CERATO VOTED ´CAR OF THE YEAR´ IN CANADA

• Automobile Journalists select Cerato as ´Economy Car of the Year´
• In Europe, Cerato monthly sales jump 87% over 2003 levels
• Cerato exports reach 87,120 units in first 11 months of 2004

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 14 December 2004

After four days of what it describes as ´real-world back-to-back testing´ in Ontario, the Automobile Journalists´ Association of Canada has crowned the Kia Cerato sedan (called Spectra in Canada), as its ´Economy Car of the Year 2005´.

In Europe, where new Kia´s C-Segment model is available as a five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan, demand for the Cerato has soared to achieve a monthly sales rate that is 87% higher than sales achieved in 2003, by the Spectra and Shuma models it replaces.

Cerato is Kia´s highly competitive entry into the hugely popular C-segment of the European market. Part of the Cerato´s attraction for customers in Europe is the availability of two modern diesel engines - for the first time in a Kia car, as well as a choice of gasoline power units. The 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engines feature common-rail technology for the optimum balance between performance, economy and emissions.

Performance of the all-new 1.5 CRDi diesel engine is highly competitive - one of the best in its class. It delivers 75 kW of power and 235.5 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm. On the combined cycle, fuel consumption is just 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres and the CO2 figure is 128 g/km.

The 2.0 CRDi diesel engine is similar to the 16-valve Kia engine used in the Carens compact MPV. It generates a maximum power of 82.5 kW and torque of 245.2 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Combined cycle consumption is 6.0 litres per 100 km, with a CO2 figure of 157 g/km. The two engines have a very different character. The 1.5 is programmed for maximum fuel economy, while the 2.0 is set up to deliver strong performance.

During its first 11 months on sale in export markets, Kia has sold a total of 87,120 Cerato (Spectra) vehicles around the world. In Europe, Kia is confident that the Cerato range - the five-door hatchbacks and the four-door sedans - will attract more than 45,000 customers annually within two years of its launch.

In Canada, the CCOTY awards were presented to the best new vehicles in 12 different market segments, ranging from economy family models to SUVs, luxury sedans and sportscars. The Kia Spectra (Cerato) will now be considered for the overall ´Canadian Car of the Year´ award and the results of voting will be announced in February 2005.

The annual Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards have been shown to have a significant impact on Canadian consumers. A recent survey confirmed that almost 70% of buyers of previous award-winners were influenced by the CCOTY accolade.

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Editors Notes

Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Eschborn, Germany, it covers 20 markets in Europe. The European sales target is 300,000 units per year by 2005, thanks to new products and new diesel engines.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com), which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2004, is among the world´s fastest growing automobile companies. As part of the Hyundai-Kia

Automotive Group, Kia aims to be a ´Top 5´ global automaker by 2010. Kia´s 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries make more than one million vehicles each year. These vehicles are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 190 countries.

Founded in 1944, Kia Motors Corporation is Korea´s oldest manufacturer of automobiles. Kia today has 30,000 employees and annual revenues of US$ 12 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and the international sponsor of the Davis Cup.

Press Contact:

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Hauptstrasse 185, 65760 Eschborn, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (6196) 509 2132 / Fax.: +49 (6196) 509 2100