All-new Kia Soul awarded 2010 'Top Safety Pick' by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the U.S.

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CONTACT: Michael Choo (  mjc@kia.co.kr),
International Communications Manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Tel:
+82-2-3464-5663

All-new Kia Soul awarded 2010 'Top Safety Pick' by Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety in the U.S.

 

-         Kia urban passenger vehicle wins second consecutive honor from
Institute

-         Soul recognized for superior safety ratings in all impact crash
safety tests

-         Five-passenger vehicle presents consumers with an attractive,
quality and safety feature-laden vehicle

 

(Seoul) November 18, 2009 - Further exemplifying its exceptional quality and
safety, the 2010 Kia Soul has yet again been recognized by the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. and been given a 2010 'Top
Safety Pick' award for the second consecutive time this year in the Small
Car category.  On the heels of being given a '2010 Automotive Excellence
Award' by Popular Mechanics, named to TIME.com's 'Most Exciting Cars of
2010' list and being named one of '10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens' by
AutoWeek magazine, the youthful Kia five-door was one of only five small
cars to earn the organization's top honor for earning 'Good' ratings - the
highest achievable - in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety
tests. "Since its launch in March, Soul has lived up to its tagline of being
Kia Motors' affordable halo vehicle by winning numerous awards and
consistently being a media and consumer favorite," said Michael Sprague,
vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA).  "Soul being honored
with a 'Top Safety Pick' for a second time solidifies it as a top contender
in its segment as a vehicle that offers consumers the entire package."

 

Ratings from the Institute are based on results from frontal, side and rear
impact crash tests and, for the first time, a good performance in a roof
strength test to measure protection in a rollover also was required to win.
Each vehicle's overall evaluation was based on various measurements specific
to each crash angle and overall impact on crash test dummies inside the
vehicle at the time of collision.  All vehicles must have electronic
stability control available to be eligible.    

 

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia
Motors' funky five-door is a perfect embodiment of the brand's current
design-led transformation with its unique design.  In addition to immense
style and value, all four Soul models also offer consumers the same high
level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, including front seat
active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and
full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake
Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS).  Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an
impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) system also come standard.

 

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Editor's note: Trim levels and standard equipment based on U.S. model and
may differ depending on country.

 

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About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors
Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of
vehicles through more than 650 dealers throughout the United States.  For
2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share
and more recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever in 2009.  Kia
Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe
and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that
are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."


 

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA."
Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is
available at its Web site - www.kia.com. For media information, including
photography, visit www.kiamedia.com <http://www.kiamedia.com/> .

 

About Kia Motors Corporation

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the
young-at-heart -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of
motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to
become one of the world's premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million
vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in
eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of
distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 40,000
employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion. It is the
major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of
FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World CupT -- as well as a EUROTOP
partner of UEFA. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to
Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing
customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.