Kia Canada Inc. Earns Two Wins at Auto123.com 2012 Automotive Awards and Celebrates Sales Milestone of 60,000 Annual Sales

Kia Canada Inc. is proud to announce that the Optima and Sportage won their respective categories in this year’s Auto123.com Automotive Awards, Canada’s leading automotive web portal.

The all-new Kia Optima mid-size sedan was introduced to the Canadian market earlier this year, finishing ahead of 11 other vehicles for the coveted title including the Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Passat that were named finalists in the mid-size category.  Additionally, the Sportage CUV defended its title this year with a back-to-back win as the Compact Utility of the Year finishing ahead of the Dodge Journey and Hyundai Tucson, respectively.

“We’re extremely proud of these accolades that were awarded to Kia today, including the achievement of the Sportage winning its respective category two consecutive years” said Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing at Kia Canada Inc.

Earlier this year the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada voted the Optima LX as 2012 AJAC Best New Family Car under $30,000, and the Optima Hybrid as Best New Family Car over $30,000, at AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year ‘Test Fest’. Both vehicles are eligible for the Canadian Car of the Year award that will be announced in February 2012.

2011 has been an exceptional year for Kia Canada and its dealers and today also marks a milestone of which 60,000 units have been sold year-to-date – a first in Kia Canada’s eleven year history.  Strong vehicle sales spread across the lineup, which is tracking Kia Canada on pace for an industry leading 35 consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth. Currently the fastest growing automotive brand in Canada, Kia Canada Inc. continues to outperform the industry with a sales growth of 21.4 per cent year-to-date compared to the industry average of 1.5 per cent through October 2011.

“Overall, today has been an exceptional day for Kia Canada and achieving the sales milestone of 60,000 vehicle sales in 2011 indicates that our product is resonating well with Canadians” said Jack Uczciwek, National Sales Manager Kia Canada Inc.

Additionally, L’Annuel, the French language car guide, bestowed upon the Optima ‘Best New Car’, competing against all new entrants in 2011. The Kia Sportage also received the prestigious award of Motoring TV Car of the Year earlier in 2011, finishing ahead of all vehicles that were new in 2011.

Starting at $21,995, the Optima features Kia’s GDI technology boasting a fuel efficient powerful drivetrain. The 2.4-liter GDI engine produces 200 horsepower, 186 pound-feet of torque, and boasts impressive fuel economy at 8.7 and 5.7 L/100km (city/highway). An ‘Active ECO System’ is also included on any Optima featuring the six-speed automatic, optimizing engine and transmission management to reduce fuel consumption with the push of a button on the steering wheel. All automatics feature a six-speed Steptronic® clutchless shifting system, while a six-speed manual transmission is standard on the LX model.

Starting at $21,995, the Sportage marks a dramatic shift in design direction for Kia’s CUV.  Longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, the new Sportage is easily identifiable by its ‘family’ grille, a major design cornerstone from Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. “I want to give Kia global appeal, and I want that appeal to be about design above all else”, said Schreyer. “The new Sportage is a major step towards achieving that goal. With its athletic and muscular design the Sportage fits its name perfectly.”