PICANTO car

From its entry-level PICANTO to the top-of-the-range Mohave, KIA Motors is redefining style, performance and comfort with its 2012 models, WRITES OLAOLU OLUSINA

There is no doubt that Kia Motors is raising the stake in style, performance and comfort. Also, its desire to become the third largest auto manufacturer in the world may not just be a tall dream after all. The simple fact remains that the Kia 2012 model range is, indeed, a clear departure from its previous models and may just be a pointer to where the company is headed.

Industry analysts are unanimous in their convictions that from the its entry-level Picanto to the top-of-the-range Mohave, Kia Motors is undoubtedly redefining style, performance and comfort. The experience of auto journalists who participated in the test drive of the Kia 2012 model range in Lekki , Lagos last Saturday, also pointed to the fact that Kia motors, indeed, has its eyes at the top, especially with the unique features of the new range.

With a technology-computer aided design and engineering as well as its ergonomics package, Kia Motors is apparently aiming, through its new models,  at maximising customer comfort and convenience by achieving optimal space, field of visibility, comfort, maneuverability, storage, assembly, and maintenance convenience. And with the care of the environment in mind, the Kia new eco-dynamics feature, which is a feature of all eco-friendly cars, ensures a green car production system, assessments to minimise environmental impact and reducing harmful substances, using recyclable materials.

The Picanto, for example, is more stylish and cute for its class . It is indeed a marked improvement on the old Picanto. The All-New Rio is also stylish, with more space while the Cerato and Optima are simply the redefinition of class and confident individuality. The Optima, for example, comes as a 6-speed 2.0 automatic transmission engine with a power steering. With more leg-room and comfort, it is also more spacious than the old Optima as it comes with leather seats, two air bags and a foldable back seat to extend the booth space. Its eco-dynamic feature is unique, allowing for optimum performance of the engine while in traffic without consuming much fuel.

The Cadenza, which is a new entrant, comes in an executive form just as the Sportage and Sorento have stepped up in design and comfort. The Mohave is the top-of-the –range and a definition of what luxury should be.

In his speech at the occasion, Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors Limited, sole marketer of KIA vehicles in Nigeria,  Mr. Sandeep Malhotra, reiterated the strong commitment of his company to the KIA brand, saying “Our management is always willing to make the necessary investments in facilities and people to be able to back up the KIA vehicles that we sell with caring and competent after sales service.” While noting that his company was quite aware that the future of any brand would rest on the level of customer satisfaction, he said he was convinced that the Kia brand has a future in Nigeria.  Affirming that everyone in his organisation had been urged to do their very best,  Malhotra maintained that the customer-first philosophy guides the policies of his company in all areas of its business.

The Marketing Manager, Dana Motors, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, in his presentation, said Kia Motors, which is represented in Nigeria by Dana Motors, has been steadfastly pursuing a customer-first strategy of service based on trust and responsibility. The company, according to him, offers customers around the world a consistent level of service based on its ‘Family-like Care’ service philosophy.

From its very humble beginnings as a manufacturer of bicycle parts by hand on the outskirt of Seoul, the Korean capital, Kia Motors has emerged as the fifth largest automaker in the world. This is aside being the driving force behind the Korean motor vehicle for the last six decades, laying claim to the production of the country’s first automobile as well as Korea’s first automobile export.