- Show debut of the all new Kia Optima V6
- Show debut of the 2001 Kia Sportage
- Show debut of the Kia Carnival Classic
The Kia stand at the 2001 Brisbane
International Motor Show - 9-18 February 2001 will provide a vivid
illustration of the changes undergone by Kia in Australia during the past 12
months.
Fired by becoming the fastest growing volume
marque on the Australian market, Kia boasts an all-new stand, a significant
move up on the very small stand it had last year.
On its stand are a range of cars that have all
changed or been launched during the 12 months. Star of the show is the Kia
Optima, an all-new luxury V6 powered sedan that will top the Kia passenger
range when it goes on sale in Australia later in the year. Alongside it is the
2001 Kia Sportage, restyled and re-equipped to add to its appeal.
The Kia Carnival, the people mover that
dominates its market sector, is represented not only in its standard
specification form, but also in its more luxurious Carnival Classic version.
The Kia Carens has brought an entirely new class of car to Australia: The
compact people mover. Rounding out the Kia display is the Kia Rio, the Korean
marque's benchmark entry into the small car sector, and the Kia
Shuma.
"There can be no clearer indication as
to how much Kia's position and role in the Australia car market has
changed than its stand at the Brisbane International Motor Show," says Ric
Hull, Managing Director of Kia Automotive Australia. "We have a dynamic and
strong stand that will display a range of cars that includes models such as the
Rio which has set a new benchmark in its class and, in the shape of the
Carnival, become a class leader. Every car on the stand represents superb value
for money, is fully equipped and tailored to Australian market requirements.
Staffed as it is by our Kia dealer personnel, the stand also represents the new
levels of customer service we have put in place across Australia with our new
and improved dealer group."
The Kia
Optima With an overall length of
4.7 metres and a width of 1.8 metres, the Kia Optima is a spacious sedan that
is luxuriously well equipped. Performance is provided by a quad cam 2.5 litre
120 kW V6 engine matched to a five speed manual or a four speed automatic
gearbox with Tiptronic-style manual gear selection. Following from the
distinctive and stylish Kia Rio and Carens, the Kia Optima sets a new standard
in its class with classical good looks. Under the skin a wide range of passive
and active safety features are standard. The Kia Optima will be fully equipped
when it arrives in
Australia, with central locking, power windows,
mirrors and steering, CD player and AirCon all expected to be
standard.
The Kia Carnival
Classic The Kia Carnival, the vehicle that has introduced thousands of
Australians to the flexibility and versatility of owning a people mover, is
celebrating its position as Australia's number one people mover with a
special edition that includes a full leather interior, six way electrically
adjustable driver's seat, alloy wheels, twin airbags, remote central
locking and two tone paint work with side panels.
The Kia Carnival Classic has all the features
and equipment that have made the Carnival such a success in Australia. It
boasts a powerful V6 engine, fully independent suspension and a flexible
interior with seven adult sized seats. It is also fully equipped, with every
feature from dual air conditioning to power windows, mirrors and steering. It
even has features some of its rivals cannot match, such as sliding doors on
both sides for maximum ease of use and safety. It also has the equipment to
make the most of its spacious and versatile interior. These include shopping
hooks and a power socket in the boot, a plethora of cup holders and a lockable
under seat storage box.
The 2001 Kia
Sportage The 2001 Kia Sportage has an
aggressive new style with the addition of a full body kit with side sill
extensions and flared wheel arches, alloy wheels and full length roof rails all
set off by a new two tone colour matched paint finish.
But the 2001 Kia Sportage is no over priced
show pony. The fully featured Sportage starts at $25,990 and includes an
interior that is uniquely spacious, a long list of standard equipment, as well
as a four wheel drive system that provides the Sportage with superb off road
performance. Additional improvements for 2001 include a new instrument package,
new cloth upholstery, tie down points for a cargo net in the spacious boot, a
power outlet in the rear compartment and revised doors to reduce wind
noise.
The Kia Sportage has grown in length by 305 mm
by extending the tail behind the rear wheel arch. This has enabled the boot to
grow to a load swallowing 2220 litres and the spare tyre has been moved under
the floor, improving access to the newly enlarged boot.
Kia's claim that Sportage is a real four
wheel drive in a market place of off road wannabes is supported by its
technical specification. A full length chassis that is essential for rigidity
during off road excursions supports the body. The gearbox includes a full low
range gear set, offering five ultra low gears for crossing the toughest
country. Shift on the fly four wheel drive is standard and it is complimented
by suspension with unusually high levels of articulation to keep the tyres on
the ground.
In addition to the new for 2001 features, the
specification of the Kia Sportage includes driver's side air bag, central
locking, power steering, air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, a
digital stereo system with a CD player and four speakers, full cloth
upholstery, engine immobiliser, power mirrors, front and rear mud flaps, heated
rear window with its own wash wipe system, and split fold rear
seats.
The Kia Rio With its $14,990 price for both the five door hatchback and the
four door sedan, along with a comprehensive equipment list, the new Kia Rio is
the new small car benchmark in Australia.
The Kia Rio includes in its standard equipment
package driver's air bag, central locking, a six speaker CD player and
air conditioning. Distinctive styling provides a separate image for the hatch
and sedan and endows the new Kia with a spacious and airy interior. But it is
the fact that it has two extra doors that most clearly demonstrates Kia is
committed to providing convenience and value for money for Australian car
buyers.
Both the sedan and hatchback versions of the
Kia Rio are powered by a 1.5 litre 16 valve engine offering 73.5 kW with a five
speed manual gearbox as standard with the option of an electronically operated
four speed automatic. Fully independent suspension is standard. Unusually,
there is not price differential between the sedan and the hatch, with both
versions costing $14,990 inclusive of GST. The automatic version is an
additional $1800.
The Kia Carens The Kia Carens, a new
type of family car that offers six seats in a car that takes up little more
road space than a compact hatchback, is fully equipped and priced from
$22,990.
Although the Kia Carens sits on the platform of
a compact car, its height and intelligent internal design mean that it provides
six seats and a level of interior space only a car from one or two classes
larger could match. The height, allied to wide opening doors, makes it
extremely easy to get in and out, as well as making it quick and easy to put
children into their safety seats, virtually eliminating bending right over to
buckle in children in the back seat.
This combination of small on the outside/big on
the inside, matched to the ease of driving and running costs of a normal car is
what has made this class of car so attractive to car buyers in Europe. The Kia
Carens takes all these inherent advantages in this new class of car and adds
the price and high level of equipment that would be expected of a Korean car
maker. In addition to its six seats, the Carens includes in its standard
equipment everything from front and rear electric windows, central locking, a
CD player, driver's side air bag and air conditioning to a power socket
in the boot for accessories and table tops on the back of the middle row of
seats.
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