Kia is gradually turning around perceptions of the brand in Australia. The intention there? Sell more cars, of course.
Determined to move away from its Rio car company image, Kia has already lifted local sales 7.2 per cent ahead of 2007 sales year to date. By the end of the year, Kia intends to boost that margin to a 31 per cent increase -- with an annual sales projection of 27,500.
The CarSales Network has learned exclusively how Kia will achieve that aim --with a flood of new products to support the company's new 'Power to Surprise' mantra.
Rondo
Australians have seen the seven-seat Urban Recreational Vehicle (URV) idea before with Holden's Astra-based Zafira but not at the starting price of $24,990 that Kia has in mind. When the new Rondo seven seat family all-rounder (or MPV as this vehicle-type is sometimes called) arrives in April, it will be the cheapest seven-seater on the Australian market. It will have ESP as standard on all levels, which will include LX, EX and EXL. The Rondo will feature a smaller version of the "Theta" engine that powers the Magentis -- a willing 2.0-litre petrol unit that delivers 106kW/189Nm -- with the choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed auto with sequential shift.Cerato
An all new Cerato sedan will be previewed at this year's Sydney International Motor Show in October for an on-sale date of late 2008, early 2009. It will continue its price-leading $17,990 positioning. Because Australia will get the Asia-US market version, which comes as a sedan only, there will be no hatchback derivative.Magentis
Expect Kia's medium sedan entry to set a price-busting $24-25,000 benchmark after the major facelift due at the end of 2008 goes on sale. It will gain all new frontal styling featuring Kia's new corporate front as previewed on the "Kee" concept car. Kia's powerful 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine (shared with various Hyundai, Chrysler and Mitsubishi models) will be the mainstay of the new Magentis range. The 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine is likely to be dropped. A new diesel is on Kia's local wish list but is as yet unconfirmed.Soul
Another new Kia segment-buster, the Soul high-rider hatchback is due to be revealed in its final production specification in Paris during October. It has now been confirmed as a definite starter for Australia. Whether it will reach here in time for this year's Sydney International Motor Show for a simultaneous local preview is currently under negotiation but a local reveal at the Kia-sponsored Australian Open tennis early in 2009 is looking more likely followed by a full launch closer to the Melbourne Motor Show in March 2009.Kia will establish a new niche similar to the Suzuki SX4 hatch with its soft-road looks -- without the all wheel drive -- except the Soul's proportions generate fun styling that leaves it looking more like a Mini on stilts.
It will also be bigger than an SX4 and will offer exceptional cabin width and height closer to the Nissan Dualis, with pricing around $20,000 or less. Based on the Rio platform with its longer than average wheelbase, it will most likely be powered by the 2.0-litre Beta engine but Kia is also looking at a diesel option for local consumption. It will also feature Kia's new corporate front.
Carnival
Kia is in the final stages of locking in the local specification of the long wheelbase Carnival people mover, which will also feature a diesel engine. It is set to go into production in August, reaching local showrooms by the end of the year.Sportage
Because the current all new model has been around since 2005 in some markets, the Sportage in its mid-life upgrade guise is already on sale in Europe and will go on sale locally, late this year. There will be changes around the front bumper and other detail styling changes.Cee'd
This is the car Australians already know and admire as the Hyundai i30 except it started life as the Kia Cee'd after it was engineered by a team of ex-Audi engineers working for Kia. Although it rankles Kia's local executives that the Cee'd (it stands for Community European with ED model designation) is not part of the Australian range, importing the Cee'd from its Slovakian manufacturing base adds at least an extra $1500 freight over the Hyundai version. Until that stumbling block is addressed, it makes no sense for Kia to offer its version of the same car with a $1500 price premium.Rio
This is one of the few Kia models not facing change over the next 12 months. Kia will be exploiting this to add incentives to maintain the model's healthy 2006 sales of 9300.K2900-CRDi
After rationing-out December 2006-complianced examples of the Euro-II compliant and superseded K2700 cab-chassis until the new Euro-IV compliant K2900 could reach here this month, Kia is now in a strong position to exploit pent-up demand for its star light truck that has been the best seller in its class from 2002-07.The new model (more here) offers more power, bigger payload and extra space over its look-alike predecessor while using less fuel. With its whopping 1740kg payload in cab-chassis form which is 481kg more than before, the latest K2900 starts at $28,990. A substantial factory drop side steel tray with a 1481kg payload adds just $1500 to the price.
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