IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors
America's (KMA) 2014 Forte has been named the Best New Compact
Sedan of 2014 by Cars.com, putting Kia's European-inspired sedan in
contention for the respected website's Best of 2014 award. Cars.com
editors picked six cars to compete for the annual award, and the
Forte topped its segment with its style, performance and value.
"The all-new Forte continues to earn praise for its sleek
design, exceptional performance and plethora of features," said
Michael Sprague, executive vice
president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Cars.com speaks
for, not only the industry, but also car buyers, and we are happy
to have the Forte recognized for elevating the compact segment to
new levels of sophistication with its premium features, comfortable
cabin and refined ride."
Cars.com will announce the Best of 2014 award winner at the
North American International Auto Show in January, 2014. The Forte
stood out in its category for offering a wide variety of features
and options, edgy styling and a comfortable ride. Earlier this
year, the 2014 Forte also took first prize in the
Cars.com/USA Today/MotorWeek
$20,000 Compact Sedan Challenge.
"People buy compact cars because they are affordable and
efficient, but that doesn't mean they have to be boring," said
Patrick Olsen, Cars.com
editor-in-chief. "The Forte breaks the mold with its head-turning
styling outside and an interior full of affordable creature
comforts."
Kia: One of the World's Fastest Moving Global
Automotive Brands
Kia Motors America is one of only three
auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years,
and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the
first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs,
Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining
European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design
officer Peter Schreyer – with
cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing
and one of the lowest costs of ownership in the industry. Kia
recently moved up in the exclusive ranking of Interbrand's
"Top 100 Best Global Brands" after joining the list for the first
time last year, and the company is poised to continue its momentum
after delivering seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles
to showrooms in 2013. Over the past decade Kia Motors has
invested more than $1.4 billion in
the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in
West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors
Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of
more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the
U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest
segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's
comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza flagship sedan,
Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid,
the Forte sedan, Forte5, and Forte Koup compacts, Rio and Rio
5-door sub-compacts and the 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 765 dealers throughout
the United States and serves as
the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA. In 2012, KMA recorded
its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for
the 18th consecutive year. 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.
To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment
they are published, subscribe at
http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.
* 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.
About Cars.com
Cars.com is an award-winning online
destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers
and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where
to buy and how much to pay for a car. Cars.com offers thousands of
new and used vehicle listings, consumer reviews, side-by-side
comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial
content and many other tools. Cars.com puts millions of car buyers
in control of their shopping process with the information they need
to make confident buying decisions. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified
Ventures LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including
A.H. Belo (NYSE: AHC), Gannett Co.,
Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune
Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
SOURCE Kia Motors America