Maintaining a regular schedule for rotating your tires helps to ensure even tire wear and helps your tires last longer. Rotating your tires involves changing their position on the vehicle from one wheel location to another. All tire manufacturers recommend rotating your tires regularly. In fact, failing to do so could void the manufacturer’s warranty. Rotate tires at the vehicle manufacturers’ recommended intervals or at 5,000 to 7,000 miles if not specified. 

There are two different schools of thought on how often you should rotate your tires on front wheel drive vehicles. The front tires on these vehicles tend to wear quicker than those on the rear of the vehicle. By rotating the tires front to rear and side to side the wear patterns between the wheel locations spread the wear out more evenly, allowing you to extend the life of all four of your tires.

Others argue it makes more sense to replace the front tires on a front wheel vehicle as they wear out, but to leave the back tires alone. This plan is especially effective if you do a lot of driving or plan to keep the vehicle a long time. It is estimated that the back tires will last as long as two sets of front tires.

To find out what rotation pattern would be best for your vehicle and tires, consult one of our highly trained Service Advisors in the Crown Kia Service Department.

The all-new Kia Sportage crossover will mark a dramatic shift in design direction for the brand’s popular SUV when it makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2nd.

Embodying Kia’s newfound visual dynamism, the new Sportage is a fresh, bold, athletic and sporty design that successfully blends the key features of an SUV – the commanding driving position and heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance – and envelopes them in a sleek and urban-friendly design with global appeal.

Longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, the new Sportage will offer more space for people and cargo, with an improved ride quality thanks to a longer wheelbase.

The all-new Sportage crossover will be available at Kia dealerships later this year, with a range of highly competitive diesel and gasoline engines.

Source: [Kia Motors]

The popular Kia Soul urban crossover vehicle has been named by the World Car Awards as a finalist for its prestigious ‘World Car of the Year’ and ‘World Car Design of the Year’ awards. Winners will be announced at the 2010 World Car Awards press conference on Thursday, April 1 at the New York International Auto Show.

A jury of 59 distinguished international automotive journalists from 25 countries across the globe selected the top ten finalists for ‘World Car of the Year’ by secret ballot, based on their experience with each candidate as part of their professional work. The jury members constitute a balance of representation from Asia, Europe, North America, South America, as well as other parts of the world. All hold significant stature within their own regions and countries.

Meanwhile, Kia Soul was also selected as one of four finalists for the ‘2010 World Car Design of the Year’ award. Cars eligible for the award are taken from the list of 30 ‘World Car of the Year’ candidates nominated by the World Car jurors. The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.

“Kia is honored to be recognized by the esteemed World Car jurors for our Soul crossover urban vehicle. Since its introduction in early 2009, the Kia Soul has dramatically transformed perceptions of the Kia brand in many markets around the world. It appeals especially to the young, and the young-at-heart, and is a car that challenges consumers to rethink everything they know about Kia vehicles,” said Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing, Kia Motors Corporation.

Along the way, the Soul has picked up more than 30 awards and accolades from influential motoring organizations and media outlets around the world, including the ‘red dot’ Design Award (honorable mention), ‘Grooviest Interior’ on the Ward’s AutoWorld ‘Interior of the Year’ list, ‘Top Recommended’ vehicle for 2010 by Edmunds.com and Most Exciting Cars of 2010 by TIME.com. With Soul, Kia is demonstrating that its products have ’stand-out’ design qualities and an emotional appeal to consumers in addition to offering consumers class-leading safety features, value and options.

On the safety front, Kia Soul was recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. and given a 2010 ‘Top Safety Pick’ award in the Small Car category. Soul was also awarded a 5-Star safety rating (the maximum score) in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results. Soul’s Euro NCAP safety ratings – with scores of 87% for Adult Occupant Protection, 86% for Child Protection and 86% for Safety Assist equipment – place the Kia among the safest B-Segment sized family cars in Europe.

For more details about the World Car of the Year award jurors, and their outlets, please visit www.wcoty.com.

Source: [Kia Motors]

Kia Motors America announced its popular subcompact and midsize CUVs, Kia Rio and Rondo have been selected as 2010 Consumer Guide Automotive Recommended Vehicles for the vehicle’s offerings of quality, comfort, function and value. The announcement comes on the heels of Kia Rondo being named to the ‘Best Family Cars Under $20,000′ list with About.com, a respected online resource for US consumers.

“Receiving the 2010 Consumer Guide Automotive Recommended Vehicle designation is a tribute to the ongoing evolution and continued improvement of the Kia brand,” said Michael Sprague, Vice President, Marketing, KMA. “This distinction from such a trusted automotive resource reinforces to consumers our commitment to providing the highest quality vehicles infused with great design, value, safety features, utility and practicality.”

Consumer Guide Automotive editors reviewed and selected the top vehicles across 18 vehicle categories, including Subcompact Car, Compact Car, Midsize Car, Premium Midsize Car, Large Car, Premium Large Car, Sporty/Performance Car, Compact SUV, Midsize SUV, Large SUV, Premium Large SUV, Minivan, among others. For more than 40 years Consumer Guide has been empowering buyers to shop with confidence and receives 2.6 million unique visitors each month.

About.com reviewed and selected a number of 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles, finally selecting the top 10 cars they felt best offered families an exceptional combination of value, comfort and seating for under $20,000. “In today’s economy, consumers are constantly looking for ways to save money while retaining quality, and Rondo offers the functionality and safety of a minivan or SUV without the heft, low fuel economy or high price tag,” said Sprague.

The Rio line is often noted for its small footprint, spacious interior, exciting handling and impressive fuel economy. In line with Kia’s dramatic, design-led transformation, Rio offers style flexibility for the fun and frugal. Its full body-color bumpers, a revised tabbed grille that matches the new look of Kia, black bezel headlamps, body-color side moldings and a stylish exposed exhaust outlet further add to its sprightly appearance.

Rondo offers consumers numerous amenities, capable handling and impressive standard convenience and safety features while maintaining a good starting price. The midsize CUV includes space for seven passengers with three rows of seating, offering the same variety of seating arrangements as a full-size SUV or minivan without the bulk or low fuel economy.

Source: [Kia Motors]

We’ve only just grown accustomed to saying “20-10″ instead of “2,000-nine,” so where did this “20-11″ Kia Sorento EX V6 come from? For bookkeeping reasons that are beyond our pay grade, there will be no 2010 Kia Sorento, and frankly that’s OK with us. The 2011 Kia Sorento is worth the trouble, because it changes the Sorento from a marginalized, truck-based midsize SUV into a truly competitive crossover thanks to a totally new unibody, engine and transmission.

We had to line up the specs to verify our suspicions, but sure enough, this all-new 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6 either matches or beats the Toyota RAV4 Limited, twice a winner in our crossover comparison tests in nearly every measure: acceleration, braking, handling, horsepower, torque, towing capacity, fuel efficiency, passenger accommodations, cargo capacity, and the list goes on.

On the surface, the all-new Kia Sorento (now being built in Kia’s new assembly plant in West Point, Georgia) seems to be more affordable as well. Yet as is almost always the case (and perhaps by design), it’s difficult to say so definitively, as you have to sort through exact model-specific equipment levels, work out option pricing and reconcile warranty periods – a challenge even for the most skilled spreadsheet geeks.

Suffice it to say that only $605 separates the base MSRP for a front-wheel-drive 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6 ($27,990*) from a front-drive 2010 Toyota RAV4 Limited V6 ($27,385*). However, this Kia’s standard equipment includes a third-row seat where you’d have to hand over an extra $750 for one in the Toyota, so suddenly the Kia is ahead by $145. Like we said, you could do this quid pro quo thing all day long with these two, so let’s get to the specifics.

Smooth, Powerful and Efficient
Perhaps because of the Sorento’s generic exterior styling, this crossover’s most conspicuous feature is its well-sorted driveline. It’s an all-new package both designed and built in-house by Kia/Hyundai that’s powerful, smooth and fuel-efficient.

With 276 horsepower on tap from a new DOHC 3.5-liter V6, this Sorento EX is noticeably quick. Acceleration to 60 mph from a standstill takes just 7.4 seconds (7.1 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip) on the way to a quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds at 91.4 mph – essentially a tie with the RAV4. To put that performance in perspective, this lowly Sorento is slightly faster than a vaunted (and admittedly heavier, because it’s built for off-roading) Land Rover LR4 with its new 375-hp 5.0-liter V8. It’s also as fast as a 2010 MX-5 Miata, if Mazda’s claims are correct.

Even under extreme circumstances, our vehicle didn’t register a single rattle from the interior.

The Sorento’s six-speed automatic operates with seamless shifts and, unlike so many others, has the brains to know when to hold gears (uphill) and when to upshift for fuel economy. The engine and transmission are ideally paired to offer both performance and economy, returning estimated EPA ratings of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. We verified these claims with our own 21 mpg average over 1,000 miles of testing.

Also, the V6-powered 2011 Kia Sorento is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds right out of the box once equipped with the $350 tow hitch and wiring harness.

Chassis Works
We should also point out that the Sorento achieves this level of fuel efficiency without the numbing effects of fuel-saving electric-assist power steering as found on both the RAV4 and Equinox. The Sorento has hydraulic-assist power steering that provides true, precise and communicative steering control – a unique quantity in the crossover segment. While some criticized the effort required to park, nobody complained about the system’s behavior once under normal driving conditions.

If you were to describe the Sorento’s ability to corner, hold a line and ride the freeway, “direct” would be it. We also noticed how well isolated the cabin proved to be from both road and wind noise at freeway speeds. The 59.0 dBA sound measurement within the Sorento’s cabin while cruising at a steady 70 mph is notably quieter than the 66 dBA performance of our long-term 2009 BMW 750i Sport. At the same time, the EX V6’s standard 18-inch 60-series tires sometimes produce hiss on different surfaces and an occasional thump on pronounced seams in the pavement.

While bending the 2011 Kia Sorento EX around the slalom cones at the test track, we found that the crossover’s new suspension with struts in front and a multilink setup in the rear has been tuned to land on the sporty side of the ride-versus-handling equation. A 61.8-mph slalom run and 0.79g of lateral grip put the Sorento near the top of the class in terms of dynamic capability, yet the freeway ride remains controlled, not busy and always confident.

That said, an expedition to L.A.’s pothole-ridden warehouse district with its long-abandoned railroad tracks to soak up the worst that the road has to offer. Yet even under these extreme circumstances, our test vehicle didn’t register a single rattle or buzz from the interior or the undercarriage.

Interior, Seating and Cargo
While our EX V6’s all-black interior lacks visual interest, there are a number of interesting features worth pointing out. For example, keyless ignition/entry is standard. A cleverly designed (yet not overdesigned) tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel features integrated controls for audio/cruise and Bluetooth, all standard. Also standard is dual-zone climate control with flow-control vents built into the B-pillars for the second-row passengers, as is an auxiliary/USB/iPod jack at the base of the center stack.

While rear-mounted sonar parking aids are standard, our pre-production Sorento EX V6 sneaked into the press fleet with a mishmash of optional items, some of which are part of larger packages. Things like our heated front seats and rearview camera integrated into the mirror only come within the $2,700 PK2 Premium pack that should also include roof rails and a sunroof. Because of this mongrel status, our $30,690* as-tested price for this 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6 is not entirely accurate.

We’ve already mentioned the EX V6’s standard third-row seat, but we failed to tell you that it really is a kid-only exercise, with somewhat difficult ingress/egress and compromised space for adult-scale limbs.

A comfortable eight-way power driver seat is standard, but leather upholstery will cost extra. We also found the second-row seats more than generously proportioned, and a rear-entertainment DVD system with headphones is optional. We wish we could’ve sampled the optional navigation system with real-time traffic and 550-watt 12-speaker Infinity premium surround system.

With all three rows occupied, the Sorento’s luggage space is a mere 9 cubic feet, although you’ll find a generous 37 cubic feet available behind the second-row seat, while total cargo capacity of 72.5 cubic feet behind the front seats nearly leads the class.

Safety
Neither the NHTSA nor IIHS tests have been published, but with standard dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags, plus active headrests, ESP, ABS, EBD and hill-start assist and downhill-descent control, the 2011 Kia Sorento promises to be well regarded by those who rate safety systems. We can tell you the standard ventilated front disc brakes and solid rear disc brakes work very well, bringing the Sorento to a halt from 60 mph in just 120 feet. Of the six stops we performed, the longest was 123 feet and the brake pedal remained trustworthy.

We can also vouch for the stability control system, which effectively reins in shenanigans without being a nuisance. There’s only a 1.5-mph difference in slalom speeds between when the stability control is engaged and when it’s disengaged, which tells you the hardware and software were developed in concert with one another rather than by chassis engineers and liability lawyers in conflict with one another.

Closing Thoughts
Without much fanfare or marketing (yet), Kia appears to have produced a truly class-leading midsize crossover. For the time being, the 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6 is nipping at the heels of one of the best in the world, the Toyota RAV4 V6. And, yes, were this a true comparison of midsize crossovers, we’d likely toss into the crowded pool (61 models by our last estimate).

We’re impressed with the polish, poise and performance of the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. It continues to prove that Kia and Hyundai have earned the right to be considered a big-time car company.

Source: [Inside Lane]

It has finally arrived. Kia’s brand new model, the all-new Cadenza is here.
I’m sure many of you are already aware of the many new technologies applied to the Cadenza to make it a truly luxury sedan. Today, we’d like to introduce the Lambda engine that’s behind the Cadenza’s powerful drive and Amplitude Selective Damper (ASD).

Lambda II 3.5 gasoline engine
What do you think is the most essential element for Cadenza to realize its motto of being a ‘dynamic sedan’? That’s right, a strong heart, in its case, a powerful engine. To deliver class-leading performance, Kia outfitted the Cadenza with the Lambda II 3.5 gasoline engine. An updated version of the Lambda featured in the Opirus/Amanti, the new engine delivers durability and reliability along with driving performance.

We adopted a new intake manifold system which significantly impacts performance. The previous 2-stage was replaced with a 3-stage variable intake system (VIS) for consistently superior performance at all driving speeds. The Lambda II 3.5 gasoline engine was developed to outperform other 3.5 liter engines by our competition.

One of the most important considerations in developing a large displacement engine is reducing engine weight. To this end, we optimized the design of the crank and cylinder block to lighten the weight and also applied a plastic water temperature control. It was the world’s first plastic water temperature control used in a 6-cylinder engine and is also used in the Opirus/Amanti. Its application shaved 3% off the weight of the new Lambda engine.

The Variable Flow Oil Pump (VFP) optimizes the flow of the oil depending on the discharge pressure, thereby minimizing engine performance loss when driving at a high speed or high RPM. Furthermore, we applied a low-friction coating method using Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), a new material technology, to moving parts. By reducing friction, we raised fuel efficiency of the engine.

The Cadenza also has a Mechanical Lash Adjuster (MLA) and a ratchet type hydraulic auto tensioner in the timing chain system to achieve both lightness and stiffness, thus increasing durability and reliability.

To reduce environmental pollution and maintenance costs, we applied an ultra thin-wall catalyst for advanced emission conversion and an environmentally-friendly oil filter that requires only the filter paper to be replaced during maintenance checkups.

The rated RPM, which signifies the engine RPM at top output level, was raised from 6,000 RPM of the previous Lambda engine to 6,600 RPM for improved performance.

The application of diverse engine and new material technologies means the Lambda II 3.5 engine offers range-topping maximum power of 290 hp and maximum torque of 34.5 kgf.m.

The engine delivers driving performance as a dynamic luxury mid-size sedan, thus exceeding the high demands of Cadenza customers in its excellent performance and style.

Amplitude Selective Damper (ASD)

The engine is like the heart of a car and a strong engine is pivotal to the car’s performance. The more powerful an engine is, the more it requires sophisticated automotive control parts to support and endure its performance. One can compare it to a healthy heart requiring strong arms and legs.

Cadenza is the first in its class to feature Amplitude Selective Damper (ASD) as a standard feature. ASD ensures control over the car body and realizes a solid and stable drive.

ASD ensures drivers enjoy optimal riding comfort and handling under any road conditions. A low damping force is applied to provide a comfortable ride when the vehicle goes over roads with undulations that produce high-frequency, low-amplitude vibrations. A high damping force maintains stiff suspension when the vehicle turns or goes over bumps to improve body and wheel control.

Source: [Kia Buzz]

When a wolf bites, it can inflict up to 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch. Yet when two wolves square off in a playful wrestling match, each usually barely grazes the skin surface of its rival. Why?

In their book Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals (University of Chicago Press, 2009), authors Marc Beckoff and Jessica Pierce argue that wolves, dogs and other animals display a wide range of what we would consider to be moral thoughts and actions. These include empathy, fairness, trust and reciprocity.

Good Dog, Good Manners
The best and clearest example of morality among dogs and other canines, such as wolves and coyotes, comes from detailed studies on social play behavior, according to Beckoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Pierce, a Bioethicist at the same university. “Although play is fun, it’s also serious business,” they point out, adding that the four basic aspects of fair play in animals are:

• 1. Ask first
• 2. Be honest
• 3. Follow the rules
• 4. Admit when you’re wrong

Because actions like biting, mounting and body-slamming can easily be misinterpreted, your dog will signal in advance with a bow that what’s to follow will be playful and non-threatening. If a dog violates this “rule of bowing,” fairness breaks down and so does play, according to the authors. Beckoff adds that his work on coyotes living in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park shows that coyotes who don’t play fairly often leave their pack because they don’t form strong social bonds. Such loners suffer higher mortality rates than those who remain with others. At the very least, he says, “cheaters have a harder time finding play partners.”

From Play to Morality
Beckoff and Pierce claim it’s just a step from play to morality, with studies on children showing similar development of fairness. Like dogs, kids devise rules, or follow pre-existing ones, that allow for a certain degree of justice. Renowned Primatologist Jane Goodall says, “As a child, I learned that behaving fairly during play with others was a very important social rule. As a mother, I learned that treating my child fairly was key in building his trust and cooperation.”

No one is perfect, but fair players usually apologize. Dogs do this too, according to the researchers. For example, a bow might communicate something like, “Sorry I bit you so hard — I didn’t mean it, so let’s continue playing.”

Who’s the Fairest of Them All?
Both Beckoff and Pierce say it’s not fruitful to ask if members of one species are more moral than members of another, in part because “animals do what they need to do to be card-carrying members of their species.” But morality appears to vary among individuals. For example, some people display more empathy than others. Some dogs are less aggressive. These differences are likely due to genetics, environmental influences and daily life experiences.

“It may be that dogs have fewer vices. They don’t seem to experience schadenfreude [pleasure derived from the misfortune of others], nor do they seem to take pleasure in being cruel,” says Pierce. She adds that she and other dog-loving friends think dogs are better friends, more loyal, more trustworthy, more faithful, more unconditional in their love and more attuned to our needs and our moods than other humans. So there may be a sense in which dogs are exemplars of certain human virtues.

Lessons to Learn from Dogs and Other Animals
Gorillas mourn their dead for lengthy periods. Elephants care for the sick and wounded in their herds. Rats refuse to push food-rewarding levers when they know that doing so will cause another rat to receive an electrical shock. These are just a few examples of animal behaviors that, if enacted by humans, might fall under issues of morality.

By studying such behaviors, “We learn about honesty, trust, cooperation, justice, fairness and empathy,” say Pierce and Beckoff. “We can be reminded that we need each other, just like wolves in a pack need each other. And we need to treat each other well if we want to live in a well-balanced, harmonious social group.”

Source: [The Dog Daily]

No time, zero motivation, your dog ate your gym shoes. There are a zillion excuses for not exercising — but no excuse for making your health such a low priority. Exercise can reduce the risk of a wide range of ailments, everything from arthritis and diabetes to cancer and heart disease. It can also help you lose extra pounds, maintain a healthy weight and relieve stress, all of which are key if you’re prone to heartburn. So if you want to start the New Year right, put an end to common exercise excuses with these tips from Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter, a California-based sports psychologist and the author of Your Performing Edge.

Excuse No. 1: I don’t have time.
If something’s important to you, chances are you’ll make time for it. So rather than taking your health for granted and sweeping your well-being under the rug, “think about the benefits of exercise and how they’ll help change your life,” says Dahlkoetter. Then make working out a priority. Schedule exercise into your week, preferably in the morning, as morning exercisers stick to their plans better. And on those days when you’re really strapped for time, 10 minutes is better than nothing.

Excuse No. 2: It hurts and then I’m sore afterward.
Start slowly and do half of what you were planning to do until your body adjusts to the demands of exercise. If breathing becomes difficult, slow down. If exercise triggers heartburn, do low-impact activities like cycling and swimming; avoid activities that require bending over or lying down; and lift light, not heavy, weights.  

Excuse No. 3: I’m too tired.
If you think you’re too tired to exercise, tell yourself you’ll work out for just 10 minutes. Exercise has an energizing effect, notes Dahlkoetter. “Chances are, you’ll feel so good after 10 minutes that you’ll want to continue,” she says.

Excuse No. 4: I can’t afford a gym or personal trainer.
You don’t need either. Walking or running are inexpensive workouts, and they can be done anywhere. If the weather’s bad, you can even walk at an indoor mall. Exercise DVDs run about $15 each (or borrow them from the library for free!). And who says strength-training equipment has to be expensive? Resistance bands, hand weights and stability balls cost less than $25 each.

Excuse No. 5: I don’t know how to get started.
Put on a pair of walking shoes and take a walk. Find a workout show on TV. Get an exercise DVD. Sign up at the nearest gym. See? You have everything you need to get started. Now get going!

Source: [Live Right, Live Well]