The Kia Pop is a small, two door Smartcar-like electric vehicle. With The Paris Motor Show little more than a month away, Kia has released photos of this new concept, which it will put on display. The Pop shows a type of outrageous design that draws a crowd, but chances of this design entering production is probably slim.

The Kia Pop front end looks like it could come from a small Japanese Kei-class auto, the Pop’s side graphic uses a “lozenge shape” in the door.

The top of the car is constructed entirely out of glass, letting plenty of light into the cabin.

Kia has stated little about the car right now, other than it can hold three passengers and is powered by an electric motor. The cabin configuration is “quite cozy,” with a single bench seat allowing the three passengers to sit side by side.

Source: CNET

The contest coincides with the Black Sheep music video campaign for Soul, which hip hop hamsters sing “You can get with this, or you can get with that” comparing the virtues of the Soul vehicle with rolling appliances.

Participants have to create their own music video using Kia Soul as a thematic idea, and the tag, “A new way to roll.” The contest is on now until the end of September, with the top two finalists going on Kia’s dime to Los Angeles for the announcement of the grand prize winner, who will receive a $10,000 prize.

Michael Sprague, Kia VP of marketing & communications says, “Social media is an important part of the marketing strategy for Soul and engaging passionate enthusiasts in this space creates additional opportunities to build buzz through a new, interactive experience.”

Currently, Kia Soul promotes itself with widespread Yahoo! ads, Facebook applications and their very own Youtube channel.

Check out the Kia Contest Rules and enter at their official website.

The Forte Hatchback will also feature a new front grill, alloy wheels, paddle shifters and navigation. While it sits lower and exudes a performance stance, Kia says it does not compromise on practicality or space.

Kia fans in North America have made it clear they want the Forte, at least based on responses to the Koup at events like 2010′s New York International Auto Show. Kia’s sportier designs and more powerful engines are making it an up-and-coming company that the competition should keep an eye on.

Details are scarce but two engines are available in the form of a 2.0-liter and a 2.4-liter. Power figures were not supplied. Transmission choices are a new 6-speed manual and an automatic.

“Our data show that truly effective advertising starts with a great creative idea,” said Lois Miller, President of Nielsen Automotive. “When you combine that idea with a memorable and unique hook that grabs the viewer’s attention, you are going to get the results that we saw from Kia this year.”

Source: LeftLaneNews

Kia’s Venga EV is able to hit 0-62 mph in 11.8 seconds and a top speed of 87 mph. The electric motor is powered by two 24 kWh lithium ion polymer batteries, which allow the car to travel up to 112 miles (180 km) on a single charge. Once depleted, the batteries can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes with a rapid charger or fully recharged in eight hours with a normal charger.

ELECTRIC VENGA CONCEPT PLUGS IN FOR KIA AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Venga EV represents Kia Motors’ continuing commitment to earth-positive R&D and marks an additional dimension in the company’s development of eco-friendly vehicles.

The next generation Kia Magentis (Known as the Optima in USA) will make its public world premiere at the New York International Auto Show on Friday 2 April 2010.

A fresh design from the ground up, Kia’s all-new version of its popular mid-size saloon is completely transformed and embodies a bold, athletic and sporty visual energy.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous model, the new Magentis features a significantly longer wheelbase and will offer considerably more space for both people and luggage.

The new Magentis will go on sale in the USA and in non-European markets – where it is known as Optima – from autumn 2010, while sales in Europe are expected to begin in the Spring of 2011. No on-sale date for the UK has yet been announced – keep an eye on www.kia.co.uk for details in due course.

The world premiere of the next generation Magentis will take place at the Kia Stand on Level 1 of the ‘Jacob Javits Center’ located between 34-39 Streets on 11th Avenue in New York City.

Looking in part like the Forte met George Jetson’s hovercar, the Ray features a huge four-door design which pops open wide enough to allow easy access to the rear compartment.

Suicide doors on a Kia? We like!

Targeted to the eco-conscious, the Ray Concept has a driving range of 746 miles (1,200 km). It can travel 50 miles (80.5 km) on electric power alone plus a fuel economy rating of more than 202 miles per gallon (1.2 l/100km).

Powering the Ray Concept is a direct injection 153 hp (114 kW) 1.4-litre engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in addition to a 78kw electric motor. Depending on driving conditions, power is routed to the front wheels via the gasoline engine while the electric motor pushes the rear wheels, or both simultaneously.

Based on the Kia Forte platform the Ray Concept features a streamlined body for reduced aerodynamic drag. This is particularly noticeable in the long tail with U-shaped deck lid which extends out from the rear at higher speeds for improved aerodynamics. Despite the “mono-volume shape” the Ray Concept still manages to convey some striking curves topped off by an aggressive snake face front end.

The Source: WorldCarFans

Super Bowl is a time for food, beer, and big sweaty guys jumping on top of one another…and that’s just happening in your living room! It’s also a time for million-dollar commercials. It’s reported 30 seconds during “The Big Game” will cost One-MILLION-dollars! Muahahahahhaa! Kia must have dropped $2M on this 60 second spot for the 2010 Kia Sorento, featuring some favorite childhood memories, including a classic toy robot and Sock Monkey!

KIA LOOKS TO THE PLUG-IN FUTURE WITH “RAY” CONCEPT AT CHICAGO SHOW

As Governments and motorists keep up the interest levels in an electric-car future Kia Motors Corporation has revealed the first preview rendering of its latest concept car – called Ray – which will make its global debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next month.

Styled by the team at Kia Design Centre America, the Kia Ray project was undertaken to demonstrate how Kia’s evolving design direction would be applied in the packaging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The actual car will form the centre-piece of the Kia Motors America display at Chicago and the vehicle will contribute to Kia’s on-going development of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Already Kia has pioneered potentially real-life fuel cell vehicles and has working prototypes operating in California and Korea. Additionally Kia has various hybrid-engined vehicles providing real-world data in various locations and plans to commercialize Liquefied Petroleum Gas hybrid vehicles in Korea within the next 12 months.

Currently no date has been set for hybrid Kia models to be put on sale in the UK but on-road testing of petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles is due to start in Britain this year.

The Kia Motors press conference for the 2010 Chicago Auto Show will be staged at 1:30 p.m. on February 11, 2010.

Kia Press Release via WCF