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Hyundai-Kia dealer offers $180k in gift cards to local residents

In many smaller communities, auto dealers are often major players in the local business and political world, and they interact with large portions of the population. Now, Grand West Hyundai and Grand West Kia in Grand Junction, CO, are putting their marketing dollars to work in a way to help the local economy, while also potentially generating some sales at the same time. Over the next six months, the dealers are contacting about 8,000 previous customers and offering them a gift card worth at least $50 to over 100 of the city's shops and restaurants (pictured above), according to Automotive News. All people need to do to receive the certificate is stop by the showrooms. Hopefully, the visitors would check out a new Hyundai or Kia at the same time. "We'd love to sell them a new car, but it is really a customer-appreciation gesture," said Ken Reeher, the dealers' marketing manager, to Automotive News. The two stores already bought about 3,600 cards with $181,000 going into the local economy. Paying people to come to the showroom isn't really new but generally works well. The Colorado dealers expect around half of the people they contact to visit for the gift card, which is still significantly more foot traffic than from traditional mailings. The decision to keep the cards local also means more money goes to small businesses, and the move gains goodwill in the community, too. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Aaron Hoffman Marketing/Advertising Hyundai Kia Car Buying Car Dealers colorado

Supply issues force Kia to delay new Soul EV until 2021 model year

The electric version of the new, third-generation Kia Soul won't join its gasoline-powered siblings in showrooms for the 2020 model year. Kia announced it was forced to delay the model. American motorists seeking an electric Soul will need to wait until the 2021 model year, Green Car Reports learned. Kia blamed the delay on a shortage of electric motors, and on battery-pack-related supply issues, and it warned the new timeline might change. Autoblog reached out to the company to find out whether the delay is linked to its decision to sell only the electric variant of the hatchback on the European market. We can confirm the model already arrived in showrooms in many European nations, and several dealers we spoke to in France told us they had a handful in their inventory. The Soul EV will be worth the wait when it finally disembarks in the United States. It can drive for up to 243 miles on a single charge, which is about twice the number its predecessor was capable of achieving. It shares its 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with the Hyundai Kona Electric, and it offers a Soul Turbo-like 201-horsepower output. We called it a top choice among entry-level electrics after driving it for the first time in its home country of South Korea. The other reason why the Soul EV might be worth the wait is that Green Car Reports added Kia might choose to sell it in more states. The last-generation model axed after the 2019 model year was only available in 13 states, including Hawaii, New York, Georgia, and, of course, California.

Kia unveils refreshed 2019 Sportage small crossover

Kia has released official images of its refreshed 2019 Sportage and offered new details on interior updates and its 48-volt diesel mild hybrid system. Though the diesel version isn't likely to come to the States, the Sportage's new EcoDynamic+ diesel mild hybrid powertrain represents the first step in Kia's global electrification strategy, which will see the automaker launch 16 electrified or fuel-cell powertrain vehicles by 2025. For 2019, Kia will offer a 2.0-liter 'R' diesel engine paired with a 48-volt battery and an engine-off generator unit. Kia is also swapping an efficient new 1.6-liter 'U3' common-rail direct-injection diesel engine for the existing 1.7-liter diesel. The system is expected to eventually come to gas-engine models, so the technology could come stateside, too. We brought you spy shots of the 2019 Sportage undergoing testing last week, which showed the small crossover's updated front and rear bumpers and lamps. Kia says the exterior changes are rounded out with new 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels. The GT-Line models also get a gloss black radiator grille, gloss black and silver skid plate and dark chrome inserts on the side sills and rear tailgate. Inside the cabin, the 2019 Sportage gets a new steering wheel, revised instrument cluster and new black-and-grey two-tone upholstery. It gets Kia's Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, an Around View Monitor to help with parking and Driver Attention Warning, which sends an alert when it senses the driver getting drowsy. European customers will get a choice of new infotainment systems — a 7-inch touchscreen or new "frameless" 8-inch system. Kia sold more than 131,000 units of the Sportage in Europe in 2017, while the model's U.S. sales dropped 10 percent to 72,824. The 2019 Kia Sportage goes on sale in Europe during the third quarter. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2019 Kia Sportage Image Credit: Kia Kia Crossover Diesel Vehicles Hybrid diesel hybrid mild hybrid kia sportage