In conjunction with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Naza-Kia Sdn Bhd, official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, is organizing the Kia Futsal With Soul tournament with the winning team set to represent Malaysia at Kia’s Champ Into the Arena 5-A-Side global finals in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 1.

The final rounds of the tournament is currently held at Dewan Sri Putra, Bukit Jalil, with 16 teams, assembled from four teams each from the earlier qualifying rounds in Penang, Malacca, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, still in the running.

At the kick-off of the final rounds yesterday, Naza-Kia also took the opportunity to organize a sneak preview of the Kia Soul MPV-cum-hatch. Precious little details were given, as the car was in and out of the arena before we even managed to get a close look, but it would be a safe conjecture to say that we can expect a launch for our market sometime in Q3 2010.

Kia Soul previewed (Image: Naza-Kia)

Internationally, the Soul is offered with the option of two petrol engines (1.6 and 2.0) and a 1.6-litre VGT diesel. We are very much familiar with both petrol engines. The 1.6 is the same Gamma II unit powering the Forte 1.6 and Hyundai i30 1.6. The Soul 2.0 uses the Beta II unit also from the i30 2.0, which is not identical to the Theta II found in the Forte 2.0.

The standard transmission is a 5-speed manual, although a 4-speed slushbox is available as an option. Our bets are on the 1.6-litre petrol engine coming with 4-speed automatic transmission as per the Forte and i30. What we don’t know, is whether the car will be wearing a Kia or Naza badge come launch time.

Expect the same engine & transmission combo from the Forte and Hyundai i30

KON

See also:
- Autoworld Blog >> Blog Archive >> If they bring it here, would you buy it? – by SBY (23/5/2008)
- Your chance to be at the South Africa World Cup 2010 – by KON (3/5/2010)

Road users around Johor Bahru, Juru, and Puchong would probably have been puzzled last Saturday morning with dozens of the new Forte swarming the roads. While the value-for-money Forte has no doubt become a popular choice amongst buyers, the sudden congregation of these cars were no coincidence, as the MyFORTE Club organized their first Mega TT held simultaneously across three locations.

MyFORTE Mega TT for central region

Those from up north met in the Naza Kia showroom at Juru Auto City, Penang, whilst central region members were gathered at Oldboy Kopitiam in Puchong. Members down south of the Peninsula, meanwhile, met at the Festive Street Mall, at Danga Bay, Johor Bahru. We were informed that a total of 143 cars participated in this event, which includes 30 cars each at the northern and southern divisions.

The Fortes were all over the place.

In a unique touch of novelty, those who gathered at Puchong and Juru were even connected to each other by a tele-conferencing session, something which would not have been possible in car club gatherings done in the old-fashioned way.

Juru & Penang were connected by tele-conferencing.

The strong turnout of members in the Forte TT is indicative of the increasingly enthusiastic following that Korean cars, in particularly the Forte, now commands.

Most owners who attended opted to swap out the Naza badge for Kia.

KON

See also:
- Formidable Forte – by KON (20/11/2009)
- Naza-Kia launches all new Forte – by KON (25/11/2009)
- Forte 1.6 SX – Sheer bang for buck – by KON (20/1/2010)

This weekend, Naza Kia Sdn Bhd will be organizing a two-day carnival at Bulatan Bazarena adjacent to the Shah Alam Stadium opposite the nearby Tesco Extra supermarket. Dubbed the Naza-Kia Family Fiesta, the carnival will run on Saturday (10 April 2010) from 10:00am to 8:00pm, and then on Sunday (11 April 2010) from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

Open to the general public, activities at the carnival include various entertainment such as contests and performances. Test drives of the Forte, Picanto, and Rondo will also be available to carnival-goers. Visiting Kia owners can subject their cars to a free 18-point inspection, which would then be eligible for possible free spare parts such as oil filters, wiper blades and air filters, depending on stock availability.

Forte & Picanto available for test drive.

Kicking off the carnival weekend will be the unveiling of the facelifted Kia Sportage at 11:00am on 10 April by En SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, joint executive chairman of the Naza Group.

Facelifted Sportage to be unveiled.

KON

The next generation Kia Optima, known as Magentis in certain markets, has debuted at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April 2010. Continuing his good work with the Forte and the Sorento, Peter Schreyer now applies his touch to Kia’s D-segment mechanical twin of the Hyundai Sonata.

Kia Optima

Official images released by Kia shows the new Optima to be unmistakably a bigger brother than the Forte, which is no bad thing – the Forte is a good-looking car. All around, we see sprinklings of design touches that are distinctly European in character – the rear is reminiscent of the Jaguar XF – complete with the coupe-like raking roofline.

Design is very European. Good.

Standard design features include twin tailpipes, solar glass, and side-mirror-mounted blinkers. Stuff on the options list then includes fog lamps, heated side mirrors, chrome lining, auto-leveling HID headlights, LED taillights, rear spoiler, M5-like fender gills, aero wiper blade, and, would you believe it, red brake callipers. Tyre sizes vary from 205/65 R16 to 225/45 R18.

The interior reminds us of another European manufacturer too, and this time it’s none other than Audi – birthplace of Schreyer’s illustrious career. In fact, a good Photoshop user could stamp the four rings in place of the Kia badge and many would be none the wiser. Good to know that Kia’s learning from the best.

Looks like an Audi, now to see if it’s built like an Audi.

It’s not about looks only too. The plush-looking cabin is complemented by a solid list of equipment, which starts with a panoramic sunroof (not particularly useful, but good for bragging rights), USB/MP3/Bluetooth compatibility, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, air-conditioned glove box, engine start/stop button, and even paddle shifts to go with the new Hyundai-Kia 6-speed automatic transmission.

The other transmission option is a 6-speed manual gearbox, and depending on market, the two gearboxes can find themselves paired with anyone of the few Theta-II powerplants. North American markets will get the 2.4-litre GDI (200hp), 2.0-litre GDI turbo (274hp), and 2.4-litre Hybrid – all found in the Sonata. The Hybrid variant is due for a 2011 introduction.

European markets will get the option of a 1.7-litre variable geometry turbo diesel and a 2.0-litre CVVL engine, neither of which firm details have been provided. The rest of the world, and this includes us in Malaysia, will receive a more modest variant of the Theta-II engine – 2.0-litre MPI (163hp) and 2.4-litre MPI (176hp). Australia will receive the 2.4-litre GDI engine in a slightly reduced state of tune – 198hp.

In the aspect of safety, Kia has listed a generous amount of equipment for that purpose – six airbags, active head rests, side-impact beams, front seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters, anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, brake assist and hill assist control. Depending on market, certain features may or may not be offered.

KON

Pictures: Official Kia release

See also:
- Next-gen Hyundai Sonata & Tucson previewed to Malaysian media – by KON (9/3/2010)
- Kia to preview next gen Optima at New York – by KON (15/3/2010)
- Autoworld Blog >> Blog Archive >> Hyundai debuts two new Sonata variants at New York - by KON (1/4/2010)

Talk about it: The Koreans Are Here To Stay

Official Press Release from Naza-Kia Sdn Bhd

Naza Kia, Malaysian Kia Motors distributor and asubsidiary of the Naza Group of Companies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir as Chief Operating Officer of Naza Kia Sdn Bhd and Naza Kia Services Sdn Bhd with immediate effect.

Syed Hisham, 54, a BSc Mechanical Engineering graduate from Plymouth University (UK), with an MBA from Ohio State University, has contributed positively to the automotive industry for over 25 years.

Prior to joining the Naza Group, Syed Hisham was the managing director at Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON). Besides EON, he has also served as the President/ Chief Operating Officer at Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd. His solid track record at these companies will bring a wealth of automotive experience to Naza Kia.

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of Naza Group, said, “Datuk Syed Hisham has made an outstanding contribution to the Malaysian automotive industry over the years. We are pleased that he has agreed to join Naza Kia and will work towards introducing new products, developing the network and enhancing the brand. His ‘hands-on’ experience and knowledge of the automotive industry make him an excellent choice for COO and we are pleased to have him on board.”

Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir

The highly-acclaimed Kia Forte, recently launched in Malaysia, has recently picked up an award, with American auto website NADAguides.com naming it their ‘Car of the Year‘. Having already bagged the website’s ‘Car of the Month‘ award for August, the new Kia beat eight other vehicles for the coveted annual honour.

Explaining the Forte’s winning of the award, Michael Caudill, auto expert of NADAguides.com said, “Not many cars can boast a full package when it comes to design features, price, performance and fuel economy, but the Forte leaves a lasting impression with all that and more.”

Kia Forte – NADAguides.com COTY 2009

The Forte was recently launched in Malaysia by Naza-Kia to positive response from Malaysian consumers and also Autoworld forummers. A quick check on our forums unearthed no less than eight dedicated threads for the Forte, which amassed (as of 10 Dec 2009) a total of 453 replies and a combined number of views fast approaching 30,000. Our backend stats from the Emzine tells us that only articles relating to the Perodua Alza beat the Forte’s in pageview numbers. So, this car is making waves.

Forte launched to overwhelming response in Malaysia.

“In Malaysia, the initial response to the Forte has been overwhelming, mirroring its debut in other countries. This Car of the Year award won by the Forte is further testament to the superiority of its design, quality, safety and performance over its competitors,” said SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group.

In Malaysia, the Forte is offered at three spec-levels – 1.6 EX (RM75,800), 1.6 SX (RM81,800), and 2.0 SX (RM93,800).

Forte 1.6 SX

KON

See also:
- Our test drive report: Formidable Forte (20/11/2009)
- Our launch coverage: Naza-Kia launches all new Forte (25/11/2009)

Ahead of the impending launch of the Forte in our shores, Kia Motors have intimated to us that in Oct 2009, they have sold nearly 150,000 cars worldwide. This figure represents a 34.6% year-on-year increase compared to Oct 2008. Cumulative sales from Jan to Oct 2009 exceeded 1.3m units, 13.9% increase over the corresponding period of 2008.

Leading the way of this surge is the Forte which accounts for nearly 240,000 units sold in export markets. The Rio and Sportage chalked over 140,000 units each, while the highly-acclaimed cee’d did just over 100,000. The Picanto accounted for about 85,000 units.

Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation, said, “We are thrilled to see that October proved to be another successful month for Kia. We will continue to build on this momentum by providing customers with vehicles for the young-at-heart, which are both stylish and fuel efficient.”

KON

At the recent 2009 SEMA exhibition, Kia Motors America (KMA) has announced a partnership venture with the Kinetic Group to race two Kia Forte Koups in the 2010 GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge Series. Using the age-old auto industry marketing gimmick of ‘Race on Sunday, sell on Monday,’ the two Fortes will also have the task of helping Kia raise their brand profile significantly.

Michael Sprague, KMA’s Marketing VP, had this to say, ““The Forte Koup’s performance-inspired styling and outstanding driving dynamics make it a natural fit for road racing, and competing in GRAND-AM’s KONI Challenge Series enables us to reach an entirely new and passionate base of automotive enthusiasts.”

The Street Tuner (ST) class, in which the two Fortes will be racing in, is the domain of production-based cars. Competing vehicles are subject to weight and intake restrictions in order to maintain a level playing field for all. Additionally, this also implies substantial mechanical similarities between the cars going out onto the tracks, and the cars that Kia hopes to see you driving out of the showrooms.

KMA’s partner for the venture, the Kinetic Group, is an Atlanta-based outfit providing an array of in-house services which include fabrication, composites, paint, bodywork, engine and electronics. Their experience in motorsports include NASCAR, Indy Racing League, the American Le Mans Series and the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series.

Taking the cars to the track will be Nic Jonsson and Andy Lally in the main car, Car #10, with Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood at the helm of the team’s second car.

“We expect the Forte Koup to be a strong competitor in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series starting with the first race in Daytona, and the fact that drivers of Nic and Andy’s caliber along with Adam and Trevor have joined the team reinforces that expectation,” said Sprague.

Sprague further added, “Building on our involvement in the GRAND-AM KONI Challenge Series and in an effort to introduce the Kia brand to even more racing fans, apparel maker GoGoGear.com has created a highly modified version of the popular Soul urban passenger vehicle which will serve as the official pace car at several races throughout the 2010 US Touring Car Championship (USTCC) season.”

Meanwhile, closer to home, our sources in Naza Kia has informed us that the Kia Forte is scheduled for launch in the Malaysian market shortly. Watch out as we bring you the latest updates. Stay tuned for that!

KON

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM NAZA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

In a statement issued recently, the Naza Automotive Group advised owners of Naza, Kia, and Peugeot to use the appropriate fuel for their vehicles.

According to the statement, RON 95 is suitable for the following vehicles:

Naza

• Citra
• Suria
• Citra II Rondo
• 206 Bestari
• Forza

Kia

• Sportage
• Carnival
• Carens
• Picanto
• Optima
• Spectra5
• Spectra
• Rondo

Peugeot

• 206
• 407
• 308 Turbo
• 308 Vti

The Naza Sorento, Kia Sorento and Kia Pregio use diesel.

For more information on the Naza Group of Companies please visit www.naza.com.my

A letter of understanding, jointly signed by Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors / Opel, Honda Motor Co., Renault SA, Nissan Motor Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation, was recently submitted to all oil & energy companies and government organizations calling for accelerated development of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.

It is the stand of the signatory companies that the concerted development of accessible and affordable hydrogen fuelling facilities would enable the successful introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in the future.

“A hydrogen infrastructure network with sufficient density is required by 2015,” the automakers said in a joint press release today. “The network should be built-up from metropolitan areas via corridors into area-wide coverage.” The companies “strongly support the idea of building-up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, with Germany as starting point and at the same time developing similar concepts for the market penetration of hydrogen infrastructure in other regions of the world, with one US market, Japan and Korea as further starting points,” according to the joint release.

Hyundai’s FCEV program, part of their Blue Drive strategy, is on track to expand its demo fleet of FCEVs to 200 units by 2010, with plans to commence limited series production by 2012. As per an official press release published in Autoworld earlier, Hyundai is set to introduce a trio of Blue Drive models at the upcoming IAA 2009 in Frankfurt.

KON