Breakthrough Technology, Rugged Beauty, and Functionality all in One Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle the Kia Telluride | Mark Kia Scottsdale

Elegant and Sophisticated, the Kia Telluride Combines Breakthrough Technology, Rugged Beauty, and Functionality in a Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

• Telluride takes Kia’s design language in a bold new direction and suggests styling of a possible future premium large SUV in the brand’s lineup

• Telluride pushes the boundaries of technology with unique in-cabin health-and-wellness technology and luxury

Glimpsing a future that is grounded in reality but not bound by the present, Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled a cutting-edge vision for a full-size SUV at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The Telluride, a striking three-row, seven-passenger, luxury SUV concept features a modern and upright shape, muscular stance, and state-of-the-art technology to care for its occupants. Purely conceptual, the Kia Telluride is based on an existing platform and reveals the brand’s interest in potentially offering a premium SUV positioned above the current hot-selling Sorento.

“The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America (KDCA). “Longer, wider and taller than the recently redesigned Sorento CUV, Telluride allows us to envision what a full-size seven-passenger SUV from Kia could look like.”

Telluride’s front doors and rear-hinged back doors swing open 90 degrees in opposing directions, creating an expansive and inviting portal into the panoramic interior space and revealing a technological showcase. Four beautiful black-leather captain’s seats appear to float within the spacious cabin in front of a folded third-row bench. The large cabin allows the middle seats to recline nearly flat and include large fold-away footrests for sublime comfort. All four seats include a series of precise diamond-cut openings in the seatback, each embedded with Smart Sensors to capture a passenger’s vital health information. Once obtained, these vitals are displayed on the interior door panel screens, which then systematically synchronize with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system. The LER system utilizes a massive, wing-shaped LED panel mounted beneath the oversized sunroof that displays a pattern of therapeutic light to treat desynchronosis (jetlag) and improve the passengers’ energy levels.

Another unique technology introduced in Telluride is Swipe Command – a thin, touch-sensitive, interactive band mounted to the second row center console – which allows rear-seat passengers to quickly scroll and select desired media by simply swiping their hand. The selected media is then played either through the seven-speaker premium Harman Kardon® audio system, or via a set of portable Harman Kardon® headphones that wirelessly charge when stowed in the console. Up front, a compartment in the center stack allows for wireless cell phone charging, and Kia’s first use of 3D-printed components add a distinct, modern design element to the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel.

Telluride’s interior and exterior were penned at the brand’s California-based studio, Kia Design Center America (KDCA). Finished in Dark Pyrite green paint, the tall stance is amplified by the overall size of the vehicle. At 70.9-inches tall, 79.1-inches wide and 196.9-inches long, Telluride is 4.4-inches taller, 4.7-inches wider, and a sizable 9.5-inches longer than the current Sorento. Underpinning the Telluride is a modified Sorento chassis with a wheelbase stretched 11.9 inches to 121.3 inches, giving Telluride a dominating presence. It’s modern and muscular appearance is accentuated by flared fenders stretching around massive 22-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Hankook® Ventus ST 275/45R22 tires. Telluride’s front fascia incorporates a much larger version of Kia’s signature tiger nose grille, and its menacing face brings an attitude all its own with recessed quad-LED headlamps, pronounced horizontal LED indicator lights, and an aggressive polished-metal skid plate below the bumper. In the rear, thin vertical taillights align with the modern design language of the SUV, while consistent styling cues across the front and rear door handles, hood scoops and dual exhaust tips enhance the vehicle’s solid appearance.

With an innovative combination of cutting-edge technologies, the Telluride’s powertrain is a near-future, no-compromises propulsion system, offering both power and efficiency. A finger-print activated push-button start unleashes Telluride’s tremendously potent yet extremely efficient PHEV powertrain. Utilizing a 3.5-liter gasoline direct injected (GDI) V6 engine and powerful electric motor, Telluride’s transverse-mounted powertrain combines to produce 400 horsepower (270 horsepower from V6 and 130 horsepower from the electric motor) while achieving more than 30 mpg on the highway. Power is routed to all four wheels via an advanced all-wheel drive system.

While there are currently no plans to bring the Telluride to production, Kia has a history of delivering production vehicles that bear strong resemblance to preceding concepts, and Kia’s large SUV is anything but a utopian fantasy.

And the "International Car of the Year" Award goes To! | Mark Kia Scottsdale

The All-New 2016 KIA Sorento and Optima

Kia Brand Wins Road & Travel Magazine’s International Car of the Year (ICOTY) Awards for Fourth Consecutive Year

• Optima claims the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) award for second time in four years
• Sorento wins International SUV of the year award for the first time

IRVINE, Calif., November 18, 2015 – In conjunction with the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Road & Travel Magazine (RTM) has named the 2016 Kia Optima as its International Car of the Year. RTM jurors praised the all-new edition of Kia’s perennial best-seller for its aggressive design, long list of available features, impressive powertrain options and great value. RTM also named the 2016 Sorento its International SUV of the Year. The Sorento garnered acclaim for its combination of premium interior amenities, extensive safety features and all-wheel drive capability. Together, the awards propelled Kia to an extraordinary fourth consecutive win of the prestigious ICOTY brand award. The ICOTY jurors honored Kia’s K900 luxury sedan in 2015, the Cadenza premium sedan in 2014, and the previous-generation Optima in 2013.

“The Optima and Sorento are two of Kia’s best-selling vehicles and both were instrumental in the transformation of the brand,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “To win the prestigious ICOTY award four years in a row, with two models winning their categories this year, is a clear indication that our products continue to offer a world-class balance of design, amenities, craftsmanship, safety and value for today’s savvy consumers.”

2015 marks the 20th anniversary for RTM’s annual “Of the Year” judging, which includes three awards: International Car, International SUV, and International Family Vehicle of the Year. In addition to product attributes such as style, comfort and performance, award criteria also factor in how well each brand connects emotionally with consumers through its marketing efforts. The winner is chosen by the ICOTY jury, which consists of nationally renowned automotive journalists from respected publications such as Consumer Guide® Automotive, MSN Autos, New Car News Syndicate and RTM.

“We’ve never had one brand win this award four years in a row, but Kia has done it. It goes to show just how exceptional the new Kia models are, providing clear direction of where the Kia brand is headed,” said Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine. “We are near speechless at the level of progress the Kia brand has made in spite of the stiff competition. It is without a doubt the brand that gets the most ‘wows’ from our staff and is truly an industry success story that we can relate to in many ways.”

Find your very own 2016 Kia Optima or 2016 Kia Sorento at Mark Kia in Scottsdale, AZ also serving the Tempe, AZ & Mesa, AZ areas. To get a test drive arranged, give us a call, send us an email, visit us on Facebook, or just walk in!

2016 Kia Sorento

Kia has made a habit out of surpassing expectations, and over-delivering has become tradition. Today, we look to the 2016 Sorento to continue this trend and add a few, pleasant surprises along the way.

A Refined Look

As you approach the 2016 Sorento, you notice the refreshing changes applied to its exterior. It’s similar in some ways, sure, but vastly different in others. Terms like "rugged" and “planted stance” may enter your mind, and they coordinate with Sorento’s capabilities. The redesign was no simple task for designers, but they delivered on all fronts. The clean profile is incredibly unique, enhanced with stronger shoulders and a long hood. A significantly longer wheelbase and increased width all contribute to your enjoyment of improved leg and head room. Newly-designed headlights are thoughts borrowed from the Kia Cross GT concept, bringing future aesthetics to the present. Below those are the lower intake and fog lamp pockets, creating a much sportier appearance. All these features are sitting atop four new alloy wheel designs, where you choose 17 to 19 inches depending on your wheel selection.

Step Your Style Up

If you stepped directly into the 2016 Kia Sorento from the 2015 iteration, the first thing you would notice is the overwhelming presence of luxury. You’re immediately surrounded by soft-touch materials and premium textures. Your eyes move toward the center console and instrument panel, which displays the most important information at-a-glance, in a clean and classy manner that’s unlike anything else in the CUV segment. The Sorento is a people-mover, and it guarantees comfort and pleasure in all aspects. Available heated and ventilated seats, heated rear seats, 14-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, driver’s seat thigh extension, a 4-way headrest with one-button adjustment, dual-zone climate control and Kia’s second-generation panoramic sunroof are a mere taste of the Sorento’s amenities.

Upgraded Tech

We mentioned the crystal-clear, 8-inch capacitive-touch color screen earlier, and it deserves much more than a mention. Available navigation keeps you on-track, and features SD card storage to handle all the data you can throw at it. It’s an updateable interface, and the USB 2.0 provides for high-speed updates to ensure you’re always running the most optimum programs. A 4.3-inch TFT color touch screen comes standard, and it comes with Bluetooth and voice-recognition capabilities. Other important information like weather, Pandora, Local Search by Google® are also available. You will never be without an answer in Sorento.

A Better Driving Experience

We discussed the visual changes to the 2016 Sorento, but they come with added bonuses. The enhanced structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the previous generation. Indeed, this is the most robust Sorento to date. Safety features have been upgraded to include seatbelt anchor pretensioners and six airbags. Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hill-start Assist Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and more are all available to contribute to your overall peace of mind. Three engine selection are available to you, as well as two-wheel or all-wheel drive options. Sorento can be truly yours.
It’s difficult to pin one reason down as to exactly what makes the 2016 Kia Sorento so special. This being the case, we encourage you to come visit Mark Kia to come see what it can do for you. Give us a call, reach out on Facebook or just walk in today!

2016 Kia Soul

Following an exciting 2015 release, the 2016 Kia Soul turns up the style dial and adds a plethora of convenience and safety features, all tightly bundled inside one of the most stylish bodies on the road. Let’s take a look at exactly what is making the Soul so much better for 2016.

A New Level of Customization

Yes, getting yourself from points A to B seamlessly is the need driving your purchase decision, and the Soul most certainly does that. The difference here, however, is that Soul will do it in an incredibly stylish manner. New to 2016 is the Designer Collection, bringing you the ability to dress up your Soul with a two-tone paint scheme and other unique elements. Additional rooftop color selections have arrived and allow wheels are now standard. Level up with the Designer Collection, which also brings 18-inch alloy wheels with black spokes and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob. In the mood for a dash of luxury? Opt for the option package which brings premium Nappa leather seating surfaces and door armrest accents.

A Smarter, Safer Soul

The state of technology changes at a rapid pace, and some cars companies find it difficult to keep up. That’s not the case for the 2016 Kia Soul. No, Sir. Not one bit. With the premium package, you’re getting Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems (LDWS). The camera-based LDWS helps monitor the Soul’s position and provides visual and auditory warnings to the driver when the vehicle drifts a little too close to the lane markers. Stay on-course with the navigation system, and treat your ears to the upgraded Infinity audio system.

That’s it, right?

Wrong. But don’t feel bad! Soul is the gift that keeps giving. Is it a little cold outside? Make it seem warmer by changing the string-LED surround mood lighting to a warm shade of red, and make it actually warm with heated seats for you AND your passengers. Little toasty out there? No worries, your seats are ventilated. To top it off, the driver’s seat is adjustable in 10 different ways.

Take soul for a spin!

We’ve got a Soul with your name on it at Mark Kia. To get a test drive arranged, give us a call, send us an email, visit us on Facebook, or just walk in!

Fall Driving Safety Tips

As weather and road conditions change with the season, following fall driving safety tips will help keep you safe as you enjoy the cool crisp air and the beautiful colors of the autumn leaves.

The Dangers of Leaves on the Roads
When leaves accumulate on the roadway and become wet, they can get extremely slippery, making the driving conditions similar to driving on ice. If the temperature drops below freezing, the wet leaves will freeze and turn into dangerous icy leaves on the roadway. Besides reducing the car's traction, causing skidding and the possibility of losing control of the vehicle, leaves often cover the painted road markings, making it difficult to know the locations of the lanes.

• Slow down if you are driving on a road covered with leaves, especially when driving around turns.
• Allow yourself plenty of room to stop in an emergency. Keep a greater distance between you and the car in front of you.
• Leaves make it difficult to see potholes and bumps in the road.
• A pile of leaves raked to the side of the road is an inviting place to a child. Children enjoy jumping into the leaf piles or burrowing down into them and hiding. Never drive through a leaf pile. Use caution going around turns and where children are playing.
• Keep your windshield leaf free to avoid wet leaves getting stuck under the windshield wiper blades.
• In order to avoid the possibility of a fire hazard from the exhaust system or catalytic converter, never park your vehicle over a pile of leaves .

Changing Weather Conditions
In many areas, autumn is a damp, wet season. There are many rainy or foggy days and nights. As the temperatures drop, frost often coats the ground at night.

• When driving in fog, set your headlight to low beam. This setting aims the beam of light down toward the roadway.
• In the fall as temperatures drop, frost often forms on the roadway, causing hazardous driving conditions. Drive slowly and break gently at overpasses and bridges as these areas frost over more quickly than other roadway surfaces.
• Be aware of areas where black ice forms on the roadway.

Adjust for Fewer Hours of Daylight
In the fall there are fewer hours of daylight. In the earlier darkness it is common to see children outside playing or riding their bicycles. People are walking their dogs, jogging or taking late afternoon or evening walks. In the fading light of dusk it is more difficult to see the children and pedestrians.

• Watch out for children at their bus stops in the morning and as they return home in the afternoon.
• Halloween is a fun fall holiday. Take special care where children are out trick or treating. They may be wearing masks or costumes that limit their visibility.
• Always drive defensively.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Keep your headlights cleaned and in proper working order, making sure they are aligned.
• Replace your windshield wiper blades if they show any signs of wear.
• Keep an emergency car safety kit in your vehicle.

Additional Fall Safety Driving Tips

• Always keep a pair of sunglasses in your vehicle. Fall sunrises and sunsets can be very brilliant. The bright sun often creates a large amount of glare, making it difficult to see other vehicles, the roadway or the road's shoulder. Wearing sunglasses during these times reduces the danger.
• If you live in an area where there are deer, they are more apt to run into the roadway especially at dawn and dusk since the fall is an active breeding time. If you see a deer cross the roadway, proceed very slowly as they often travel in groups.

Naturally safe driving practices are essential all through the year. However, being aware of the unique autumn driving hazards and following the fall driving safety tips here will make you a safer driver.

Source: safety.lovetoknow.com