Four world premieres for Kia at Paris Motor Show

World premiere for new Kia Soul urban crossover passenger car

World premiere for fuel-stretching Kia cee´d ISG (Idle Stop&Go)

World premiere for Kia cee´d Hybrid and Kia Soul Hybrid concepts

European premiere of Kia Sportage FCEV fuel cell electric test vehicle

Kia Press Conference 16.45 hrs, Stand 520, Hall 5, 2 October

To celebrate the world premiere of the all-new Kia Soul urban crossover passenger car at the Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2008, Kia Motors will be displaying seven examples of its latest model in a special Soul World´ zone throughout the 18-day event.
To celebrate the world premiere of the all-new Kia Soul urban crossover passenger car at the Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2008, Kia Motors will be displaying seven examples of its latest model in a special Soul World´ zone throughout the 18-day event.

The eagerly awaited Kia Soul marks a revolutionary expansion of the Kia product line-up. A bold statement of Kia´s determination to succeed as one of the world´s top automotive companies, Kia Soul is destined to appeal to a whole new group of European, US and global consumers. It will achieve thousands of conquest´ sales for the Kia brand appealing especially to the young and the young-at-heart.

Soul presents consumers with such a broad selection of styling, comfort and equipment choices, that it redefines the concept of freedom. It´s a brand new urban car packed full of liberating ideas a car that challenges consumers to free your mind´, to build an emotional bond with their new car and to rethink everything they know about Kia, enthuses Mr Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO, International Business Division, Kia Motors Corporation.

Distinctive styling like no Kia before!
Kia Motors Corporation Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, has overseen the evolution of Kia Soul from 2006 concept fantasy to its 2008 production reality.

The new Kia Soul will be a breakthrough vehicle for Kia on its journey to be seen as a design-led company and the maker of distinctive cars which consumers aspire to own. Conceived in the USA, developed in Korea and fine-tuned in Europe, I strongly believe that the production Kia Soul urban crossover is a completely resolved design that has successfully achieved its own distinctive style. Soul will generate an irresistible customer appeal that will translate into strong sales.

Space to feel free, plus a sensational sound system
Kia Motors´ senior executives and its many dealers are confident that when customers first experience the new Kia Soul urban crossover they are going to be deeply impressed by its style, colours, execution, quality, materials, fit and finish. There will be several unique aspects to the experience of sitting in the Soul with its unusual combination of spaciousness for passengers and cosiness for the driver, generating a very special ambience.

Every Kia Soul in Europe will be equipped with a factory-fit RDS radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, plus six audio speakers, a 112 watts output, innovative PowerBass technology and a roof-top antenna. An Upgraded Sound System complete with Sound Sensitive Mood Lighting´, a 315 watts output, a large dash-top centre speaker, external amplifier and a sub-woofer in the trunk for a total of eight speakers can be specified.

Choice of 126 ps diesel and 126 ps gasoline powertrains
In Europe, Soul customers will be offered a choice of 126 ps diesel with DPF (and a 115 ps low-power´ version in some countries), or 126 ps gasoline engines, based closely on the 1.6-litre units first designed and produced by Kia´s engineers for the Kia cee´d model made in Slovakia. For the USA and several other non-European General markets, the Kia Soul will also be available with a 2-litre, 142 ps gasoline engine.

Soul acceleration times (to 100 kph) range from 10.4 to 11.3 seconds and fuel consumption spreads over a 5.1 to 6.6 litres/100 km span, while CO2 figures vary between 137 and 159 g/km for European models.

ESP and six airbags available to boost Soul safety
The Kia Soul will be available with the highest levels of active and passive safety, to fully satisfy the ever-increasing consumer expectations of modern car design. Kia Soul cars supplied to the majority of countries in Western Europe and all of North America will be fitted with six airbags, four disc brakes and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) increasingly a proven technology´ in accident avoidance as standard. In other countries ESP will be available as a factory-fitted option.

Producing a brand new global model
Kia Motors Corporation is planning to manufacture up to 136,000 examples of the Kia Soul annually at its Gwangju facility in Korea. The plant has been extensively refurbished for its new role. Overall sales volumes are expected to split 36,000 to the domestic Korean market, 50,000 units to North America, 30,000 to Europe and 20,000 to other General´ markets worldwide. A dedicated version of Kia Soul for the Chinese market will be produced locally in China at the rate of 40,000 units annually, starting during 2009.

Four new models star in Kia´s Green Zone´
Kia will display four new models in its Green Zone´ at Paris the Kia cee´d ISG, Soul Hybrid, cee´d Hybrid and Sportage FCEV.

One of the first eco-friendly´ technologies to transfer from concept to reality will be Kia´s new ISG (Idle Stop&Go) system which makes its world premiere at Paris and will be available on Kia cee´d gasoline models from early 2009. The innovative ISG system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in heavy traffic and on again when traffic moves, cutting fuel consumption and emissions by up to 15%.

Hybrid power for Kia Soul and Kia cee´d
Also making their world premieres at Paris are the Kia cee´d Hybrid and the Kia Soul Hybrid concept cars. The Soul Hybrid concept comes complete with a transparent bonnet and floor, so the new hybrid powertrain and battery pack can be viewed by show visitors.

This Soul features a 1.6-litre gasoline engine, mated to a 15 kW, 105 Nm electric motor, Kia´s own CVT (continuously variable transmission), ISG and regenerative braking´ to re-charge its power pack. The prototype is designed to achieve a fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km and a CO2 figure of 117 g/km reducing CO2 emissions by 26.4%.

The Kia cee´d Hybrid has been created by Kia R&D to take part in real-world´ test activities in Europe. Like the Soul Hybrid, the cee´d uses an upgraded powertrain with a 1.6-litre engine and 15 kW electric motor. Environmental performance targets are 4.8 l/100 km and a CO2 figure of 114 g/km.

Kia brings fuel cell vehicle to Europe
As part of Kia Motors Corporation´s continuing fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) programme, the Kia Sportage FCEV is undergoing constant testing and evolution. Now, Kia has transported this hard working prototype to Europe for the first time.

Intensive research has resulted in numerous technical innovations, including a higher output 100kW (136 ps) fuel cell and a new lithium ion polymer 152 volt battery pack, which give the Sportage FCEV higher performance, a greatly extended 300 km driving range and a cold weather start-up capability to operate in sub-zero temperatures. The Sportage FCEV is equipped with hydrogen-powered fuel cells and a drive train developed in-house by KMC.

Kia Press Conference
The Kia Soul urban crossover will make its world premiere on the Kia stand (No 520, Hall 5) at the Paris International Motor Show at 16.45 hrs on 2 October 2008.

- Ends -

Editors´ Notes

Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, it covers 32 markets in Europe.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart 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. More than 1.4 million vehicles a year are produced at 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries. These vehicles are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 165 countries.
Kia today has more than 40,000 employees and annual revenues of almost US$17 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia is an official automotive partner of FIFA the governing body of the FIFA World Cup as well as a EUROTOP partner of UEFA. Kia Motors Corporations brand slogan ´The Power to Surprise´ represents the company´s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Press Contact
Ms Ilona Tzudnowski (PR Manager Europe)
Tel 0049 69 850 928 357 Email i.tzudnowski@kia-europe.com

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 11, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany.
Tel 0049 69 850 928 352 Fax 0049 69 850 928 399

Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, it covers 32 markets in Europe.

Press Contact
Ms Ilona Tzudnowski (PR Manager Europe)
Tel 0049 69 850 928 357 Email i.tzudnowski@kia-europe.com

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 11, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany.
Tel 0049 69 850 928 352 Fax 0049 69 850 928 399

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