WORLD PREMIERE FOR NEW MAGENTIS AT FRANKFURT

• All-new four-door D segment sedan to be revealed at IAA Motor Show in September
• Latest model in the complete regeneration of Kia´s product range
• New 2-litre diesel engine for Magentis models in Europe

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 10 August 2005

Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that the world premiere of its all-new Kia Magentis four-door sedan will take place at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 13 September. Designed at Kia facilities in Korea, the USA and Europe, the new Magentis marks the latest step in the complete regeneration of the Kia product line-up over the last four years.

Longer, wider and higher than the previous model, with an extended 2720 mm wheelbase, more spacious interior and larger trunk, the stylish new Magentis is a thoroughly modern design, engineered to give Kia a strong challenger for D-Segment sales around the world. New Magentis measures 4735 mm long, 1805 mm wide and 1480 mm tall.

"Through hard work and dedication, we have totally transformed our product range in recent years," commented Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation. "Starting with the Sorento 4x4, followed by the Picanto small car, the Cerato, the Sportage compact SUV and most recently the new Rio, we have demonstrated Kia´s determination to deliver a modern, highly competitive range of cars with immense customer appeal. With every new Kia model we have also demonstrated the growing ´Power to Surprise´ of our developing global brand."

As well as attracting customers with its stylish exterior and comfortable interior, new Magentis will come with a generous level of active and passive safety equipment, including ABS and ESP stability control, rear parking sensors, front, side and curtain airbags, and active (anti-whiplash) front seat head restraints - depending on model. Magentis will be backed by a fully comprehensive 3-year warranty.

In Europe, part of Kia´s sales success is attributable to the introduction of class-leading diesel engines across the range. New Magentis will be available with a new 2-litre diesel engine in Europe, as well as two petrol engines. "Like its sister Kia cars, new Magentis has been created with European consumers in mind," revealed Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Europe.

"With the Magentis launch, we will have competitive models in the A, B, C and D-Segments as well as the MPV and SUV sectors, maintaining the momentum of our rapid growth and our ability to attract more and more new customers to our brand," concluded Mr Lievens.

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 28 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) - one of the fastest growing automaker in the world - was founded in 1944 and is Korea´s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world´s premier automotive brands.
Kia´s 16 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 155 countries. Kia today has 32,000 employees and annual revenues of US$14 billion.
Kia is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia Motors Corporation´s brand slogan - ´The Power to Surprise´ - represents the company´s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Press Contact:

Dr Iris Kirschbaum
Tel 0049 6196 5092 132 Email i.kirschbaum@kia-europe.com

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