Kia Comes to Maine; New Automotive Brand Reaches Tip of Northeast
24 March 1998
Kia Comes to Maine; New Automotive Brand Reaches Tip of Northeast
AUGUSTA, Maine, March 24 -- Kia officially drives into Maine
this month when Kia vehicles go on sale at dealerships in Augusta, Bangor and
Westbrook.
The new dealership openings are part of Kia's planned expansion into New
England in 1998. With the addition of the new Maine dealers, Kia vehicles now
are on sale at more than 380 dealerships in 38 states.
Kia currently sells two vehicles -- the Sephia (pronounced Seh-FEE-uh)
compact sedan and the Sportage (SPORT-ij) sport-utility vehicle. A third
model, the Sportage 2-Door Convertible, is due out in the spring.
"The people of Maine will find a lot to like in our vehicles," explained
Dick Macedo, Kia's vice president of marketing, "Our research has told us
that, more than ever, they are seeking value and quality, and that's what Kia
vehicles deliver. The Sephia features more standard equipment than many of
its competitors, yet its starting price begins well below that of other
compact sedans. Our Sportage makes the fun and versatility of a sport-utility
vehicle affordable to more consumers than ever before."
Before retail sales began in the United States in 1994, Kia sent its cars
through an extensive series of tests, including putting 2,000 Sephia compact
sedans into service at Budget Rent-A-Car in 1993. Using a deliberate,
methodical strategy, Kia has spent the last four years establishing
dealerships on a market-by-market basis. Starting in the West and Southwest,
Kia Motors America expanded across the Sun Belt, into the Southeast and then
up the Atlantic Coast as far as New York. This year, Kia will continue its
market-by-market strategy by expanding into New England, and the balance of
the Midwest. Kia expects to have dealerships nationwide by the end of 1998.
"We only choose dealerships that demonstrate a commitment to serving their
customers. Our mission is to provide affordable, value-filled vehicles, and
our dealers have to maintain that same high standard," Macedo said. "We want
dealers who put the customer first."
Kia's customer-driven philosophy is backed by dependable, reliable
vehicles that have completed real world testing with flying colors. The
Sephia, which stood up well to the abuses of rental car drivers, pizza
delivery guys and driving school students, is an affordably priced,
well-equipped compact sedan with a manufacturer's suggested retail price
beginning at $9,995. The 1998 model features a powerful 1-8-liter, 16-valve,
dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) four-cylinder engine and dual airbags.
The Sportage was the recipient of a 1997 and 1998 "Best Overall Value of
the Year" award from IntelliChoice, Inc., an independent consumer research
firm. The Sportage was also named the best buy among compact sport-utility
vehicles according to the Men's Journal 1997 Buyer's Guide and was named one
of Four Wheeler magazine's top 10 best buys for 1996 and 1997. Popular
Science voted the Sportage the "Best of What's New" in 1995.
The Sportage is a rugged sport-utility vehicle designed with passenger
comfort and versatility in mind. It is powered by a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, DOHC
four-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission standard and automatic
transmission optional. The Sportage's driver- and passenger-side airbag
system includes the world's first knee airbag. The Sportage is available in
both two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive. Prices for the 1998
Sportage begin at $14,895.
To support its customer first philosophy, Kia has established several
policies that set it apart from other manufacturers. All Kia Sephias come
with very competitive warranties: a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited
vehicle warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage. All
owners are covered by Kia Extra-Mile Care, a program that includes 24-hour
roadside assistance, for the term of the basic limited warranty. Kia will
contact customers no less than seven times during the first two years of
ownership, including surveys following the initial purchase and first service
to make sure they're happy with the service they received.
Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and distribution arm of
Kia Motors Corp., in Seoul, South Korea.
MAINE DEALERSHIPS
Charlie's Kia Bill Dodge Kia Van Syckle Kia
466 Western Avenue 2 Saunders Way 729 Hogan Road
Augusta, ME 043330 Westbrook, ME 04092 Bangor, ME 04401
207-622-7327 207-854-3207 207-947-4559
Dealer: Charlie Shuman Dealer: Bill Dodge Dealer: R. Peter Van Syckle
SOURCE Kia Motors America
