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Naza Kia has quietly introduced the Kia Cerato 1.6 KX, a new base trim for the sharply-designed C-segment sedan . The KX retains high equipment levels while dropping the price a full RM10,000 over the regular 1.6 model to RM89,888 on the road with insurance, but a fair few compromises have been made in the process. Those compromises aren’t very noticeable when you look outside – the only changes to the exterior over the regular Cerato 1.6 are the removal of the chrome window strip and LED combination tail lights, the latter replaced by conventional bulb items. Inside, the changes are a little more apparent. The dual-zone automatic climate control has been replaced by a manual single-zone unit, auto-levelling headlights have been replaced by manual controls and you can say goodbye to the aluminium pedals, electric seats with memory, gear shift paddles, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather-wrapped steering...

Naza Kia Malaysia may have missed the fourth-quarter of 2012 launch date of the Kia Rio, but not by much if the latest rumoured launch date of January 2013 comes true. And the Kia Rio will come in the form of a five-door hatchback, powered by a 1.4-litre Gamma engine that pushes 109 HP and 136 Nm through a four-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels. One of the main attractions of the Kia Rio would be its 2012 Reddot design award-wining looks, penned by none other than Peter Schreyer, the man behind the eye-catching duo of the Optima K5 and the Sportage. Yet another is the previously-announced price point in the range of RM70K, which would position it competitively against the Nissan Almera. Then again, that pricing, made public by CEO Datuk Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar last July, appears unlikely if the rumoured trim levels of EX and SX indeed arrive later this month. Six airbags, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), LED daytime running lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a...

The one-of-a-kind 2013 Hyundai Veloster has finally landed in Malaysia in three variants: the RM 116,888 Veloster 1.6 manual, the RM 121, 888 Veloster 1.6 and the RM 132,888 Veloster 1.6 Premium. The OTR with insurance prices include a five-year/300,000km extended warranty, and a 24-hour road assist service. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors promised us the three-door coupe in the first quarter of 2012, but, like they say, it's better late than never. As if the fluidic sculpture design is not striking enough, the Hyundai Veloster comes with a unique two-plus-one door layout that actually improves interior access rather than just novelty factor. Hyundai calls it the "style of a coupe and the functionality of a hatchback". The boot space of 440 litres and the option to split-fold the rear seats mean that the Veloster is practical when you have luggage to carry. Standard across the Hyundai Veloster range is a smart key with an engine start/stop button, a 7-inch LCD ...

The Kia Rio hatchback was teased by Kia Malaysia at an exhibition hall next to Asia Klasika 2012 last weekend. Dressed in psychedelic colours which pretty much hid a lot of the car’s lines, it took the centre stage of their floor space beside the rest of the current line-up. We hear that the Rio hatchback is set to be launched in the first half of 2013, probably with a 1.4 litre engine and an automatic transmission. We’ve seen the Kia Rio hatchback being tested with a trade plate back in March this year.    

Kia Cadenza 2013 The Kia Cadenza (known as the K7 in Korea) will get a new look and some enhancements for the next model year – the wraps have come off the updated front-wheel drive luxury sedan at an event in Korea. It will be available in its home market from next month, and go on sale in different parts of the world during the first half of next year. Inheriting some of the design elements from the flagship Quoris (K9 in Korea) and bringing it visually in line with the rest of the current range, the 2013 Cadenza’s bonnet, boot lid, front and rear lamps and bumpers are new, while side air vents now adorn the front wings.

The first of Kia's Justice League-inspired customized cars has been unveiled in Gotham City.   The aim of the project is to raise awareness of DC's "We Can Be Heroes" campaign, a relief effort to fight hunger in Africa.Kia's range-topping Optima SX Limited has been kitted out with a range of unique Batman features. A matte-black paintjob with piano-black Batman logos adorn the exterior, which is complemented by custom 20-inch black alloys and a muscular ground-effects kit. A lowered coilover suspension, Ksport performance brakes and a performance exhaust system have also been fitted in an effort to bring the Optima up to Batmobile spec. Other exterior enhancements include a Batwing-shaped front grille, which took 40 hours to make, yellow LED lighting and the Bat-signal etched into the HID lights.Inside, the Optima has been upholstered in custom black...

The 2013 Kia Forte (also known as K3 or Cerato in other countries) exterior images has been officially released. This can give us a clear picture on how the 2013 Forte will look like when it arrives on our shore, perhaps with only minor difference such as different fog lamps design. The headlights bear some resemblance of the BMW3-Series, but it brings a refreshing feel to Kia's design language. The only thing is the front end, which is a bit too bubbly for me, perhaps it is to improve pedestrian protection. Since the Forte K3 is based on the Hyundai Elantra, it's safe to say that the Forte K3 comes with a wheelbase of 2700mm, a well 50mm longer compared to the outgoing Forte. From the side, it is noticable that the Forte K3 has a more 'forward moving' design. Kia opted BMW's 'Hofmeister Kink' feature for its rear window design, and it blends well with the rest of the car. The taillights if seen from the side reminds me of its cousin, Elantra.

Kia has proved to us that it is just as impactful as other car manufacturers, especially with the Kia Optima K5. To ease my description, I'm going to list down the 5 P which I think why is the Optima K5 ahead of its class: 1. P eter Schreyer It's him who gave Kia an attractive signature face, it's him who gave the Optima K5 such irresistable design, it's him who is responsible for making our heads turn when an Optima K5 passes by! The stunning design of the Optima K5 enable itself to stands out from the crowd, and its close competitors too! 2. P rise quality Precise fit and finishing, optimization of quality and expansive use of premium and leather materials to ensure we get the best of both worlds - the exterior and interior of the Optima K5. 3. P anoramic roof No need for further elaboration. It's simply a beautiful piece of art that's unique on its own. 4. P rotection prioritized Safety is one of Kia's priorities. Other than the c...

These are the latest pictures of the new Kia Track'ster – a hot hatch concept car that was the star of Kia's Chicago Motor Show stand. The new three-door coupe points towards a dramatic addition to the Soul range, packing dramatic looks and a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that drives all four wheels. Kia says the car is designed for use on the road and on racing tracks, hence its name. The Track'ster features a distinctive white and orange paint scheme and a dramatic bodykit which makes the car around 13cm wider than the standard Soul. It includes Kia’s signature grille with an air intake trimmed in lightweight carbon fibre, sleek headlights with LEDs and a large lower grille flanked by immense LED driving lights. The roof, complete with spoiler, is accentuated in contrasting orange. Carbon fibre side skirts are also coloured orange and incorporate rear-brake cooling ducts.  Inside, the Track'ster carries on the ...

Kia Optima