SENSATIONAL KIA SPORT CONCEPT CAR REVEALED

• World Premiere for 2-litre, 200 ps turbo powered hatchback
• Concept Car is dramatic trailer for new B-Segment model in 2005

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 23 September 2004

Kia Motors Corporation revealed its sensational new Kia Sport Concept Car at the Mondial de L´Automobile in Paris today (Thursday). The Kia Sport is based on the five-door hatchback version of the company´s forthcoming all-new B-Segment model which will be launched next Spring. Power for the bright yellow projectile comes from a special 2-litre, 200 ps turbocharged gasoline engine driving the front wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.

Kia designers have created a dynamic, sporty-looking concept car that reflects the vision of Kia´s small car design philosophy. The wide air intake and front air-dam, linear grille graphics, sleek profile, prominent wheel arches, wide 18-inch diameter five-spoke alloy wheels, dual exhausts, sweeping rear lamp clusters, bold exterior colour and striking roof-top aerodynamic wing - all combine to give the Kia Sport a fantastic road presence.

"The Kia Sport really is a stunning concept car," enthused Jean Charles Lievens, Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "The design team in Korea have created a car that is young-at-heart, a bold but subtly detailed embodiment of European automotive styling. It will undoubtedly appeal to our target customers, 20-to-30 year old Europeans with an active personality and lifestyle."

Inside, the styling is ´driver-oriented´ with a mix of leather and metal materials used to create a sporty, voluminous and functional interior in colours which harmonize with the exterior. Yellow and dark grey leather features on the seats, door trims and centre console. Light gleams from the metal finish of the centre fascia, with its satellite-navigation, DVD player and climate control, and from metal highlights on the gear selector, steering wheel, and centre console.

The Kia Sport Concept Car is 4150 mm long, 1800 mm wide and 1470 mm high, with a 2500 mm wheelbase.

"The bold, bright Kia Sport concept car is another milestone in Kia´s journey to become a Top 5 global car maker. It has been created with young European consumers very much in mind. Depending on public reaction to this sensational show car, a full production version may be introduced during 2006," concluded Lievens.

Editors Notes

2005 B-Segment model
Kia´s all-new B-Segment model will be launched next Spring, offering customers a choice of 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles, and both gasoline and diesel engines.

Three World Premieres
Kia Motors is revealing three ´World Premiere´ models in Paris - the all-new Kia Sportage small SUV, the Kia Sport Concept Car and the Kia Sportage FCEV, fuel cell electric vehicle.

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