By Pamela Muñoz, Assistant Manager
Overseas Communication Team

For those of us located in the Northern Hemisphere, we are starting to see signs of summer.  Summer can be a time of rest and relaxation for some, but for others it can mean stress behind the wheel during those long drives to the cottage with the kids (and dog!). 

If you, like many others, are considering a ‘Staycation’ then the chances are you’ll end up driving to your destination.  Whether you’re planning a family break, romantic retreat or some festival fun, it pays to plan ahead and follow some simple tips shared with us from Kia Motors UK to arrive feeling relaxed and ready to make the most of your big break.

 
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Before setting off, it’s important to prepare the car to avoid any unnecessary delays or breakdowns on the way to the beach.  Ensure your vehicle is fully-serviced (many Kia dealers around the world will offer customers a free visual health check); top up oil and water levels; check tire pressure and tread; and remember to fill up the tank.

Aside from the car itself, prepare for a comfortable and stress free trip by getting sufficient rest prior to your journey and consider sharing driving responsibilities. Think about scheduling in refreshments and comfort breaks; plan your route beforehand, designating one passenger as navigator; allow more time than you need and try to avoid traffic blackspots, perhaps taking the scenic route; make use of traffic alerts on the radio – they are a great way to keep abreast of what’s happening on the roads; and try to avoid peak times.

Caravans & RVs
If you’re among the millions who take their caravan, motor caravan or trailer tent on holiday every year then it’s vital that you take extra care to guarantee the safety of yourself and those around you.

Stick to the maximum posted speed limit on all roads, paying particular attention to the total weight of the car and caravan or trailer, including passengers and luggage (further advice on weight ratios will be found in your vehicle handbook); check the brake cables and linkages as seizing up is a common problem and causes the bearings to overheat, which may result in a serious problem; consider extended door mirrors for improved visibility;  bear in mind stopping and turning times which will be considerably longer; and finally, if it’s your first time, practice in a large open space before hitting the open road.

Home away from home
Your caravan is a home away from home so put a little effort in to making it welcoming and comfortable, you never know when you may end up spending a rainy afternoon indoors.  Pick up a few soft furnishings – there are plenty of shops out there offering throws, cushions and rugs at bargain prices; invest in some quality artificial flowers, they’re perfect for adding a splash of color without the risk of spills; finally, don’t forget those home comforts like a kettle and toaster. There’s nothing like a fresh brew and slice of toast in the morning to perk you up for a day in the great outdoors.

Keep them entertained
Travelling with children?  Boredom, hunger, nausea and endless toilet breaks all add up to a very stressful car journey but there are many ways to ensure travel with your kids runs as smoothly as possible reducing stress and keeping kids from causing mischief in the back seat. 

Ensure they make a trip to the toilet immediately before setting off; keep them entertained with a repertoire of in-car games; stock up on healthy snacks and drinks keeping hunger at bay and saving money too as service stations are usually more expensive than your local supermarket; pre-empt the inevitable ‘are we there yet?’ question by keeping them up to date on progress; and finally, think about music or even talking books – the new Kia Soul, Sportage and cee’d all have optional iPod compatibility so everyone can sing along to their hearts’ content.

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By Pamela Muñoz, Assistant Manager
Overseas Communication Team

As the recession deepens and the cost of car ownership continues to rise, motorists around the country are beginning to look for quick and easy ways in which they can save money when it comes to their car, and in particular, their driving habits. 

The way we drive can have a massive impact on our car’s fuel consumption levels and implementing a few simple changes can be all it takes to save those precious pennies. Follow these tips on economical driving from Kia Motors UK to cut the cost of driving and pocket the change:

• Drivers should regularly service their cars to ensure they are in tip top condition. Factors such as tire pressure and engine oil can affect the level of fuel efficiency

• Driving smoothly, accelerating gently and sticking to the speed limit will keep fuel consumption low. If you look further ahead and anticipate traffic you won’t have to do so much braking

• Try to avoid stopping and starting as it increases the level of fuel consumption. Be gentle with the pedals!

• Cut fuel wastage by avoiding leaving the car running unnecessarily before a journey and planning the shortest route beforehand

• Avoid using air conditioning when travelling below 50km/h (30mi/h) – open the window instead, you’ll be surprised how much fuel that can save

As well as saving money, economical driving can also help the environment. At Kia, we’re committed to provided fuel-efficient vehicles for the ever-changing marketplace. We hope these tips can further maximize fuel consumption which will undoubtedly translate to fuller pockets and wallets!

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By Kia BUZZ editorial team

This just in, folks… Santa Claus was spotted this Christmas Eve taking a joy ride in his brand new Christmas Soul. It turns out the urban crossover is more than just for city driving. It looks like he left his reindeer at home for this quick spin around Kia headquarters in Seoul but will be back at the North Pole in time for his journey around the world later tonight.

Drive safely, Santa… we look forward to a Soulful Christmas this year.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

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KMS Public Relations Team

 

Greetings from Slovakia. We are Jozef, Alex, Martina, Katarina and Dusan from the Public Relations team of Kia Motors Slovakia, based at Kia’s European factory in Zilina, northern Slovakia.

We’d like to share with you the news of our latest success – but this time it is not about the factory!  This is all about the first Kia cee’d to be a motor sport champion.

 

It is an unprecedented success for Kia – any motor sport fan will tell you that you don’t just turn up to a championship in a new car and win the title at the first attempt, but that is just what our Slovakian friend Jaroslav Baranek did with his specially developed cee’d.

Jaroslav entered the car into the diesel-only hill-climb championship, organized by the Slovak Motor Sport Association.  Run over a total of 13 races, the Kia cee’d came first in six of them.

 

The cee’d itself is fairly standard, but with most of the interior removed to fit a safety ‘roll cage’.  This cage, a series of metal tubes, is designed to protect the driver in case of an accident, yet it has the benefit of making the car rigid, and so helps it to deal with the higher cornering forces of a hill-climb event at high speed.

 

The cee’d is powered by a modified version of the 2.0-litre CRDi engine that comes with the car.  Power has been increased to 200hp and maximum torque is now 400Nm.

 

In the service areas (or ‘pits’) at the competition venues the cee’d attracted many fans, thanks to the quality of workmanship and the high profile parts used – suspension from Proflex, high performance braking system from AP Racing, Sprintfilter air cleaning system and a fully integrated fire extinguisher for the car and driver from OMP.  Some custom made parts, as well as the driver’s flame-retardant overalls, were supplied by Autotechna Baranek s.r.o.  The whole build process, from a bare shell to complete racing car, took place in Slovakia and was completed in under twelve months.

 

Jaroslav Baranek is very proud about his title: “We managed to win with the car produced and modified in the Slovak Republic. I am very pleased that it was Kia cee’d and that we were able to win the Slovak championship with it.”

Being modest, Jaroslav says that the success is due to the package – a good base car, excellent preparation and a highly experienced service crew.  He failed to mention that he is a very experienced driver, so adds the extra spice to the finished package.

 

For us at Kia Slovakia, this championship is a proud moment.  The cars we send out of the factory are built to the highest standards and to see a motor sport cee’d prepared in such great detail makes us very proud.

 

We just hope that Jaroslavs cee’d is not the only Kia to be showing just what a quality performance the cee’d is capable of.

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By Seung Hwan Lee
Kia BUZZ Editor

 

Good news, everyone!  Starting Thursday, October 23rd, a series of postings on the Soul’s design development history will be posted until Wednesday, October 29th.  The postings will reflect on how designers found their inspiration for the crossover’s exterior and interior designs, innovative features and colors.  To close the blog posting series, executive vice president of Kia’s Design Center, Seon Ho Yoon, will share his design philosophy with you.  So, stay tuned for exciting Soul design stories!

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