Korean cars making waves

Korean car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia have been steadily making waves in the South African Car Market. The motoring giants have all but dominated the budget section with the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto respectively. While these two models shuffle between first and second positions on various ranking or best buy list I have seen, they are always up there.

This is not the only segment of the car market under attack from the Korea. Both Hyundai and Kia are having great success in other sections, including the SUV market with the Hyundai Ix35 and the Kia Sportage. Hyundai have also taken the sedan market by storm with their new Elantra, which met with raving reviews.

It will be interesting to see how the new car and used car landscapes in South Africa change in the future, but I will not be surprised if we continue to see these top Korean brands growing in leaps and bounds.

Kia Picanto 1.1 driven

Korean motor manufacturing giant Kia's new Picanto has been welcomed with some great reviews. And upgrade from their former Picanto, the car looks and feels better and with a price tag starting at under R100 000 is definitely one of the front runners in the market in the small car market. A rental courtesy of Europcar this weekend, I was able to become better acquainted with the vehicle.

It all starts at the check in counter. My helpful attendant, seeing my surfboard, decided to give me the Picanto ahead of other similar vehicles (The Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Spark), citing additional room as the deciding factor. This was a check mark in the cars favour before I had even seen it.

Arriving at my very own Kia Picanto, I must admit I was not overly impressed with the design. Parked next to the other cars in the rental lot, it certainly stood out, though I'm not sure this was in a positive way. It looked more round and less menacing, a very unassuming car. Still, it was offensive to the eye. Concerns about space also began to circle in my head... it didn't look very big.

A good few bags and a surf board later I was once more impressed with the Picanto. It seemed to swallow up both our luggage and our persons without too much fuss. Behind the wheel, the car took a little bit of getting used to - the clutch seemed to take late, the brakes were very responsive and the indicators were on the "wrong" side, but soon enough these were negotiated and complementary mint in mouth, we were headed towards the open road.

The drive in the Picanto was very pleasant. Fully aware of the diminutive engine, I was very rarely disappointed with the power output, even when the air conditioner was on. The car was very responsive and certainly felt nippy and powerful (for its class). At higher speeds it handled well and the breaks too were very solid. The seats were comfortable and spacious. There was nothing that the car lacked and all things considered I was impressed with the car. Price seriously considered and the Kia Picanto definitely seems like a fantastic automobile, and certainly one well worth considering for the budget buyer. 

Next generation Kia Optima to showcase confident new design direction

World premiere to be held at 2010 New York Motor Show

The next generation Kia Optima (currently, also known as 'Magentis' in some markets) is set to make its world premiere next month at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.

"The next generation Optima possesses the power to surprise," says Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer. "It's a car that people will simply not expect from Kia - and that's exactly what we set out to achieve."

The Optima exudes an athletic confidence from every angle and shutline - its raked roofline, the high and pronounced shoulder line of its sculpted flanks and its extended wheelbase are complemented by boldly flared wheelarches and a shallow glasshouse that create a saloon with a muscular and self-assured stance.



The striking visage of the Optima features a new interpretation of Kia's bold 'tiger' family face that's edged by piercing projector headlamps.

Longer, wider and lower than before, the Kia's coupe-like profile is enhanced by the sweeping chrome arc that flows from A to C pillar, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further still and enhances its cab-backwards proportions.

Spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the Optima's intelligently configured and driver-oriented cabin underlines this newfound poise and presence.

"The Optima embodies Kia's confident new design direction," says Schreyer. "It's a global car with individual appeal."

Source: Kia