2012 Kia Soul Named a "Top Tailgating Car for 2012" by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com

2012 KIA SOUL NAMED A “TOP TAILGATING CAR FOR 2012” BY KELLEY BLUE BOOK’S KBB.COM

Urban Hatchback Earns Praise for Large Cargo Space and Infinity®1 Audio System

  • With 19 cubic feet of cargo room and 14 storage zones, football fans can pack a Soul with BBQ equipment, folding tables, chairs and other tailgating necessities
  • Soul has the pre- and post-game entertainment covered with an available 350-watt Infinity® audio system featuring speaker surrounds that flash in sync with the music
  • IRVINE, Calif., August 23, 2012 – With football season about ready to kickoff, the 2012 Kia Soul has added another accolade to its already crowded collection by being named to the “10 Best Tailgating Cars of 2012” list by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, a leading provider of new and used car information. Lauded for its cargo room, storage zones and top-of-the-line audio system, the Soul is an ideal vehicle for shuttling friends, family and food to the stadium and back. Kia’s popular urban passenger vehicle has been on quite a run while football teams toiled through training camp, being named a segment winner in the recent J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) and nabbing the top spot on KBB.com’s “10 Best Back-to-School Cars in 2012” list.

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    Michael Galati secures back-to-back top-five finishes in the No. 36 Infinity Audio Optima in round ten and eleven of the Pirelli World Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course–>

    “Being named to the ‘Top Tailgating Cars’ list by KBB.com speaks to the Soul’s functionality and versatility and its eye-catching styling, and flashing speaker lights help tailgate organizers and their guests make an impression in stadium parking lots for a wide-variety of social activities,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing communications, Kia Motors America. “With its roomy interior, large cargo space, exceptional sound system and IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ status, Soul drivers can feel safe and secure on their way to and from the game this season.”

    Editors from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com evaluate nearly all new vehicles on the road each year, and they selected the 10 offerings they felt best met the needs and wants of tailgaters to create this year’s list of the Best Tailgating Cars.

    “Hamsters. Dancing Hamsters. The advertising message couldn’t be clearer: the Kia Soul is here to rock the party,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “With 19 cubic feet of cargo room and an optional 350-watt Infinity audio system featuring speaker surrounds that flash in sync with the music, we think the Soul is one of the 10 Best Tailgating Cars available this year.”

    For more information about KBB.com’s “Top 10 Tailgating Cars For 2012,” visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/best-tailgating-vehicles-2012/.

    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 quality2 and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking3. 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 two of the company’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia’s value and technology-laden 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, 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.4 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.

    Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

    *The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
    1 Infinity is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    2 Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study.
    3 Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis.
    4 Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending July 2007 and July 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.

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