selling Ford Fiesta.
Built in Europe and guaranteed for seven years, the new Venga demonstrates Kia is now up with the best.
The Venga has as much room inside as a compact people mover while being little larger than a basic hatchback.
Venga means 'arrived' in Spanish and that is exactly what has happened to the Korean car maker.
The Venga is on sale from February 1 - the same time as Kia launches an all-new version of its flagship SUV, the Sorento.
The new model is not only capable of taking on the Fiesta but will also have the likes of the Citroen C3 and Honda Civic in its sights.
Priced from £11,495 to £15,395 the Venga shows that Kia is no longer in the bargain basement but nevertheless it is still serious value for money.
From tip to toe the Venga is a smart car - the first model to be styled from scratch since Kia's design guru Peter Schreyer was headhunted from Audi.
The clever touch has been creating a spacious five seat cabin in a body which is just over 12 feet long.
Sliding rear seats mean a six footer can sit in the back with plenty of room while the luggage space varies from saloon car proportions of 444 litres to a very useful 1,253.
There is even an underfloor storage area to keep belongings out of sight.
The rear seats can fold flat and split on a 60/40 basis delivering added flexibility while there is plenty of usable space inside.
Sharing some of its instrumentation with Kia's trendy Soul, the dash is uncluttered but still a touch on the plasticky side.
Air conditioning is standard across the three model range and so is electronic stability, traction control and a device to help moving off on slopes.
That is quite a lot of kit for a small car and should help it follow the Soul by gaining top Euro NCAP safety ratings.
The Venga also marks the introduction of a new lean burn diesel engine from Kia.
Like the car, the 1.4-litre engine is built at the Kia factory in Slovakia and comes with a stop/start system pushing fuel economy to 62.8mpg on average. Emissions of 117g/lm mean £35 a year road tax for private motorists.
The little diesel has been designed and engineered in Germany where Kia has a technical facility and will become an important part of the car maker's armoury.
Developing 89bhp - the same as the 1.4-litre petrol engine also available in the Venga - it has a 0 to 60mph time of 14 seconds and a claimed top speed of 104mph.
That's not earth shattering but it is very eco-friendly and has enough acceleration to cope.
A 1.6-litre petrol automatic is available in mid-range trim only and priced from £14,095 while the entry level 1.4-litre petrol Venga will return an average of 45 to the gallon with CO2 figures of 147g/km.
The petrol version is slightly quicker and less noisy but both versions handle better than any little Kia has done before.
The Venga shares its underpinnings with the larger Soul but its suspension is much more suited to British roads.
The car feels very confident and well put together - as good as anything more established European car brands can produce.
Kia's heavy investment in its European operations is now paying dividends and the cars from Slovakia - the cee'd, Sportage and now the Venga - are genuinely competent.
They have to be. For any manufacturer to offer a seven year warranty on all its cars is a bold step and one which is certain to impress

7 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL NEW KIA'S

Kia is celebrating a remarkable 2009 sales performance and the start of the New Year by offering an industry-leading seven-year warranty on every new Kia vehicle sold in the UK
This follows the success of the company's unique '7-Year Kia Warranty', which was first introduced on the European-made Kia Ceed in 2006, Kia will now offer a similar seven-year/100,000 mile warranty on all models in Europe, from the small Picanto to the range-topping Kia Sorento.
The new '7-Year Kia Warranty' will apply to all vehicles sold and registered from January 1, 2010.
The comprehensive new warranty is a 'bumper-to-bumper' manufacturer's warranty and covers each vehicle for up to seven years (whole car) plus a seven-to-12 years anti-perforation corrosion warranty (model-dependent).
A major benefit of the warranty, in addition to peace-of-mind' motoring for the buyer, will be its transferability to subsequent owners. Certain qualifications will apply, and the normal 'wear and tear' on such items as tyres, brake pads and clutch linings is excluded from cover.
Kia is the only manufacturer in Europe who will stand over their product for an unbeatable 7 years

New models for winter

The New Kia Soul Tempest
The New Kia Soul TempestKia launched the funky new Kia Soul earlier this year to include a range of 'Originals' - limited edition versions of the car - and with the change in season comes a change to the Originals collection.

Kia Introduces Special Edition ModelsKia has introduced a whole host of special editions this month to help keep the winter blues at bay. The best-selling Kia Picanto city car and Kia Rio supermini have both had a range-topping Graphite model added in stunning Titanium Silver and the Kia Soul range has introduced a new design to its 'Originals' collection. They say the best things come in small packages and the new 1. 1 Kia Picanto Graphite is no exception.


The Kia Soul
A Unique Kia Soul Designed By Jeff Banks For MatalanLocal dealership Loughborough Kia recently hosted a visit from a very rare guest - a unique Kia Soul designed exclusively by Jeff Banks for fashion retailer Matalan.

Kia Welcomes The Scrappage Scheme ExtensionKia Motors welcomes the extension to the UK scrappage scheme, announced by Government Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. It will mean that UK car buyers can now drive off in a new model Kia cee'd from only £7,995 when the new car goes on sale from 1st October 2009.