Although in existence since 1944, it wasn't until the early '70s when Korean automaker Kia would begin its foray into manufacturing automobiles and auto parts. Prior to building cars, Kia produced steel tubing, bicycles, bicycle parts, and eventually, scooters. This evolution is what led to the interest in becoming an automaker and by 1974, Kia presented the Brisa, which was not only the company's first ever model, but also represented the first Korean-made passenger car. Kia embarked on a partnership with Ford in 1986 and had built up a roster of models including the Concord, Avella, and Pride. Ford exported the Pride to the United States as the Ford Festiva and just a few years later did the same thing with the Avella, this time rebadging it as the Aspire.
Come the '90s, Kia began selling its models in the US under the Kia name. The first model chosen to introduce the brand was the Sephia, a compact sedan featuring a four-cylinder engine. With SUVs becoming more and more popular by the middle of the decade, Kia went ahead and produced the compact crossover Sportage. More and more dealerships began popping up across America and by the end of the 1990s, the only state without one was North Dakota. The Asian financial crisis put a dent in Kia's momentum, however, forcing bankruptcy. Hyundai took over 51% of the company in 1998, outbidding Ford in the process.
Kia opened up the next century with several successful models. The Spectra premiered in 2000 as both a five-door hatchback and four-door sedan with a smooth body shape, efficient performance, and an economical price tag. The Kia Rio, a sporty subcompact, took over for the Pride that same year. Over the next few years, Kia models were enjoying a boost in reputation, as they were now known for being comprised of higher-quality materials and sporting a competitive dealer price. The Sorento joined the Sportage on the roster as another crossover SUV in 2002. A year later, the Amanti debuted. A full-size luxury car, the Kia Amanti boasted a V6 engine and received minor restyling updates in 2007 before Kia discontinued the model. The most recent Kia model to gain attention has been the subcompact Soul. Marketed towards a younger segment of drivers, the Kia Soul comes standard with entertainment features such as a USB port for an mp3 player along with Sirius satellite radio.

Specifically designed for the driver who understands the correlation between efficient performance and a representative look, it is easy to see why so many have come to appreciate the wide array of advantages that Kia provides. Specialized Kia Accessories and Parts for any model are a great way to up the stakes and propel your personal ride to the front of the field. CARiD wants you to expect the best for your model, which is why we offer the Kia accessories and parts you need to give that added touch of personality and style often ignored by the competition.
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The automaker Kia and Antenna magazine has teamed up to build a surf-themed concept for 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Kia has chosen 2012 Kia Rio 5-Door to be represented by. The concept is equipped with a wooden front splitter and custom gold wheels, also painted with a special sunset-metallic paint. It'll be one of six Kia models at SEMA. As described by Kia, the model is "one-of-a-kind retro ride aimed at totally radical surfing enthusiasts."
The inside of the vehicle features a special '80s gaming console and a vinyl record player. Having shelves for shoes and swimsuits and custom designed for beach gear, Antenna Kia Rio doesn't provide any surf rack on top for surfing boards.
A special surf-themed Kia Rio 5-door will appear at SEMA on Tuesday, November 1.
Yesterday Kia Motors America reported that the 300,000th vehicle was assembled at its West Point facility, located in Georgia. It was a silver Sorrento SX, the same CUV that became the first production vehicle, which rolled off the line in November 2009.
The South Korean automaker managed to achieve this milestone due to the addition of the third working shift. Currently the plant produces the second generation of Kia Sorento and the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. In September Kia plans to launch production of the Optima sedan at the KMMG (Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia) factory.
"The completion of our 300,000th vehicle in less than two years is another historic milestone for KMMG, and the success of the plant is attributable to each team members' commitment to outstanding quality," said Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG. "Now, with three full shifts of production and the upcoming addition of the Optima, our production goals will continue to be very aggressive."
During the past years Kia has reached several key goals and has proven its leading positions on the U.S. market. In April 2010, the South Korean manufacturer celebrated the production of its 50,000th vehicle. Last September, the company passed a 100,000 vehicles milepost, even before the second working shift was launched. This year Kia experiences the unprecedented growth in the United States. The company has already reported record sales in 2011 and announced its plans to increase the production to 360,000 vehicles in 2012.
ALG, a company specializing in the automotive market analytics, have released the results of its Spring 2011 consumer survey of perceived automobile brand quality, which indicates Kia Motors as the most improved mainstream brand in the U.S.
According to the ALGs study, the consumer recognition comes out as a natural result of a recent revolution in Kias product quality and design. Thus, the Sorento just brought the Korean automaker its first ever Top Pick from Consumer Reports and the recently launched Optima has gained a hailstorm of positive feedback from industry critics and journalists. Among all automakers that sell cars and trucks in the United States, Kia has shown the greatest percent increase versus the Fall 2010 Perceived Quality Scores (5.6%).
ALG surveyed approximately 3,000-4,000 U.S. consumers to gauge perceptions of mainstream and luxury brands. The company believes that perception is a powerful force in consumer buying behavior and this data is one of the factors ALG uses to determine residual (original value the vehicle retains after its been on the road for a given amount of time) and resale values.
Whether you plan to improve your vehicle's performance or simply want to add some flare to its style, we store a comprehensive collection of accessories and parts designed specifically for your vehicle. Whatever product you choose, you are guaranteed to get nothing but the premium quality, unrivaled performance, and unique style. Understanding that your vehicle deserves only the top accessories and parts, we carefully handpicked each single item. And be sure all of them are manufactured by the most reputable companies in the industry, so the quality is beyond any doubts. If you still are not sure what product to choose, you are welcome to check 1,808 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and define what accessory perfectly fits both your vehicle and your pocket.
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