Latest news with #KiaUK
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Kia commits to hatchbacks with wave of Golf rivals
Kia is committed to launching more hatchbacks and saloons, rather than going all in on SUVs, as it prepares the European launch of ICE-powered and electric hatchbacks to rival the Volkswagen Golf and ID 3. Speaking exclusively to Autocar, Kia executive vice-president Ted Lee said there was still 'big volume' for hatchback models in Europe in particular, and he confirmed the firm would continue to offer them and indeed launch all-new family hatchback models. The first of these new hatchbacks, the EV4, will be the first electric Kia to be built in Europe when it's launched in the UK in October. The hatchback will be built at Kia's plant in Slovakia, but it will also be offered as a saloon imported into Europe from South Korea. The EV4 will be joined by the new K4, which was unveiled in hatchback form at the recent New York motor show and will eventually replace the outgoing Ceed in Europe. The EV4 takes the place of the Ceed in the Slovakian factory, so the K4 will be imported to Europe from Kia's plant in Mexico in both hatch and saloon forms. An estate version of the K4 has also been spotted undergoing testing, making what would be a three-strong model range for the K4 ahead of an expected launch later this year. More broadly, Lee believes that Kia currently has a 'strong position in Europe'. He added: 'Especially in the UK, where we have a very strong stance'. Lee was the first Korean to work at Kia UK , joining in 2002, when the UK operation became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kia's main global business. He now co-ordinates the firm's global business outside of Korea. While Kia sales in Europe did slip back slightly year-on-year in 2024, they have still grown more than 30% since 2020. In the UK, Kia has sold more than 100,000 cars for three years running, and it is currently the third best-selling brand in 2025, less than 300 units behind second-placed BMW. Increased competition in Europe from Chinese brands makes for a 'difficult market ', Lee admitted, but Kia will look to further strengthen its aftersales, parts supply and customer journeys in particular. 'We have to strengthen the advantages of Kia in the market,' he said. Kia will not get embroiled in a price war in Europe in the face of new lower-cost competition and will not 'push' cars onto the market; it will instead maintain a laser focus on residual values, which it credits as partly responsible for the 'sustainable growth' the brand has enjoyed. Lee said Kia has done this by maintaining a 'pull demand strategy', by which cars are not pushed to dealers and onto customers at discounted rates but built and sold according to customer demand. Describing this as a 'healthy cycle', Lee said: ' It might sound very easy, but in reality it requires a very strong determination and sense of principle.' ]]>
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Hint for South Africa? Mildly restyled Kia Sportage debuts in the UK
An official announcement confirming the facelift Sportage for South Africa is yet to be made. Facelift Sportage incorporates a revised front facia and new alloy wheels up to 19-inches. Image: Kia Shown in North American guise at the Los Angeles International Auto Show at the end of last year, Kia has taken the wraps off of the facelift Sportage the United Kingdom which provides the likely biggest indication of what the South African-market version could look like. New outside On-sale in the island kingdom from the third quarter of this year, the internally named NQ5 Sportage's first revision since its world debut four years ago consists of a new front bumper, redesigned headlights and daytime running diodes, a tweaked Tiger Nose grille and new alloy wheels ranging from 17-inches to 19-inches on GT-Line models. ALSO READ: Dramatic opposite arrives as Kia reveals all-new Sportage At the rear, the updates are subtler and consists of a new bumper and graphics for the light clusters. Subtly new inside Inside, the Sportage gets the same steering wheel as the electric EV models and the Tasman bakkie, as well as newly designed air vents that now run flush across the width of the dashboard. Interior changes include a new steering wheels and redesigned air vents. Image: Kia UK On the centre console, the plethora of physical buttons remain, as does the rotary dial gear selector on higher-end models. A traditional lever on automatic variants also continues as Kia still offers the Sportage with a manual gearbox. Upgraded materials and upholstery colours, including a first-time two-tone on GT-Line grades, and a new optional Head-Up Display round the interior's changes off. Up front On the power front, the UK-spec Sportage continues to offer a choice of two engines; the 1.6 T-GDI rated at 110 kW, and a hybrid that combines the same engine with an electric motor and battery pack for a total output of 175 kW. Transmissions for the former are either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch, with the hybrid having sole access to a unique six-speed automatic. Changes to the rear are subtle. Image: Kia UK Standard across all engine options is front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive being optional on the hybrid only. By comparison, the US Sportage has three engine options; a normally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol pumping-out 140 kW, a 1.6-litre hybrid developing 170 kW and a plug-in hybrid that combines the 1.6 with an electric motor and battery pack for a total system output of 200 kW. Confirmation awaited Priced from $28 690 in the United States, which equates to a directly converted R510 628, Kia South Africa is yet to confirm the updated Sportage for the local market, which, if approved, could happen before year-end. As a reminder, the South African range spans six models and five trim levels: LX, EX, GT-Line, GT-Line Plus and GT-Line S, with a choice of two engines; the 1.6 T-GDI rated at 132kW/265Nm and the 1.6 CRDI turbodiesel outputting 100kW/320Nm. Pricing starts at R662 995 for the 1.6 CRDI LX and ends at R823 995 for the top-spec 1.6 T-GDI GT-Line S, NOW READ: Kia Sportage swaps out bells and whistles for superb diesel mill
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Kia EV3 named World Car of the Year
The Kia EV3 all-electric family SUV has been named World Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show, beating fellow finalists the Hyundai Inster and BMW X3. The EV3 follows the Kia EV9, 2024's World Car of the Year, and marks the fourth consecutive Korean win in the World Car Awards. The EV3 starts at £33,005 in the UK with our pick being the £36,005 EV3 Air model, which with its 81.4kWh battery promises an exceptional range of 375 miles and charge at up to 128kW. Commenting on the EV3's win, Kia UK President and CEO Paul Philpott said: 'This is fantastic recognition for our latest EV and for Kia, especially as we entered the 2025 World Car Awards as reigning champions from 2024. 'The EV3 has already proven to be very popular with customers in the UK and has received the highest form of praise from high profile media outlets and the UK Car of the Year jury. This achievement gives Kia a real badge of honour and supports our dealer partners as they guide customers to make their switch to electric.' Chinese newcomer BYD took away two World Car Awards for the first time, with Executive Vice-President Stella Li in New York to collect her World Car Person of the Year trophy. The brand's smallest and cheapest model, the BYD Dolphin Surf – set to go on sale in the UK in the next few months – won the World Urban Car Award for 2025, beating the Hyundai Inster and Mini Cooper Electric. Hyundai, winners of the World Car title in 2022 and 2023, didn't walk away empty handed. The Hyundai Inster took the World Electric Vehicle Award. The cute, all-electric city car is on sale in the UK from £23,505. Volvo's new EX90 all-electric seven-seat SUV took this year's World Luxury Car Award, while the retro-futuristic Volkswagen ID. Buzz was named World Car Design of the Year. The World Car Awards are now in their 21st year and are voted for by 96 jurors from across the world, with six UK jurors including The Independent EV Editor Steve Fowler. The Awards were presented at the New York Auto Show, which itself was celebrating 125 years this year.
