VIDEO: New Kia Soul Ad Features Michelle Wie

Kia appears to be changing gears in its marketing approach for the Kia Soul, switching from comedy to sex appeal.

After its popular Rapping Hamsters ad, the Korean automaker has just launched a new commercial featuring the 6-foot 1-inch 20-year-old pro golfer Michelle Wie. The Kia Soul is already thought to be somewhat of a chick-car and so the ad is a smart one, with Kia obviously appealing to women by using the young, confident and talented Wie. And it’s sure to appeal to men for other reasons.

[Source: Kia Motors America]

Kia Recalls 56,000 Souls, Sorentos in US and S. Korea

Kia Motors said on Friday it had started a recall of some 56,000 Soul and Sorento vehicles sold in the United States and South Korea due to defective wiring harnesses that could cause fires. Some harnesses supplied by Johnson Controls for lighting in 2010 model-year Soul cars and 2011 model-year Sorento SUVs were improperly soldered, leading to possible electrical shorts, Kia said in a letter to U.S. safety regulators on August 30.

There were no reports of accidents or injuries due to the issue, which was identified in June, said Kia, an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Kia determined that a recall was needed on August 23.

The U.S. recall covers 23,972 Soul cars produced from September 7, 2009, through June 8, 2010, and 11,213 Sorento vehicles built from October 23, 2009, through July 30, 2010, according to the notice filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In August, NHTSA launched a probe into possible steering defects in the 2010 model-year Soul after a driver said a steering shaft detached from the steering wheel in a two-month-old vehicle and fell onto the driver's side floor, causing a complete steering loss and limited braking.

[Source: Reuters/Kia]

NHTSA Opens Investigation on Kia Soul After Steering Loss Incident

The Kia Soul is being investigated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after a driver filed a complaint alleging complete loss of steering and limited braking on a 2-month old model. NHTSA said Monday on its website that the potential issue can affect over 51,000 vehicles.

The complaint said the steering shaft detached from the steering wheel, leading to a complete loss of steering, and the shaft fell into a position that interfered with the driver's ability to brake. The owner who filed the complaint had driven the vehicle for two months and had 4,300 miles (6,900 kilometres) on it.

The government agency seldom opens an investigation based on one complaint but said it was "very concerned about this failure in that it occurred without warning on a new vehicle at low mileage and resulted in a complete loss of steering as well as a compromised brake system."

Kia officials did not immediately comment on the investigation.

[Source: Yahoo/AFP/Reuters]

Report: Kia Cancels Plans for Soul'ster Production

Kia made a big splash at the 2009 North American International Auto Show when it unveiled the funky Soul'ster Concept. Despite its polarizing 2-door open-top SUV design that harks back to the Suzuki X90, the Soul'ster was received very well by the media and public, and rumours surfaced of production intent in the near future. Well, according to Ward's Auto, Kia has now cancelled its plans to build the Soul'ster for production.

In order for Kia to green-light a production Soul’ster, Orth Hedrick, director of product planning, stated “You have to have broader appeal” to justify the development time and money it would take to bring the model to market. He added that a production Soul'ster would be an “almost all-new vehicle,” due to structural and weight differences from the current Soul.

“The business case is really what we have to keep studying all the time,” said Hedrick, noting developing and selling Soul variants would be a challenge, “especially in this environment.”

In the interview conducted by Ward's Auto, Hedrick also stated that the Soul will undergo styling changes to the front and rear, as well as receive more up-level content, for the mid-cycle change in 2012.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Kia Canada Launches "Drive Change" National Marketing Campaign

PRESS RELEASE: Kia Canada Inc. launches industry-first national marketing campaign - 'Drive Change'

- 'Drive Change' reflects how Kia is leading change in the automotive
industry through its world class design

- 'Drive Change' also signifies Kia's commitment to impact change by
helping to improve communities in Canada

MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 21 /CNW/ - Kia Canada Inc., a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart announced today the industry-first, 'Drive Change' national marketing campaign. The campaign will focus on the evolution of the Kia brand, showcase its new world class design-led portfolio while reaching out and creating an emotional connection with Canadian consumers through its most recent commitment to social responsibility.

"We have worked very closely with our marketing partners, Innocean Canada and David & Goliath to develop an innovative and compelling campaign. The campaign clearly identifies our new world class automotive design attributes while at the same time reflecting Kia Canada's ongoing commitment to help local communities" said Maria Soklis, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kia Canada Inc. "Drive Change will be the conduit to heightening our brand awareness by reaching out to establish an emotional connection with consumers through both traditional and social media; thus differentiating Kia from other automotive manufacturers."

Kia Canada has invested in an integrated media campaign that involves the production of four television spots, prevalent on-line positioning, strategically placed bill boards, cinema presence, newspaper and magazine.

[Source: Kia Canada]

READ MORE for the second video of the campaign (feat. the Sorento) as well as the complete press release with more information.



Kia Canada is also revealing dedicated Facebook (www.facebook.com/kiacanada), Twitter (www.twitter.com/kiadrivechange) and You Tube (www.youtube.com/kiacanada) outlets. These channels document the step-by-step creation of the 'Drive Change' campaign and will serve to provide communication moving forward. This provides Kia with a unique and creative way to reach out to consumers.

The two-initial television spots for 'Drive Change' were captured recently over two, fifteen-hour sessions through time-lapse technology. These spots document life changing improvements for two different groups through the support of volunteers, Kia Canada Inc. employees and the use of Kia vehicles - Soul and Sorento.

The first television spot was captured at the Second Base Youth Shelter in Scarborough, Ontario which underwent a major basketball court restoration for the shelter residents. The court was virtually unplayable. As a result, Kia Canada completely refurbished the court and surrounding area including court surface, basketball nets, player's benches and gardens.

The second television spot was filmed at the Gilder Avenue location of Toronto Community Housing. This location was also in immediate need of a grounds restoration at the complex. Improvements made were the direct result of the resident's feedback and included the implementation of a common green space sitting area, sustainable vegetable gardens and a sectioned-off disposal area with wheel chair access.

Kia is inspiring and propelling change by differentiating themselves from other automotive manufacturers as a dynamic and youthful brand that is community conscious and responsible.

The next phase of brand evolution will witness the launch of the 2011 MY Sportage as well as three additional vehicles over the next twelve months. Kia is emerging as one of the world's top automotive companies and recently surpassed one million sales worldwide through the first six months of 2010.

The mandate of Kia Motors Corporation is to continue to strengthen and grow its global presence while maintaining a strong social consciousness. Toward this end, Kia Motors is implementing a variety of international and local community based programs aimed at developing long-term, economically and culturally sensitive relationships across its global network through universally shared interests such as sports, environmental, health and education issues.

Kia Brings Back the Hamsters for New Soul Ad Campaign

PRESS RELEASE: KIA MOTORS AMERICA BREAKS NEW SOUL AD CAMPAIGN AND BRINGS BACK HAMSTERS BY POPULAR DEMAND

Game-Changing Kia Halo Vehicle Still Stands Apart From Competition

* 2010 Soul urban passenger vehicle rolls in clever, hip hop style spot

* Pop culture Hamsters compare Soul’s style and creature comforts to other boxy rides

IRVINE, Calif., May 26, 2010 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today officially released a new advertising campaign, titled "This or That," for the 2010 Kia Soul. "This or That" is the rebirth of the initial Kia Soul award winning advertising campaign created by David&Goliath, KMA’s advertising agency of record, and brings back the loveable Hamsters due to popular demand. Soul is a unique and highly personalizable urban passenger vehicle and the new spot builds on its creative theme in the style of a music video set to the classic hip hop track "The Choice is Yours" by notable 90’s hip hop group Black Sheep. The new campaign launches today on cable TV networks Comedy Central, Fuse, MTV, MTV2 and Spike and runs through July. Beginning May 28 it will appear in movie theaters across the country as well as have a presence online at Pandora, Facebook, Social Vibe’s PetVille, KMA’s Kia.com. and a YouTube contest.

"Given the success and popularity of the hamsters in the initial Soul launch with a spot that won Nielsen’s Automotive Ad of the Year, it made sense to bring them back for a new campaign," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of KMA. "We know the Soul target audience is digitally savvy and that they viewed the first commercial multiple times online, so the newest experience is rich with details in the hamster world and integrated Soul content for them to discover during repeat viewings."

[Source: Kia]



"Hamstar™" logoed clothing, as seen in the spot, will soon be available for purchase by fans at www.hamstarclothing.com (check soon for details).

Cruising through an urban landscape behind the wheel of an Alien Green Kia Soul, the hamsters in "This or That" cleverly compare Soul’s unique styling and plethora of personalizable creature comforts to other boxy rides – represented by toasters, washing machines and cardboard boxes – while rapping the title song’s lyrics, "You can get with this, or you can get with that."

A recipient of "Best Family Cars for 2010" by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, "2010 Top Cars for Families" by Motherproof.com, and 2010 "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, Soul is available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, as well as four special editions, including the recently unveiled special-edition Ghost Soul. Other special-edition Soul vehicles include Ignition Soul, Denim Soul and Shadow Dragon Soul. Pricing for the versatile five-door begins under $14,000.

Soul stands out from the crowd with modern, unique styling aimed toward the young and young-at-heart and offers a unique combination of style, value and personalization options. An available Audio Upgrade Package includes speaker lights that can pulse to the beat of the music or add mood lighting to the interior cabin, enhancing the overall personal lounge feeling. The Soul+ offers funky black cloth seats with "glowing" Soul logo inserts while the Soul! trim comes with a distinctive sand-black interior with houndstooth-patterned inserts, and the Soul sport presents a bold red-black interior trim with red-trimmed cloth seats and metal-finish interior accents.

Kia Motors America in 2010

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share. With four new vehicle introductions and several other key initiatives planned for 2010, Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and with new technology such as UVO powered by Microsoft®2 infotainment system (expected to be available in select Kia models in the U.S. beginning in summer 20103). The launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA, further enhances the lineup, and is now in dealerships.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 670 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share and recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

Kia Soul Hamster CF Wins "Automotive Ad of the Year"

Already a recipient of numerous accolades including a "2010 Automotive Excellence Award" from Popular Mechanics and being recognized as the "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, the new 2010 Kia Soul was honored yet again at the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards event in conjunction with the New York International Auto Show when the TV commercial for the uniquely styled urban passenger vehicle was named "Automotive Ad Of The Year."

Created by David&Goliath, the Soul spot depicts city and suburban streets inhabited exclusively by hamsters who are mindlessly running in place inside their exercise wheels until a molten red Kia Soul pulls up to a stoplight and the passenger window rolls down to reveal a trio of paw-tapping, music-loving hamsters who have discovered "A New Way To Roll."

Portraying Soul as a lounge on wheels with its highly specified audio system that includes speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music, the hamsters bob their heads to four different music tracks that appear in slightly different versions of the spot to keep each viewing fresh. Viewers with a sharp eye can identify song and artist information on the hamsters' iPod screen, and the campaign extended online with each track available for download at www.kiasoul.com.

"The Soul was designed to stand out in a sea of sameness and that same philosophy guided the creative development of the hamster campaign and to position Soul as Kia's affordable halo vehicle," said Michael Sprague, VP, marketing, Kia Motors America.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading for the second version of the Soul Hamster Ad.

Kia Soul Safety Car Makes Track Debut This Weekend

The Kia Soul Safety Car will make its public debut on March 21 at Infineon Speedway in Sonoma, California. The safety car was first shown at the 2009 SEMA Show, but the public is not invited to that annual aftermarket event.

The Soul safety car was customized by Gogogear and features an upgraded suspension and tires, along with strobe lights mounted inside the headlights, taillights and light bar. The modified Soul also gets enhanced aerodynamics, custom free-flow Borla exhaust, a lightweight Optima battery, lightweight Konig wheels with low-resistance tires and a short ram intake by Takeda.

The Kia is the official safety car of the U.S. Touring Car Championship series, which is modeled after European touring car races and features modified production-based sedans.

The Kia Soul Safety Car is also scheduled for an April 24-25 appearance at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California, and a July 31-August 1 appearance at the AutoClub Speedway in Fontana, California, among others.

[Source: Kia]

Detroit 2010: Kia Shadow Dragon Soul

Kia unveiled the Shadow Dragon Soul Special Edition at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. The Shadow Dragon Soul is the third of four special-edition Soul cars destined to hit the market, according to Kia Motors America. It features an attractive exterior appearance package that looks pretty close to the Soul Burner concept car, which made its official debut at Geneva auto show two years ago.

The third Special Edition model is coated in unique, deep shadow black exterior finish and features matte black dragon graphics on the hood and tail-gate. The hot-looking exterior is spiced-up with attractive body-colored wing-type spoiler, high-gloss black accents on the bumpers and 18-inch alloy-wheels with machined accents.

The interior of the Shadow Dragon Soul provides a little more exclusivity than both previous Special Edition (Soul Denim and Ignition Soul) models. It features leather-wrapped seats – the first leather seating available on any Soul model – with integrated seat warmers for additional comfort.

The equipments of latest special edition model also include Audio Upgrade Package with subwoofer, dash-mounted center speaker, external amplifier and pulsing front-speaker lights. Steering-wheel controls, iPod cable, sun-roof and carpeted floor mats and fog lights are also a part of standard package.

Equipped with five-speed manual gearbox, Kia Shadow Dragon Soul Special Edition model starts at $18,195 (add the $695 destination charge).

[Source: Kia]

USA: 2010 Kia Soul Ignition Hits the Road

The second special edition Kia Soul to be offered in the States this year after the "Denim" is the "Ignition". Based on the Soul+ model, the limited run version features a unique ignition orange exterior finish with contrasting black rally stripes, a rear spoiler, an alloy fuel door and black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents.

Like the previously launched Denim, on top of the Soul+ standard equipment, Kia has loaded the Ignition with more features including a higher-grade audio system with iPod connection, center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music, carpeted floor mats, moon roof, fender vents with side marker repeaters and fog lights.

The new Kia Soul Ignition is available for order with prices starting from $17,500 for the model with a five-speed manual gearbox.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading to view more images.

Kia Soul Awarded 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS

The 2010 Kia Soul has been given a 2010 “Top Safety Pick” award for the second consecutive time this year in the Small Car category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). On the heels of being given a “2010 Automotive Excellence Award” by Popular Mechanics, named to TIME.com’s “Most Exciting Cars of 2010” list and being named one of “10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens” by AutoWeek magazine, the spunky and youthful Kia five-door was one of only five small cars to earn the organization’s top honor for earning “Good” ratings – the highest achievable – in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests.

“Since its launch in March, Soul has lived up to its tagline of being Kia Motors’ affordable halo vehicle by winning numerous awards and consistently being a media and consumer favorite,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “Soul being honored with a ‘Top Safety Pick’ for a second time solidifies it as a top contender in its segment as a vehicle that offers consumers the entire package.”

All trim levels for the Soul come standard with many safety features including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

[Source: Description]

Type rest of the post here

Kia Releases Soul Tempest Limited Edition for U.K.

Kia Motors has launched a limited-edition Soul "Tempest" for the UK market today. Replacing the outgoing "Samba" model, the Tempest is the latest addition to the automaker's Original Collections line-up in the UK.

The Tempest comes in a Titanium Silver finish with black high-gloss bumper inserts and door mirrors, and is fitted with unique black 18-inch alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Tempest gets 'Soul-Shine' black seat trim with metallic center fascia and chrome accents on the dashboard and instrument clusters.

Other key features of the limited edition model include a reversing camera system with electrochromic rearview mirror and an upgraded audio system featuring a dash-top centre speaker, rear sub-woofer and external amplifier.

The Soul Tempest is available with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines with prices starting from £12,845.

[Source: Kia Motors]

Continue reading for the press image.