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This summer Kia will introduce its first true, unadulterated truck, called the Borrego.

The 2009 Kia Borrego was unveiled at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in January 2008, and it surprised many who attended. Some in the automotive media were expecting a slight variation on the Santa Fe from Hyundai, Kia’s parent company. The Kia Borrego is in fact a conventional, mid-sized sport-utility vehicle with Kia’s first-ever V8 engine.

The Hyundai Santa Fe has a welded unibody, like the typical sedan, and emphasizes cabin comfort and luxury.

The Borrego is somewhat larger, but more significantly, it applies body-on-frame construction, with a separately assembled body bolted to a ladder-type frame. The emphasis with Borrego is real, truck-style work such as towing.

On a wheelbase of 114 inches, Borrego’s weight and dimensions closely match those of truck-based sport-utility vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

Borrego features something that’s unusual with truck-based SUVs, however. Its coil-spring rear suspension is fully independent (like the Explorer and Pathfinder and most cars), rather than equipped with a solid axle (like the Toyota 4Runner and most other body-on-frame SUVs).

From a distance, the Borrego might be mistaken for a Pathfinder or an Explorer or some other SUV. There is only so much differentiation possible with the conventional two-box SUV design. On closer inspection, however, the Borrego exhibits some unique details. It looks almost graceful, and perhaps lighter, less thick or massive, than a Pathfinder. In some respects the Borrego looks smaller than it actually is. It will be offered with wheels up to 18 inches in diameter.

The base Borrego will be powered by a 3.8-liter V6, though Kia hasn’t released horsepower or torque ratings. We’d guess something in the range of 275 horsepower. The upgrade is a 4.6-liter V8, and Kia promises at least 300 horsepower from this engine, which will make Borrego the company’s most powerful vehicle to date. Both engines are matched to Kia’s first six-speed automatic transmission, which should deliver competitive fuel-economy ratings. Kia reports an impressive 7500-pound towing capacity for the V8, and 5000 pounds for the V6.

The 2009 Borrego will be offered with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, as well as a couple of electronic packages that should make off-road operation easier. Kia’s first downhill assist control (DAC) system is designed to keep Borrego moving straight and steady down steep grades without locking its wheels. The hill assist control (HAC) will help control fishtails and backwards slides on steep upgrades.

Kia hasn’t offered a good look inside the Borrego, which suggests that the final interior design is still being sorted. But we can tell you that this SUV seats seven, with a sliding second-row seat that adjusts for relative legroom and easier access to the two-passenger third row. Both rear seats fold flat to optimize cargo space.

Safety equipment includes two-stage front airbags, curtain-style head protection airbags for all three rows of seating, electronic stability control and a sophisticated antilock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and brake assist. There is no indication that Borrego is equipped with anti-rollover electronics, which are increasingly common on sport-utilities and other taller vehicles.

And while Borrego is definitely a truck, it won’t be short on big-ticket features. It will offer several Kia firsts, including a DVD-based navigation system, power-adjustable pedals and a back-up warning system with rear camera. And it will come standard with lots of stuff, as Kia vehicles typically do, including a 600-watt Infinity stereo with USB audio input jacks, a six-CD changer and Sirius satellite radio hardware.

Expect the first Borregos to reach Kia showrooms by July, 2008. If Kia follows its typical pricing scheme, the Borrego should retail for at least $1,000 less than similarly equipped competitors
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Kia has Soul and is trying to sell it to the American car buyers. But this probably comes as no surprise to the American public The Soul we are talking about was announced earlier this year in 2007 at the International Auto Show. It is believed that this car was named “Soul” to represent the cars Korean origin and the combined efforts of both Korea and their North American counter parts in California. The 2008 Kia Soul combines tastes and design in an effort to bring new life to a concept car that truly does have a soul of its own.

Kia’s new Soul concept car has a design that hopes to attract a younger, more active group of buyers. The modern stylish package offered standard along with new exterior features puts it all together for those looking for taste and style all in one.

The interior of the Soul is cram packed with one awesome and fully customizable multimedia communications system. In addition, mood lighting, a wide cargo area and a remote powered lift gate rounds out an interior that meets everyone’s expectations and then some.

When we look closer at the exterior of this wonderful pint sized new vehicle, we find a roof that houses not just one but two sun roofs, one in the front that is moveable and a rear window that is hinged. This design creates a panoramic sun/moon roof that adorns the Kia Soul’s sloped roofline. This allows Kia Soul occupants to enjoy open-air driving while also taking advantage of panoramic views. In addition, the Soul’s roof features adjustable roof racks integrated into the design. This design is intended to create an open, uninterrupted passenger cabin.

To add additional style to the interior, the audio systems speakers were made part of the overall design by making them a different color than the dash board which allows them to stand out. The small thin framed seats are a slight shade off the color of the speakers, and provide seating for four with a long center console that divides the first and second rows.

With its efforts to appeal to a younger more active generation, and realizing that today’s vehicles are becoming more of a mobile office, the Soul comes equipped with a video game monitor and a laptop computer that swings out of the glove box. The design allows it to be operated from either the driver or passenger side seats.

The hip, urban feel of the Kia Soul is enhanced by unique interior lighting. Rather than utilizing a standard dome light, lighting shines from around the moon roof, as well as from the trim of the door panels.

Kia wants to inspire passion in young car buyers, and to accomplish this, the Kia Soul will provide a unique and dynamic vehicle in the increasingly crowded compact SUV market allowing the Soul Concept crossover SUV to be its roadmap to success.

Kia Motors is stepping outside of the shadow of its competitors and making a significant place for itself in the key SUV sector.

The Kia Rondo is an all-new vehicle. Kia calls it a five-door crossover utility vehicle.

The Rondo is capable of carrying seven adults. Yet it’s small, just 179 inches long. That’s 2.5 inches shorter than the six-passenger Mazda5. Sure, the Toyota RAV4 can seat seven, but it costs $3,000 more and offers less legroom in the third row. The Rondo gives you the size of the RAV4 at the price of the smaller Toyota Matrix; and we’re not big fans of the aging Matrix.

We found the ride, handling and brakes of the Kia Rondo excellent. It’s a good vehicle for long trips and zooming around town. The seats, cloth or leather, are comfortable. The driver sits relatively high and the Rondo feels like neither a car nor a sport utility, which is what a crossover is about. Besides people, it can haul lots of stuff; just flip down the back two rows of seats.

A new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard, and it’s strong. It comes with a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode and gets an EPA-estimated 21/29 City/Highway miles per gallon.

A smooth 2.7-liter V6 with a five-speed automatic is optional. It’s rated 20/27 mpg, delivers more thrust more smoothly and adds just $1,000 to the retail price, making it a bargain.

Kia is the best imitator in the business. Kia designers and engineers look closely at other vehicles, and produce a virtual composite of the best ideas. But there’s no lack of originality here, because the Rondo is unique. It’s the only game in town for seven-passenger transportation in a small, safe, low-cost, high-mileage package.

Kia’s marketing motto is “the power to surprise,” and the Korean carmaker has done so again, with the Rondo.

Model Lineup

The 2007 Kia Rondo comes in LX and EX models with a choice of four-cylinder and V6 engines.

The Rondo LX ($17,895) comes with air conditioning, remote keyless entry, cruise control, alloy wheels, a 60/40 fold-flat rear seat, and power windows, locks and mirrors. Also available, at least on paper, is a stripper model called the LX 93202 ($16,395) that comes without air conditioning, remote entry and cruise control.

The Rondo EX ($19,195) adds a higher-grade cloth interior with leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, door handles and molding, foglamps, heated mirrors, windshield de-icer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, lights for the vanity mirrors, and a CD/MP3 six-speaker sound system. Optional is a package with a 10-speaker Infinity sound system and a sunroof ($1200).

The 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that comes standard makes 162 horsepower and is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode called Sportmatic. The optional 2.7-liter dohc V6 produces 182-horsepower and comes with a five-speed Sportmatic.

The LX V6 ($18,895) and EX V6 ($20,195) are EPA-rated 20/27 mpg City/Highway, compared to 21/29 mpg with the four-cylinder, making the V6 a good value.

Safety equipment on every Rondo includes front airbags, side airbags in front, full-length airbag curtains, anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitor.

Options include the third-row seat ($500); leather interior with heated front seats for the EX ($1000); and a body kit ($995) consisting of a front spoiler, rear valance, side sill skirts, wheel arch moldings and a rear lower spoiler. Roof rails come standard, but the crossbars to make them functional are optional ($200). A cargo cover is available as a dealer accessory.

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