KIA RACING WINS 2014 PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Kia Becomes First Korean Car Brand to Win Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Grand Touring Sport (GTS) and Touring Car A (TC-A) Manufacturer Titles

Irvine, Calif., September 15, 2014 – Kia Motors claimed the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Grand Touring Sport (GTS) and Touring Car A (TC-A) Manufacturer Championships at the series’ season finale this past weekend at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. On the strength of five pole positions, five race wins and 13 podium finishes during the 16-race PWC season, Kia Racing  and partner Kinetic Motorsports bested teams from Ford, Chevrolet, Porsche, Aston Martin and Nissan making Kia the first Korean brand to earn the coveted title of PWC Champion.

 “We congratulate the Kia Racing team and our partner Kinetic Motorsports on a fantastic season in which their hard work and dedication, along with the power, performance and reliability of our turbocharged Optimas, proved a winning combination amongst some truly world-class competition,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Kia Motors America.  “Everyone affiliated with the Kia brand, including our customers, our dealers, our team members at Kia Motors America and at KMMG, the U.S. plant where the Optima is built, should feel proud of this achievement.”

In addition to their fast qualifying performances and victorious race results, Kia Racing drivers Mark Wilkins and Nic Jönsson combined to lead more on-track miles than any other manufacturer in the series this year. Wilkins, pilot of the No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S. Optima turbo, finished the season third in the Driver Championship, scoring two wins and six podiums.  Jönsson, in the No. 36 DonorsChoose.org Optima turbo, finished the season seventh in the Driver Championship with seven podiums, including three wins.

Adding to the championship-winning weekend was rookie Jason Wolfe, pilot of the No. 36 Richard Wolfe Trucking Kia Forte Koup, who scored four wins and 10 podium finishes in 2014.  Wolfe’s double-podium result at the Miller doubleheader – including victory in the final round – secured him the PWC Driver Championship in the Touring Car A (TC-A) class as well as Rookie of the Year honors.  Fielded by Kinetic Motorsports, the privateer effort also earned Kia a second PWC Manufacturer Championship. Kia and rival Honda Performance Development finished the year tied in points, but Kia took the title on the strength of its six wins to Honda’s five.  Along the way, Kinetic Motorsports was recognized for their excellence, professionalism and sportsmanship when their fellow TC-A competitors voted them “Crew of the Year.”

PWC GTS rounds 15 and 16 at Miller Motorsports Park will be televised on the NBC Sports Network Sunday, September 28, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Highlights are available online at www.world-challengetv.com, and race fans can keep up-to-date with the team via the Kia Racing Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kiaracing and by following along on Twitter: @KiaRacing.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea.  KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles.   KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K900** flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States.  Kia’s U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.

Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

Car of the Future is coming to Austin Texas

It is no secret that technology continues to progress.  Our children navigate the world through new and innovative electronics.  Glasses are allowing us to view and communicate with each other, watches tell us more than the time of day, and cars are no different.  Austin, Texas has always been at the front of the line with technology helping Texas lead the way in new technology.

This year’s concept cars share the not-so-distant future new ideas, designs, technologies, and corporate intentions.

Most vehicles are projected to be powered by some form of gas-electric system.  By the year 2025 the corporate fuel-economy (CAFÉ) has set the standards for all vehicles to meet 54.5 mpg and at today’s gas prices reaching $4 a gallon, which is not a bad idea.  Thanks to technological, scientific and manufacturing advancements materials like carbon fiber, aluminum space frames and other super-lightweight alloy bits which are found in high-end luxury sport sedans are finding their way into more economical vehicles geared toward the everyday driver.  Heads-up displays which means the system overlays information directly on objects seen through your windshield is nothing new.  However, these displays are becoming fully interactive, customizable, and controllable with nothing but hand signals.  Mirrors are being replaced by cameras providing safety for the automotive consumer, and with all of these advancements the Kia Ray concept, a plug-in hybrid sedan concept built on the Forte platform and shown in Chicago, is quoted at 202 mpg.

In 2007 KIA Motors installed a design center equipped with design and modeling studios including the KIA Design Center America in Irvine, California.  Through its efforts, KIA Motors has introduced a number of striking concept cars at various international motor shows and the results of the company’s efforts are beginning to show on the streets. The company has gone from a maker of affordable cars that had little to set them apart from vehicles to a company that produces cars that have been highly acclaimed pieces of art.

 With an unprecedented 17 consecutive years of market share growth, Kia Motors is the fastest growing automotive brand in America. Thanks to advances in product quality, design and innovative marketing, Kia is also one of the fastest-growing car companies in the world.
KIA is already well known for its Optima, Sorento, Soul, Sportage, Forte, Rio, Sedona, and the most talked about mid-size sedan on the market, the Cadenza.

Now the K900 is about to hit showroom floors near you.  The KIA K900 packs exactly what you expect – tons of luxurious amenities, and an optional VIP seating package with reclining, heated and cooled outboard rear seats. Standard leather surfaces are found throughout the cabin, and soft Nappa leather is available in black or white with contrasting stitching. On the technology front, V8 VIP models offer a 12.3-inch full-color TFT display in the instrument panel, with different themes depending on which drive mode is selected. In the center console, standard navigation and UVO telematics are viewed through a 9.2-inch HD screen that's controlled by a rotary knob and surrounding buttons. Of course, there's a mountain of active safety features, including front and rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and more. There's even an around view monitor.

The K900 is a handsome thing, looking sort of like a puffed-up version of the smaller Forte or Cadenza sedans. Up front, V8 models use adaptive LED headlamps (with a total of 16 bulbs), and more LED lighting can be found out back. Attractive 19-inch wheels are found at all four corners, wrapped in 245/45-series rubber up front and 275/40-series tires at the rear.
The performance, style, innovation of all KIA Models can be found at Capitol KIA and non-commission sales associates can help put you in the right technological KIA that meets you and your family’s needs by calling 512.583.1900.  Capitol KIA is located at 13573 U.S. Hwy 183 N. in Austin, Texas.