Josh's Kia Blog!!!

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 03/28/11

-The all-new Optima continues to gain praise from the press. This week CarTech Blog stresses that the new Optima is a "Camry Killer", while USA Today claims, "All-in, the Optima is a nice piece of work".  All over the country, dealers are having trouble holding on to Optima models. Here at Gunther, the popular sedan is literally being sold before arriving at the dealership. If you need more information about this vehicle, feel free to contact us about your factory order today.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 03/21/11

-Kia was recently named the most improved brand in perceived quality by Automotive Leasing Guide. In the mind of automotive consumers, Kia's perceived quality has increased 5.6% over the past six months, a much larger increase than any other brand. "For Kia, the consumer quality recognition is the payoff for a recent revolution in product quality and design supported by aggressive marketing campaigns," said Eric Lyman, director, Residual Value Solutions, ALG. Another major reason for this change that's being offered is that consumers that have never considered Kia before have begun to frequent showrooms nationwide. This increased exposure to the new and improved products Kia is currently offering has proven to be quite a benefit to the brands image.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 03/14/11

-The new Kia Optima was named a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety several weeks ago, an encouraging accolade for the impressive sedan. Now the vehicles crash test ratings have been released by NHTSA with more than impressive results; the Cars.com Best vehicle was given a perfect Five-Star overall rating, only the third vehicle in the United States to achieve this feat (Mazda6, Honda Accord). In order to achieve an overall Five-Star rating, the vehicle must receive a perfect score in each category. The Optima is the first South Korean built vehicle to ever achieve this honor in the United States.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 03/07/11

-The All-New 2011 Sportage SX model finally arrived at dealerships this week. The new trim level features the 2.0L GDI Turbo engine that was first introduced in the Optima recently, and a few other upgraded touches. This vehicle is being praised nationally by media outlets, with InsideLine stating, "[The Sportage] Turbo model has compelling numbers — in terms of fuel economy, horsepower and price — when compared with its chief rival [Acura RDX]".

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 02/28/11

-This week, Kia revealed the All-New 2012 Kia Rio at the Geneva Auto Show. The new Rio looks extremely similar to the Volkswagen Golf and GTI models, thanks mostly to former VW/Audi designer Peter Schreyer. The new Rio is said to be available in two different engine sizes, one being an all-new Turbo option.

-The Optima SX Turbo models became available in showrooms this past week, and dealers have already seen these models come and go. The Turbo Optima is being coveted for its incredible combination of excellent fuel economy and power.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 02/21/11

-Kia was certainly in the spotlight this week, providing a centerpiece for NBA rookie Blake Griffin’s sensational slam dunk. The All-Star planted an All-New Kia Optima right on the court in front of the basket, and placed teammate Baron Davis in the driver seat with the basketball. Griffin then charged toward the basket, received the pass from Davis, and performed one of the most dramatic slam dunks in history. This was a huge spotlight for Kia, drawing traffic to showrooms immediately.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 02/14/11

-Last month Kia hosted their annual Sales Elite vacation in Maui, Hawaii. Gunther Kia was one of few dealers in the United States to be represented, with two sales consultants present.

-The All-New Kia Optima, which has been gaining tons of buzz across the nation, was chosen as Cars.com Best Vehicle of 2011. The award is similar to Motor Trend’s annual “Car of the Year” selection, which the Optima was also nominated for. The honor is based on the Optima’s stunning design and feature content, which are considered class-leading.

THIS WEEK'S BLOG - 02/07/11

-This week, Kia enjoyed the National spotlight with their “One Epic Ride” Super Bowl commercial. The sixty-second spot featured the new 2011 Optima, which has enjoyed great success since being released in December. Kia made its Super Bowl debut last year with the All-New Sorento, which proved to be Kia’s best seller in 2010. Here’s to hoping the Optima can experience the same type of achievement.

-As part of Kia’s “One Epic Ride” campaign for the All-New Optima, the brand is offering a $25 gift card incentive to customers for simply taking a test drive. If you’re interested in coming in for a test drive and receiving your free $25 offer, simply call Gunther Kia today at (954) 797-1680 to schedule your appointment.

-In 2010, Kia released four limited edition Soul models that proved to be a hit with customers across the country. After seeing success with these models, Kia revealed its first limited edition model for 2011, the White Tiger Soul, earlier this month. These models come equipped with all sorts of features not found on your ordinary Soul, such as custom tiger graphics, 18” Black and Silver wheels, Push-Button Start with Smart Key, and Leather Seats. Pricing starts around $21,000, and these vehicles are now available for purchase.