Kia Soul is the embodiment of its UK crossover range. It was thought quirky when it came to market a few years ago but the practical shape soon found favour and it has been consistently reworked to keep it up to date. The Carens, Sportage and Sorento fill needs for SUV buyers while the Soul simply offers a cheaper way into moving people or goods and its one of the few cars in its class which … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 May
Tighter safety controls on equipment and automation will be outlined by the EU to vehicle manufacturers by the end of the year. Safety campaigners have won their fight to make more equipment standard, particularly for heavy or big vehicles. Ford is reportedly shaking up its senior management. US media reports CEO Mark Fields is leaving the car maker and his role is being split into three … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 May
Kia Picanto models bought now will come with a year’s insurance. Its open until the end of June for buyers aged 21 to 79. New Ford Fiesta production is underway in Germany. Models will be in dealerships in July. Volvo will start building XC90 models at its new Indian plant this year. Their Bangalore factory will eventually assemble other models as well following the success of its … [Read more...]
Tradelines 26 April
Kia Motors (UK) Limited President and Chief Executive Paul Philpott completed his first London Marathon in support of The Children’s Trust. He recorded a time for the course of four hours and 17 minutes and raised £37,000 for the charity and Customer Service Manager Sonia Appleby managed the course in five hours and five minutes for the Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice and brought in … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 April
Mazda MX-5 RF has won the “Best of the Best” prize at the 2017 Red Dot product design awards for its KODO – Soul of Motion styling. The unique two-seater retractable fastback thereby duplicates the success of its fourth-generation MX-5 soft-top sibling, which took away the same award for outstanding product design in 2015. Toyota is recalling a total of about 2.9 million vehicles in Japan, … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: New Kia Rio
Known as Kia’s ‘big little car’ the Rio Supermini has gone through three generations and the fourth incarnation is with us now from £11.995, writes David Miles. Globally, the Rio has been Kia’s best selling model range with annual sales of around 475,000 units. But in the UK the Rio has been outsold by Kia’s Sportage mid-sized SUV/Crossover and the Cee’d C-segment models. In 2015, the Rio’s … [Read more...]
Best-buy 4x4s listed
With severe snow warnings in place for most of the UK, many motorists may consider buying a 4x4 for the winter months. Automotive data expert hpi has put together a list of this season's best buys with Tim Bearder, Black Book Editor at hpi. Tim said, “This all depends on your budget of course if you are thinking of spending £40-£60,000 then three cars that spring to mind is the Porsche … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 January
This is the all-new Kia Picanto, the third-generation of one of Kia’s global best-selling cars. Created by Kia’s design centres in Namyang, Korea and Frankfurt, Germany, the new Picanto comes to Britain in the spring after is full reveal at the Geneva motor show in March. More than half of drivers, who made a New Year’s driving resolution, have opted to drive less, walk more or drive more … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Optima PHEV saloon
Time is running out if you want to save yourself from a little known tax and benefits hike with 'green cars', says David Miles With significant tax changes due for all new cars bought from 1 April next year, both in terms of VED road tax and Benefit-in-Kind company car tax, sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) in the UK will only continue to grow. The choice is also getting better … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia Niro Hybrid ‘First Edition’
Kia is coming of age with its new Niro petrol electric hybrid Crossover. It's already produced an electric car into its previous petrol and diesel line up but as global manufacturers are forced by legislation to constantly reduce the emissions of their passenger vehicles both by model and for their entire ranges overall, more and more cars are being offered with some form of electric only power … [Read more...]