How would you like to win an all-new 2012 Kia Optima EX?

Join us, on May 14th for the Dubuque Chamber Golf Outing! Participants will have to make a hole-in-one at the 17th hole at Thunderhills Country Club!

For more information about this event, contact Barry Gentry at 563.557.9200

 

Join Us to Raise Money and Have Some Fun at the Finnin Ford Golf Outing!

Kia Hybrid Technology Blends Efficiency and Style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optima Hybrid is both powerful and environmentally friendly.
 

By combining efficiency with style, Kia has developed affordable, state-of-the-art hybrid technology that far surpasses the industry standar d.

Take the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, for example. Not your ordinary hybrid midsize sedan, the Optima Hybrid gets a class-leading 40 mpg highway while still achieving class-leading 206 total horsepower. It’s truly the perfect blend of efficiency, power and style. It’s also a pretty good-looking car, too.

Environmentally friendly? Check. The Optima Hybrid is SmartWay certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meaning it received impressive marks on both its Greenhouse Gas Score and Air Pollution Score.

The car can operate in either EV mode (electric only) or gas/electric (hybrid) mode. When the vehicle is in EV mode, it runs on energy stored in the advanced lithium polymer battery, which is lighter, more compact and more powerful than other hybrid batteries. EV mode ultimately assists the gas engine with hybrid operation by reducing overall fuel consumption.

From a stopped position, EV mode can propel the car up to 30 mph, or it can employ the use of the vehicle’s Idle Stop and Go technology to operate in either EV or hybrid mode, depending on driving conditions and desired acceleration.

On an incline, the Optima Hybrid uses both gas and electric power to deliver and maintain the desired performance level. On a downhill, electric power is used through the Idle Stop and Go technology. If the gas engine is not needed, it will shut off automatically to conserve fuel. When the brakes are applied, the car’s Regenerative Braking System charges the battery.

Inside the Optima Hybrid, the power ratio gauge displays whether the car is using its electric motor or the gas engine. The regeneration screen displays how much the regenerative battery-charging system recharges the hybrid battery each time the brakes are applied.

Kia has also incorporated hybrid technology into its futuristic concept models, in addition to the Optima Hybrid. The Kia Ray is a dynamic, plug-in hybrid concept vehicle that maximizes efficiency through cutting-edge design and engineering. The four-seat compact sedan features cool glazing solar glass and is powered by a lithium-polymer battery. The future is now and Kia is ready.

By designing a consumer vehicle such as the Optima Hybrid, Kia has proven that it’s possible to achieve efficiency and sustainability without sacrificing an ounce of style. You’ll not only feel good driving an Optima Hybrid, you’ll also look good. Now that’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Who doesn't want these 3 things when it comes to your vehicle?

- Reduced emissions
- Restored horsepower
- Restored fuel economy

Stop in today & get a Fuel Induction Service, starting at $153.35!

Kia's Hybrid Sets a New Commuter Standard

FAITHFUL READERS KNOW I would never bury the lead, so here it is: The Kia Optima Hybrid is my pick for the best commuting sedan under $35,000.

But wait, say the faithful, the Optima Hybrid's base price is only $26,450, including delivery. Exactly.

The Optima Hybrid is not a perfect car, to be sure. The powertrain software is strangely moody at times. The trunk is a little tight. It's about as exhilarating as a bolus of laudanum, thus the "commuting" qualifier. It's just that it is otherwise such a staggering amount of car for the money. Kia's PR team thoughtfully equipped my test car with the Hybrid Premium Technology package ($5,350, for a total out-the-door price of $32,615), a hugely persuasive and Lexus-like list of upgrades including navigation with SiriusXM traffic info; rear-camera display; an excellent Infinity eight-speaker sound system with subwoofer; panoramic sunroof with blacked out B-pillars (those are the roof supports between the front and rear doors that, when blacked out, sleek-ify the car's profile); heated and ventilated front seats; and a heated steering wheel and rear seats.

Photos: Value, Looks, Efficiency

 

Kia Motors America

The Kia Optima Hybrid is my pick for the best commuting sedan under $35,000, says Mr. Neil.

I admit I am susceptible to the euphoric effects of a heated steering wheel, and I don't even live in the Snow Belt. I further concede that all this low-cost, high-tech gear has the power to redeem a harvest-gold 1972 Mercury Montego (pause for wistful nostalgia here). My point is, if you're ponying up for a new car of this size/performance/price, the full-kit Optima is dispositive. It will make you happy. It will make you comfortable. Your butt will thank you.

Honda and Acura trail-blazed the one-price, tech-package approach and it has served those companies well. Kia's doubling down on discount amenities is a beautiful way to get consumers to take the car and the brand seriously, and it seems to be working. As of March, Kia is the fastest-growing car company in the U.S., in part thanks to the record 15,000 Optimas that passed through dealership doors last month.

So that's the rational, arithmetical, bang-per-buck argument. The irrational argument consists of the fact that the Optima is the best-looking car in its class: uncommonly lithe and handsomely proportioned for a front-wheel-drive sedan. A tapering chrome bow arcs fluidly over the roofline from the A pillar to the short rear deck, which helps visually lighten and lengthen the roofline.

Later this year the Optima will get some competition in the swimsuit competition from the redesigned-for-2013 Ford Fusion, a car that, Aston Martin cues notwithstanding, looks an awful lot like the Optima. In the meantime, the Optima is the Miss Venezuela of the mid-to-full-size, C/D segment, which includes the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Buick Verano, Subaru Legacy, Chevrolet Malibu and the furiously styled Hyundai Sonata, which is the corporate sibling and mechanical clone of the Optima.

You could get the Optima's good looks for a mere $21,750, which is the delivered price of the nonhybrid version. The argument for buying a gas-only Optima is purely ROI. The conventionally powered Optima, with a direct-injection 2.4-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder, already gets pretty great fuel economy (24/35 mpg, city/highway). The Hybrid gets a very respectable 35/40 mpg. In round and nominal numbers, assuming a price-per-gallon of $4, it would take not quite five years to recoup the Optima's hybrid premium.

“There are certainly fleeter and more-fun cars than the Optima Hybrid, but no family sedan gathers up value, looks and efficiency quite like it.”

I crunch the numbers slightly differently. Recognizing that gasoline is a problematic fuel and that the U.S.'s reliance on imported oil is bad for our currency and warps our international priorities; and recognizing that we don't have anything close to sufficient domestic reserves to make a dent in our rates of importation; and well aware that the U.S. has constrained refining capacity; and knowing that greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles are one of many drivers of global climate change—I choose to spend a little extra on a more fuel-efficient car, regardless of whether I will financially profit. That's just me, being patriotic. Your priorities may lie elsewhere. And yes, hybrid haters, you're being teased.

As it does with the Sonata Hybrid, the Kia's hybrid system consists of the 2.4-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine producing 166 hp; an integrated 40-hp electric motor; and a six-speed automatic transmission, with these powertrain components connected with wet clutches instead of a conventional torque converter. The lithium-polymer battery pack, situated in the trunk behind the rear seats, stores a total of 1.4 kWh of juice. Total system output is 206 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque.

Among the distinguishing aero enhancements for the hybrid are a grille shutter system that closes at highway speeds; a lower ride height; and air-channeling underbody panels. The standard package includes 16-inch wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires. The Tech package cars get 17-inch tires wrapped around the flush-faced alloy wheels. It all adds up to a coefficient of drag of 0.26, which makes the Optima one of the most aero-efficient cars on the market.

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

• Base price: $26,450
• Price as tested: $32,615
• Powertrain: Naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Atkinson-cycle in-line four-cylinder with variable valve timing; six-speed automatic transmission; 40-hp permanent magnet electric motor; 1.4 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack; front-wheel drive
• Total system horsepower/torque: 206 hp/195 pound-feet
• Length/weight: 190.7 inches/3,500 pounds (est.)
• Wheelbase: 110 inches
• 0-60 mph: 9.5 seconds (est.)
• EPA fuel economy: 35/40 mpg, city/highway (regular gas)
• Cargo capacity: 9.8 cubic feet

As I said, this is my pick for a commuting sedan, which is a gentle way to say the Optima Hybrid is not particularly sporty. Zero to 60 mph is in the 9-second range and the powertrain's software is intensely interested in limiting the gas engine's workload. Even from a standing start, the Optima responds first with the e-motor and then, if necessary, the system will very reluctantly wake up the gas engine. The software's parameters create a noticeable disconnect between throttle and acceleration, and it's only with a fairly vigorous kick in the slats that you can get the car to full power. Most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission, a stepless CVT; the Optima's six-speed transmission, while more familiar-feeling, tends to fret between gears and then, when one or more of the dry clutches re-engages, judder gracelessly. I'd be surprised if this behavior weren't resolvable with better software.

Once under way, the car will revert to electric power up to 62 mph, as long as there's juice in the battery and the load demands aren't too high. When the batts are depleted, the gas engine fires up again—and again, and again, as you drive down the highway. This sawing back and forth of electrons and hydrocarbons takes some getting used to; the nice part is that, at around-town speeds, the car performs almost like an all-electric EV—so much so that Kia engineers created a prerecorded engine sound to alert pedestrians of the car's otherwise-silent presence. That's kind of cool.

 

It took about a week for me to adjust to the Optima Hybrid's peculiar gas-electric metabolism. Even so, I was really pleased with the car. The driver-focused dash and instrument layout is friendly and distinctive. The front legroom (45 inches) is excellent. The trunk space, down to less than 10 cubic feet on account of the battery pack, is smallish but certainly within a standard deviation.

There are certainly fleeter and more-fun cars than the Optima Hybrid. To be sure, other cars' hybrid systems are vastly more transparent; and some cars have more electronic conveniences on board, only nowhere near this car's price. But no family sedan gathers up value, looks and efficiency quite like this car. Why, it warms the cockles of my hands.

 

Source:WSJ

Concert Tickets Giveaway!

 

How would you like to go see one of country's biggest stars live in concert? 

Win two tickets to see Jason Aldean live, with special guest, Luke Bryan on May 11th!!

With more than five million records sold and dozens of concert attendance records smashed across the nation; there is no doubt this is going to be one great night! 

To enter, simply share your best concert stories on our Facebook page!  The person with the best story will win a night filled with this country rocker!  Hurry and post your story today; the winner will be annoucned on May 4th!

 

Thank you to all who contributed!

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Mike Finnin Kia and Ford bowled last weekend for Bowl For Kids Sake, the total money raised between the two stores was $2010.00 which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Congratulations to Peg Arduser for being our Free iPad Contest Winner!

We hope you enjoy it and thanks for being one of our many great fans!

Kia and Wounded Warrior Give 2012 Soul to Disabled Veteran

Kia Motors America (KMA), the fastest growing car company in the U.S, has teamed up with the Wounded Warrior Project, to donate a 2012 Kia Soul hatchback to Christopher Melendez, a disabled veteran and U.S. army corporal.

The Wounded Warrior Project is an American organization that is dedicated to raising public awareness and providing help for injured service members.

According to a Reuters report, the car was awarded to Melendez at the 2012 New York International Auto Show opening ceremony that was held in early April. (1)

Corporal Christopher Melendez was injured during a routine patrol in Iraq by, according to the Reuters report, a “six pack shape charge” IED. The blast resulted in Melendez receiving severe injuries to his legs and arms.

Kia Soul Awarded to a Wounded Warrior

Working in collaboration with the organisers of the New York International Auto Show, the Kia Soul was specifically modified to meet Melendez’s own personal daily requirements. The modifications included the installation of a steering wheel device, which will enable Corporal Melendez to turn the wheel using one hand, whilst maintained complete control of the car.

The Kia Soul was originally designed at Kia’s design centre in California, and unveiled during the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) started as a program to provide comfort to wounded service members returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The organisation’s growth has been phenomenal, and the WWP now supports tens of thousands of wounded soldiers and their caregivers through various programs.

The WWP website states that the Project is, “designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment and engagement.” (2)

Enjoying similar extraordinary growth is Kia Motors, which, as Reuters points out, is one of the world’s fastest growing international automobile brands. In fact, from 2009 – 2011, Kia launched more new vehicles and any other automotive manufacture in the United States, and last year KMA recorded its best ever annual sales (3).

With such ‘unprecedented growth’, Kia naturally provides thousands of jobs worldwide. Talking about the automotive company’s dedication to not only creating jobs but also supporting the armed forces of the U.S., Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing and communications at KMA told Reuters:

“Kia Motors understands that it is not only important to show our commitment to the U.S. market through investment and job creation, but also to support the service men and woman in our country’s armed forces.”

Referring to KMA’s collaboration with the WWP to support injured soldiers, Sprague added:

“The Wounded Warrior Project provides invaluable services to the men and woman who have been injured in the line of duty, and it is an honor to donate one of our most popular vehicles to Corporal Melendez as a way to show our appreciation and support for those who have sacrificed so much.” (4)

Charitable Donation as an Effective PR Campaign

Both KMA’s and WWP’s charitable donation to Corporal Melendez has proved to a highly effective in raising both the organisation’s profiles, as practically every Internet news site from Yahoo, ABC News, to the New Jersey Herald have dedicated space to the moving story.

However, this is not the first time promotion-savvy Kia has made a generous donation to help America’s armed forces.

Earlier this year, KMA received significant media attention when reports emerged that the automotive company had teamed up with celebrated brand ambassador and professional woman’s golfer Michelle Wie, and donated $50,000 to Camp Pendleton’s Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program.

According to the Kia Media website, on the eve of this year’s Kia Classic Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golf tournament, at the highly exclusive La Costa Resort and Spa, KMA and the two-time LPGA winner Michelle Wie paired up to donate $50,000 to the Operation Hero, intended to maintain personnel and to ‘provide equipment and supplies to more than 375 kindergarten and elementary students at Camp Pendleton.’ (5)

Raising public awareness and providing assistance to American heroes who became injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who regrettably often remain unsung, is undoubtedly a commendable and admirable gesture of any company and organisation.

A very positive side-benefit is that these high-profile ventures are likely to have contributed a great deal in turning Kia Motors into one of the world’s fastest growing global automotive brands.

Check out this great deal!

Transfer cases are found on all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles, and is what divides the power between the front and rear differentials.

 

For only $56.95, our technicians will remove the old worn-out gear lubricant from the transfer case. Then they'll install new gear oil and the additive package required for your vehicle application.

Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Click here for more information!

We really appreciate the comments from our recent customers who wrote up excellent reviews for us!

Our Experience was better than expected. April met us on the lot and asked all the correct questions as to what we were looking for. We did not have a solid idea of what to look at and were only there to learn what Kia had to offer. April spent much of her day showing us very different ideas to help us narrow down what our needs and wants were. Then John Krow, manager, did some of his magic and we were taking a new Sorento home that same day. Very painless and actually enjoyable. We would recommend to anyone to stop and visit.-Sleeper

My experience was very pleasant. April is a very nice sales person! She returned my calls quickly, answered all my questions, and was very nice to work with!-DTracey

Best Bang for the Buck: Kia Sportage

The Sportage is the best value for a traditional, SUV-style crossover. It's available in four trims: Base, LX, EX, SX. Base front-wheel-drive models offer 6-speed manual transmissions, while uplevel models feature 6-speed automatics exclusively. Kia offers an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that belts out 260 horsepower in the SX. Uplevel models start as FWD but can be upgraded with Kia's optional DynaMax all-wheel drive.

The Sportage is a sharp-looking, multitalented, mechanically sound SUV that can be ordered as a miserly commuter or as a zippy road warrior. The cost of AWD is $22,300.

 

Source:MSN

Check out the impressive Kia GT Concept debuting at the New York Auto Show last week. It truly is a beautiful car!

Kia Motors America is proud to announce the 2013MY Rio 5-door and sedan.

With its recent full-redesign for the 2012MY, Consumer Reports made the Rio its Top Pick of
sub-compact sedans, surpassing the all-new Yaris and Chevrolet Sonic. USA Today wrote a
glowing review, commenting on the “impressive list” of standard and available features. In their
2012 “Subcompact Shootout,” the Rio was rated above the Sonic, Yaris, Fiesta and
Versa. Only one year old, the 1.6L GDI engine still boasts class-leading horsepower (138) and
fuel economy (30 city/40 highway).

While this year’s Rio adds several new standard features, its MSRP has only been increased by
$200. One of the new features is the cargo under-floor tray, standard on the 5-door EX and SX,
which improves cargo appearance, creates a flatter load floor with the rear seats folded down,
and reduces interior noise level. The SX A/T now has standard paddle shifters for a sporty
driving experience. Finally, for those focused on fuel economy, the Eco Package with Idle
Stop & Go (ISG) fuel-saving technology is now available on the EX.

The 5-door will continue to be offered at a $200 price premium over the sedan. The entry-level
5-door LX is priced at $13,800 MSRP. The volume model 5-door EX is priced at $16,700
MSRP. The EX Convenience Package price will increase $150. Finally, the 5-Door SX is
priced at $17,900 MSRP and the Premium Package will get a $150 price increase.

Through March, the sales of the Rio more than doubled those in 2011 and, with your continued
support and effort, Kia looks forward to another great sales year in the small car segment.
Please find attached the vehicle/option information and pricing for the 2013 Rio 5-door and
sedan.

Sincerely,
KIA MOTORS AMERICA
Thomas J.

Kia Motors America Announces All-Time Sales Record for March

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the fastest growing car company in the United States[1], and the brand's unprecedented momentum reached new heights in March with an all-time best monthly sales total of 57,505, a 30.2-percent increase over the same period in 2011. Kia's historic March performance was driven by strong demand for the brand's two U.S.-built* products, the Optima midsize sedan and Sorento CUV built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), as well as the ongoing popularity of the Soul urban passenger vehicle. With three vehicles surpassing the 10,000 unit mark for the first time in company history, Optima, Sorento and Soul accounted for 67.7-percent of sales in March.

Kia's U.S. sales are up 31.8 percent year-to-date. March marked the first time Kia topped 50,000 units in a single month and the brand's 19th straight monthly sales record. Vehicles that achieve more than 30 mpg accounted for more than 80 percent of sales in March.

"Kia has invested heavily in the U.S. market, and our record-breaking monthly performance demonstrates how far the brand has come in an extremely short period of time with consumers being drawn at an increasing rate to our unique value formula, which includes world-class design, outstanding fuel efficiency, premium features and cutting-edge technologies," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and KMMG. "We are extremely proud that our U.S. assembly plant builds two of our best-selling vehicles, and collectively the Optima, Sorento and Soul demonstrate the powerful potential for the Kia brand with more new products and technologies set to arrive in the next 12 months."

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[2] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[3]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia � KMMG � is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. � the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan[4]. Kia's value- and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America 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 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Courtesy of HispanicBusiness.com

Take advantage of this spectacular leasing offer on a 2012 KIA Sportage.

This offer only lasts thru the end of the month! Stop in & take one out for a test drive.

We guarantee you'll want to drive it home!

2012 Kia Rio Named to Best Cars for Teens List by Vroomgirls.com

The award-winning Kia Rio has been honored once again, this time as one of the "Six Best New Cars for your Teenager" by Vroomgirls.com – the first comprehensive automotive website created by and for women.  The site hailed the Rio for its modern styling, high fuel economy and exceptional overall value.  Also highlighted was the subcompact's abundance of standard amenities, including USB connectivity and steering-wheel controls, while Rio's impressive warranty and available navigation system received nods as well.

"Rio being recognized as one of the 'Six Best New Cars for your Teenager' by Vroomgirls.com further validates all of the virtues which have made it popular with both parents and young drivers," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA).  "Excelling in design, fuel economy, value and driving enjoyment makes the Rio a truly well-rounded choice in the competitive subcompact segment."

Editors from Vroomgirls.com evaluated vehicles based on several main parental-focused criteria, including safety, reliability and value, but also considered factors important to teenage drivers such as user-content, fun-to-drive character and styling.  Vroomgirls.com selected the vehicles that offer the best combination of these characteristics.

"Parents want a safe, reliable car for their kids, but teens only care about what's cool," said Tara Weingarten, Vroomgirls.com editor-in-chief.  "The 2012 Kia Rio checks both of those boxes."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/02/4383858/2012-kia-rio-named-to-best-cars.html...

Stop in & see our wonderful service team!

Starting at $69.95, get your wheels aligned with our state-of-the-art alignment machine & make sure your car is safe and efficient. Your wheels will no longer steer to the side, but will stay straight, keeping your car safer.

Click here for more information!