Showing posts with label rio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rio. Show all posts

Friday, January 20, 2012

Kia Pride/Rio UB, now in the Philippines

2012 Kia Pride


Last September 2011. Kia launched the all-new Pride to the Korean market and it comes complete in either a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback. Now, the all-new Kia Pride/Rio has arrived in the Philippines courtesy of its official distributor, Columbian Autocar Corporation. Of course, they're available in 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback, the new Kia Pride/Rio comes available with a 1.4L MPi engine and the entry level 1.2L engine. Prices start at 598,000 for the 4-door 1.2 LX variant up to 838,000 Philippine pesos for the 5-door 1.4 EX. There are four variants available. I bet this is surely a good value for those who are looking for cheap Korean-made compacts available in the Philippines. And I hope whoever read this should better leave some comments for some questions.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Kia's ALL NEW PRIDE "all set" for B-Spec Racing

2011 Kia Pride Race Car


For a car like Kia's ALL NEW PRIDE (recently launched last month), it seems that this compact wants to follow the footsteps of the Forte Koup in the world of motorsports and indeed this B-Spec Race Car uses the Kia Pride Hatchback/Rio 5 as a foundation for this B-Spec Racer that will make a premiere at this year's SEMA Show.

Press Release:

Kia Motors America to Debut B-Spec Rio 5-door Race Car at 2011 SEMA Show

Fresh off its first ever GRAND-AM road racing championships, Kia Motors America will announce the first expansion to the brand's U.S. motorsports program at the upcoming SEMA Show by unveiling a "B-Spec" showroom stock race car based on the all-new 2012 Rio 5-door that will begin arriving in dealerships later this month. KMA's B-Spec entry was prepared by the company's racing partner, Kinetic Motorsports, who will provide racers with the necessary components (competition roll cage, safety equipment, suspension components, etc.) to build and compete with their own car.

"Outstanding value has always been a foundation of the Kia brand, and with the rapid development of the Kia Racing program and the launch of the 2012 Rio 5-door we have a unique opportunity to introduce Kia to a new and passionate racing community by providing an affordable and great-looking race car that delivers best-in-class horsepower in the rapidly expanding B-segment," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing and communications, KMA.

The Rio 5-door B-Spec car was designed to easily be raced across multiple sanctioning bodies, including GRAND-AM, World Challenge, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and others.

Kia will provide more details about the Rio 5-door B-Spec program, and unveil five additional vehicles developed with high-profile partners, during its SEMA Show press conference on Tuesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.


Verdict: It seems for a compact like the Kia Pride/Rio UB, it does have a racing potential...

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Kia Pride UB meets KARA

Kia Pride UB meets KARA

To keep themselves salivating over the all new Kia Pride UB, the Korean car brand has launched a special site featuring famous K-POP girl team, KARA.

Check out the special site:

On this special Kia Pride site, not only you can find out more about its new exterior, interior, safety, and performance, the KARA girls will tell you how the new Kia Pride is done with their special videos on that special site. Why not check it out?

ALL NEW KIA PRIDE/RIO UB

Since its premieres at Geneva, New York, and Frankfurt, the all new Kia Pride (Rio) UB really throws a curve to the compact car buyers thanks to its distinctive design Peter Schreyer penned it to make it more recognizable and saucy indeed in today's market.

The Pride naming dates back in the year 1986 as a three-door hatchback following with the 5-door version in 1988 and a 4-door sedan (the Kia Pride Beta) in 1990. It was later discontinued in 1994 to give way to the Kia Avella, which was discontinued in 1999 to give way to the Kia Rio. However, in the summer of 2005, the Pride naming returned as the Korean version of the second-generation Kia Rio JB and it was available in sedan and hatchback forms.


2012 Kia Pride



2012 Kia Pride Hatchback


While this new model used the base Hyundai Accent RB as its foundation, the all new, 2012 Kia Pride/Rio UB was a different kind of Korean compact car, using its odds to beat the likelihood of the Hyundai Accent RB, Ford Fiesta, and Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic. The front end can be somewhat rounder than the previous model but with some swooping details because of the trademark "Tiger Nose" grille, which became the center of Kia Motors. It was available in either the 4-door and 5-door hatchback so there are choices to consider for the customers.


2012 Kia Pride interior


The new interior is well-sculpted and well-mannered because of the high-grade finishing materials but it lacks character rather than the Hyundai Accent RB's interior, which has the finest luxury features equipped for their own conveniences. What surprises them is the supervision cluster with a clear back-lit trip computer mounted in the middle, which provides real time information such as distance to empty and optimum fuel consumption. Looks somewhat interesting because that supervision cluster reminds us of that feature we found at the Kia Sportage R. For the Kia Pride Hatchback, there is a 60:40 split folding rear seat to provide plenty of flexibility when carrying loads of baggage.

The main transmission available is a 6-speed automatic transmission with the manual + automatic gate for a smoother driving and the new Pride has two engine types available such as the Gamma 1.4 MPI engine and the Gamma 1.6 GDi engine, both were sourced from the Hyundai Accent RB. The Gamma 1.4 MPI engine is an all new engine that provides 108ps of power, 13.9kg-m of torque, and 16.1km/L of fuel economy while keeping low emissions. The high-performance Gamma 1.6 GDi engine provides 140ps of power, 17.0kg-m of torque, and 16.7km/L of fuel economy. The Pride Eco Plus variant features an idling stop function that can automatically shut off the Gamma 1.6 GDi engine when stopped, providing optimum fuel consumption and lower emissions for a cleaner driving no matter what.

The All New Pride offers a host of safety features such as Cruise Control, Hill Ascend Control, six airbags, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Emergency Signal System, Rear Camera, and back warning system for convenient parallel parking.

Both the All New Kia Pride sedan and hatchback are available in 10 color variations such as Bright Silver, Formal Deep Blue, Electronic Blue, Wendy Brown, Fresh Beige, White, Black, Platinum Graphite, and Signal Red.

My comment:
Of course, we know all about the All New Pride since its world premiere in Geneva, New York, and Frankfurt. We were going to see this new model on the new Korean drama, Poseidon, but does the new Pride got what it takes to win the hearts of many customers who were shying away from the Mazda Demio, Hyundai Accent RB, Toyota Belta, Toyota Vitz, and the Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic? With its seamless design, intuitive performance, and impressive packaging, no wonder that this new model won the Automotive Brand Contest 2011 Best of Best.

One question is, can the new Kia Pride be available in the Philippines as the new Rio like the rest of the world does? See if we care...



Photo: Kia Motors

Sunday, September 18, 2011

ALL NEW PRIDE ready for its POSEIDON ADVENTURE!

2012 Kia Pride sedan

The upcoming Kia Pride (third-generation Kia Rio) will be making a special appearance on the new KBS maritime drama series, Poseidon (to be aired this Monday, September 19, 2011), which stars Lee Si Young, Lee Sung Jae, Jung Woon Taek, Gil Yong Woo, and others.

Back in 2009, Kia Motors made partnership for the action drama, IRIS, and last year, they teamed up with Athena: Goddess of War. Kia Motors has it again for their PPL (Product Placement) on the new KBS drama, Poseidon, and the cars will be featured on this new drama will be the all new Kia Pride, Kia K5 Hybrid (Kia Optima Hybrid), and the Kia Sportage R.

Not only the all new Kia Pride making an appearance on the Poseidon drama but this car will make an appearance on the third season of the MBC comedy series, High Kick as well!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Kia confirms Pride Full Model Change!

2012 Kia Pride


Kia Motors confirmed that the compact car codenamed "UB" will be named as the all new Pride for the Korea Domestic Model, which was soon to be exported worldwide as the new Rio in sedan (except in China where it was sold as Kia K2) and hatchback. It was announced after the all new Pride made a world premiere at Geneva and New York.

Although no specific date is given, the Korean automaker said that it will be released later this month. It will come in sedan and hatchback variants, powered with either a 1.4L MPI engine and a powerful 1.6L GDi engine.

Some say that the new Pride's 1.6L GDi variant will also get idling stop function for enhanced fuel economy.

Stay tuned for more details!