Kia'S SX Limited Model Has Near-Luxury Image Without The Overhead

The Kia Optima is a long and lean midsize sedan that brought more affluent customers to the brand. And of the 11 vehicles in the lineup, the Optima is now Kia's best-selling car, with the Sorento crossover close behind. That's a growth statement from this Korean carmaker that built a foundation on scrappy economy cars. For 2013, Kia builds on Optima's popularity and adds a more luxurious trim level, the SX Limited (SXL). Based on the top-line SX, the Limited has a starting price of $27,575, including the $775 freight charge from Korea. And to make it a Limited requires the Touring package ($2,950), the Technology package ($1,400) and the Limited package ($3,350). All totaled, the final price comes to $35,275. Unique features include 18-inch chrome wheels showcased by red brake calipers, LED daytime running lights, more chrome, a black cloth headliner and Nappa leather upholstery, an electric parking brake and a first aid kit. The Touring package adds such extras as a panoramic sunroof, eight-speaker Infinity audio system, rearview camera, power front passenger seat (but still without height adjustment), heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats (at the windows). The Tech package adds a navigation system. The basic bones of the Optima SX are a 274-horsepower, 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder and six-speed Sportmatic transmission, which return fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 34 highway on regular unleaded. The Optima is lively to drive with brisk acceleration and an athletic suspension, but not too hard. It is nimble in tight quarters with an equally tight 35.8-foot turning circle. Nappa leather is softer and has a more "premium" feel, Kia says. And there have been notable other interior enhancements, including padding on the front door armrests. It is a comfortable long-distance cruiser with supportive seats and room to spread out, but at $35,000 it is an omission that the passenger seat does not have height adjustment. The SXL has the look and feel of luxury without the price. And the buyer drives off in a contemporary sedan that looks special and overdelivers on features.

*Courtesy of San Diego Union-Tribune (CA), 9/16/2012
By Mark Maynard

Amazing specials going on right now at Commonwealth Kia!

These specials are here for a limited time, so come on down and take a test drive before these great deals are gone!

Great review on Yahoo Local for the Commonwealth Motors team! Thanks Shawn!

Jim Kowalik, went to great lengths to make my car-buying experience as smooth & positive as possible. He was very knowledgeable - Shawn

Another great review on City Search for the Commonwealth team. Thank you Shawn!

"The salesman, Jim Kowalik, went to great lengths to make my car-buying experience as smooth & positive as possible. He was very knowledgeable" - Shawn S.

Kia gives a closer look at Quoris interior

We already know what Kia's new flagship sedan will look like, but the automaker has finally released a handful of images showing the car in its Quoris-specific guise. While Kia still hasn't said when the 2013 Quoris will be available here in the U.S., these new shots of the car have us eagerly anticipating the car's arrival.

One new aspect of the Kia Quoris that we haven't seen before is the heads-up display screen. It's not clear what the availability of the HUD will be on the Quoris, but it is a feature that will help set it apart in a crowded luxury sedan market. From the picture, we can see that the full-color HUD screen will display information for the adaptive cruise control, navigation and vehicle speed, and we'd imagine there's more.

This latest round of images also gives us a better idea of what the interior will look like in a more natural light, as opposed to stylized images of the Kia K9 we've seen before, and they show the cabin in a different color combination. Outside the car, we still see full LED headlights and we also get a look at a new set of stylish, multi-spoke wheels with painted inserts.

 

*Courtesy of Autoblog

SPECIAL-EDITION 2013 RIO 5-DOOR SX M/T ARRIVES IN LIMITED QUANTITY

Until now, driving enthusiasts couldn't get their hands on the Rio they were most eager to own--that's about to change. The 2013 Rio 5-door SX is now offered with a 6-speed manual transmission (M/T). Arriving in dealerships in limited quantity with a MSRP of just $17,900⁴, the Rio SX M/T is a fun-to-drive subcompact that satisfies enthusiasts' desires for a more engaging drive experience without sacrificing the comfort and convenience offered by the subcompact model's highest trim level. The Rio SX M/T is inspired by Kia's championship winning motorsports efforts and the recently-introduced Rio B-spec race car. Enthusiasts should get in line now as less than 500 Rio SX M/Ts will be initially offered for sale during the 2013 model year.The 2013 Kia Rio SX with six-speed manual transmission is inspired by Kia's B-Spec racing program.

The Rio 5-door SX M/T comes standard with a class-leading 138 horsepower⁵ 4-cylinder double- overhead cam gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engine featuring dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and fuel economy of 30-mpg city/40-mpg highway⁶. The Rio 5-door SX M/T is available in Signal Red and Electronic Blue and comes with LED taillights, front LED accent lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Rio SX M/T adds a seven-inch navigation touch screen with a SiriusXM^™7 Traffic system and push-button start with Smart Key. Other standard SX features include sport-tuned suspension, rear camera display⁸, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, Bluetooth^®9 wireless technology, and an AM/FM/CD/ MP3 SiriusXM

"The Kia Rio 5-door SX M/T is perfect for driving enthusiasts who simply won't compromise when it comes to certain features," said Orth Hedrick, Director of Product Planning at Kia Motors America (KMA). "Our customers and the automotive press have been asking for the Rio 5-door SX with a manual transmission, and we've listened. As the Kia brand becomes more and more relevant to enthusiasts, we'll continue to evaluate consumer demand and consider bringing other high-spec manuals to market."

Those looking for the inspiration behind the Rio 5-door SX M/T need look no further than the twisting, undulating macadam of America's greatest road racing circuits. In addition to its championship winning professional road racing program, Kia this year entered the new B-Spec grassroots racing series, and the Rio SX M/T offers buyers the sporty driving dynamics that transfer from the track to the street.

To advance from driving enthusiast to racer¹⁰, customers can purchase a 2013 Rio 5-door M/T (LX Trim) and a B-Spec performance kit¹¹ available at a cost of $14,000 from Kia's racing partner, Kinetic Motorsports. The kit includes everything needed to transform the street-loving Rio 5-door into a proper racecar: pre-cut roll cage, racing seat, quick-release steering wheel, racing harness, race shocks, lightweight wheels, spec-series tires, oil sump pan expansion kit and complete build instructions. For an additional fee, Kinetic will professionally assemble the Rio at their shop in Buford, Georgia.

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality¹² and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking¹³. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

*Courtesy of Kia Media

Today we remember those we lost 11 years ago today and all of those who gave their lives to protect ours.