Kia wins four design awards in new Automotive Brand Contest

(SEOUL) July 20, 2011 -- Kia Motors is one of the main winners in the first-ever Automotive Brand Contest.  This new international brand and design competition was organised by the Rat für Formgebung (German Design Council), which is also responsible for the Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German Design Award).

The judging panel of the first Automotive Brand Contest declared Kia Motors the worthy winner in two categories.  In the Brand Design category, where strategy and focus of the brand’s overall design is rated, Kia was ranked ‘Best of Best’.

For the Exterior category, in which the design of the vehicle itself is the centre of attention, three Kia models were picked as winners: the compact Sportage CUV, the forthcoming Rio B-segment model (on sale from Fall 2011 in most global markets) and the all-new, athletic D-segment Kia Optima sedan.  The Kia Optima and Kia Sportage have already been awarded prestigious design prizes: the red dot award (Kia Optima: ‘best of the best’) and the iF product design award.

“We are all exceedingly proud that Kia Motors has done so well in this new competition, which is very important within the automotive industry,” says Kia’s Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer.  “By changing our basic design focus, we have given our brand a face, a distinctive identity.

“The ‘Best of Best’ title for Kia’s new design identity in the Brand Design category is a great endorsement of the creative and professional work done by our entire international design team.  The latest awards conferred on the Sportage and Optima, and the very first one to go to our latest model, the Rio, reflect the continuity of our efforts to uphold our own high design standards.  All four awards are a fantastic acknowledgement of our strategy to position design as a core Kia brand promise,” adds Schreyer.

Three Kia award winning models: design that points to the future

The fourth-generation Kia Rio, which celebrated its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, is not a further development of its predecessor, but a powerful new personality in its own right.  By clearly moving away from its past, the new B-segment model epitomizes Kia’s transformation to a design and quality-led brand.  The wedge-shaped profile and sleek side windows lend the newcomer dynamic flair, while the balance between window graphics, wheelbase and the vehicle’s overall proportions creates a ‘premium’ impression rarely found in this segment.  Developed with the global market in mind, the Rio will be available in Europe in both three-door and five-door bodystyles, with four-door and five-door bodystyles offered in most other markets.

The newly developed Kia Optima is a model that bears no resemblance to the brand’s earlier D-segment vehicles.  Peter Schreyer headed the design of the athletic sedan at the Kia design centres in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, USA.  Immediately following its launch in the Korean market in mid-2010, the Kia Optima topped the D-segment sales chart there – the first Kia model ever to do so.

With its third-generation of the Sportage, Kia has given the popular compact CUV a complete makeover.  The Sportage combines all the key off-road features – raised ground clearance, commanding driving position and heightened sense of security – with a sleek and urban-friendly design.  In Europe, the most eco-friendly version, the Sportage 1.7 CRDi 2WD featuring a start/stop system, achieves a CO2 emissions rating of just 135 g/km.

Winners to be presented at IAA motor show in Frankfurt

The Rat für Formgebung (German Design Council), organiser of the newly instituted Automotive Brand Contest, was founded in 1953 as an initiative of the German Federal Parliament, and today counts among the world’s leading centers of excellence for communication and knowledge transfer in the field of design.

Among the patrons of this independent institution are 170 companies from both Germany and abroad.  With its competitions, such as Designpreis Deutschland (Germany’s highest official design award), its exhibitions, as well as its conferences, seminars and workshops, the German Design Council’s purpose is to spread the word about good industrial design to a broad public.  The Automotive Brand Contest is open to all companies in the automobile industry and their partners, in the supply industry and in the fields of design and brand communications.  

This first year’s winners of the new competition will be presented with their awards at the IAA in Frankfurt on Automotive Designers’ Night, 13 September 2011 (first press day). 

Source: [Kia Motors]

Kia Motors America expands sports marketing portfolio to include basketball All-Star Blake Griffin

(SEOUL) June 22, 2011 -- Kia Motors America (KMA) is experiencing unprecedented growth – year-to-date sales are up an industry best 44.8 percent – and the company’s diverse sports marketing properties have driven dramatic increases in consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. 

Today, KMA announced a groundbreaking partnership with one of the most recognizable young players in professional basketball, Blake Griffin, who will serve as an official spokesperson for the Kia Motors brand around the world.  The multi-year deal builds upon the memorable connection forged between Griffin and Kia Motors after he leaped over a new 2011 Optima midsize sedan to win the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk competition and footage of the dunk was featured in Kia’s advertising.  Griffin is the only current professional basketball player with a global marketing relationship with an automaker.

The partnership with Griffin increases Kia’s presence in professional basketball following the brand’s extension and expansion of its relationship with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2010.

In addition to being an “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA,” Kia is also the Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star, title partner of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, and an Official Automotive Partner of NBA Cares.  Earlier this month, Kia became the presenting partner of the 2011 NBA Draft.  Kia also has strategic partnerships with 13 NBA teams, including Griffin’s Los Angeles Clippers.

“Blake Griffin is one of the most exciting players in basketball and has proven that he is an all-star on and off the court with extraordinary talent and a youthful, dynamic style that matches the energy and spirit Kia puts into every vehicle it produces,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “With Kia’s U.S. market share at an all-time high and rising fast, we are more focused than ever before on continuing to raise the brand’s profile with highly-visible strategic partnerships, and expanding our presence in professional basketball by adding Blake Griffin as a global spokesperson will allow us to continue our momentum.”

In his role as a global spokesperson for Kia Motors, Griffin will support Kia Motors’ marketing programs and appear in the company’s advertising materials, make public appearances on behalf of the brand, and be involved in exclusive product promotions, social media engagements and philanthropic initiatives.    

“Kia is a company on the rise and knows that to be the best you have to work the hardest,” said Griffin.  “Kia's hard work has paid off and their great looking and fun-to-drive products are a testament to their burning desire to be the best. I trust the Kia brand and I’m honored and excited to partner with a company I truly believe in.”

Griffin joins Kia’s growing roster of sports initiatives, including basketball, women’s professional golf and motorsports that are designed to increase brand awareness among a new and more affluent group of consumers.  Michelle Wie is the brand’s official golf ambassador and Kia is the title sponsor of the annual Kia Classic LPGA event in Southern California.  Kia’s second-year U.S. racing program captured the company’s first-ever victory in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series in April.

Source: [Kia Motors]

NISSAN JUKE EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK FROM IIHS

05.26.2011 , FRANKLIN, Tenn.

The Nissan Juke joins the Nissan LEAF, Nissan Cube and Infiniti M37/M56 as Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2011 Top Safety Picks

Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2011 Nissan Juke a “Top Safety Pick” rating. The rating is given to vehicles that achieve the Institute’s highest rating of “Good” in front, rear and side impact protection as well as being equipped with electronic stability control and earn a good rating in roof strength. The Nissan Juke joins the Nissan LEAF Nissan Cube and Infiniti M37/M56 on the list of 2011 Top Safety Picks.

“Nissan’s commitment to safety and innovation is reflected in the Nissan Juke receiving the Top Safety Pick from IIHS,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “The Nissan Juke has a unique combination of motorsports-inspired design and unexpected levels of technology and safety features– all with a starting MSRP under $19,000.”

Every 2011 JUKE comes equipped with the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage, dual-threshold front air bags and seat belt and occupant classification sensors, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear outboard occupant head protection, seat-mounted driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags and front-seat Active Head Restraints. Other standard equipment includes LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS).

[source: Nissan]

NISSAN LEAF WINS 2011 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR

Latest accolade for zero-emission vehicle comes at New York International Auto Show

Today, at the New York International Auto Show, the 100-percent electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF was named 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top spot. Today’s award is the latest in a string of accolades for the world’s first affordable mass-market, all-electric vehicle for the global market, which was also named European Car of the Year.

“It is a great joy that the world’s first, mass-marketed electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, has won the prestigious award of 2011 World Car of the Year,” said Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn. “This accolade recognizes Nissan LEAF, a pioneer in zero-emission mobility, as comparable in its driving performance, quietness and superb handling to gas-powered cars. And it validates Nissan’s clear vision and the values of sustainable mobility that we want to offer to customers around the world.”

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “The Leaf is the gateway to a brave new electric world from Nissan. This 5-seater, 5-door hatchback is the world's first, purpose-built, mass-produced electric car. It has a range of over 100 miles on a full charge claims Nissan, takes around 8 hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its low center of gravity produced sharp turn-in with almost no body roll and no understeer. The good news? It feels just like a normal car, only quieter.”

The World Car of the Year competition was launched in 2004, with winners chosen by a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America.

Nissan LEAF is available in Japan, the United States and select European markets and will be released in other global markets in 2012. The vehicle is currently built at Nissan’s Oppama, Japan plant. It also will be manufactured at the company’s Smyrna, Tenn., plant in the United States in late 2012 and at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom by early 2013.

Aiming to be the world leader in zero-emission vehicles, Nissan, with its Alliance partner, Renault, has formed partnerships with more than 90 governments, cities and other organizations around the world not only to develop and produce EV and lithium-ion batteries but also to promote sustainable mobility. Nissan is also taking a comprehensive approach to encourage to the world to more sustainable mobility such as improvement of charging service, infrastructure deployment, the promotion of the use of recycled materials and overall energy management system including second-life use of lithium-ion batteries.