KIA PICANTO WINS EIGHT OUT OF NINE EUROPEAN GROUP TESTS

• Picanto is top super-mini in eight out of nine European group tests
• Test results reflect Kia´s improved quality and styling for European consumers

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 2 September 2004

Since its introduction to the European market earlier this summer, the overwhel-mingly popular Kia Picanto has been selected as the number one super-mini in eight out of nine group tests conducted by leading automotive publications across the region.

Among the group tests, the UK´s Autocar magazine presented the most competiti-on for the Picanto, with a total of 10 cars reviewed. Yet the Picanto came out on top of the pack for being, "a car that has been built with kit and quality that - po-und for pound - rivals a Mercedes S Class."

In Austria, Alles Auto pitted the Picanto against the Hyundai Getz, Fiat Panda, Renault Twingo, and Smart Fourtwo. The Picanto edged out the Hyundai Getz for first place, as it was the most fun car of the group to drive. Auto Bild of Germany put the Picanto, Fiat Panda and Daihatsu Cuore to the test, with the Picanto clai-ming the winner´s title thanks to its good braking, fun driving performance, value and equipment levels, and precise power steering, among other credentials.

The Netherlands´ AutoWeek praised the Picanto as a spicy and comfortable car, and was the clear winner, with its good driving capabilities and plenty of space. Competitors in the group test were the Hyundai Atos and Suzuki Alto. According to France´s Auto Plus, the Picanto 1.1 EX came out ahead of the Renault Twingo 1.2 16V Expression. Road testers liked Picanto´s ´neo retro´ styling, high quality and well designed interior, and generous equipment levels. They also found Pican-to very enjoyable to drive.

In Portugal, Autohoje put the Picanto 1.1 EX to the test against the Fiat Panda 1.1 Active and the Atos Prime 1.1 Style V. Lauded as a very competitive car with excellent equipment levels and a good quality finish, the Picanto came out on top once again.

Spain´s Car & Driver found the Picanto to feature, "the best and most attractive interior, while it is well finished and without vibration. The price, product and per-formance are as good as the car´s design. It has the best stability in curves, the best interior space and the most comfortable interior. The Picanto also beats the compe-tition in terms of engine, transmission, performance, and fuel consumption." Car & Driver pitted the Picanto 1.1 EX against the Fiat Panda 1.2 Dynamic, Hyundai Atos Prime 1.1 GLS, and Daewoo Matiz 1.0 SE. In another test by a leading Spa-nish automotive publication, AutoPista, the Picanto 1.1 stole the show from the Indian-built Tata Indica 1.4 thanks to its engine and good driving performance, as well as interior, safety features and value.

Italy´s AUTO, rated the Picanto as superior to the Fiat Panda in terms of design, interior layout, acceleration, fuel consumption, and braking, although the Polish-built Fiat Panda scored a photo-finish victory.

According to Yong-Hwan Kim, Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors, "The recent group tests conducted throughout Europe are clear evidence that we are making great strides in improving the quality and styling of our products to make them more attractive to European consumers. Going forward, we plan to fully utilize our Research & Development centers in the US and Germany to produce even more vehicles tailored towards different regional tastes."

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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 European 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