Kia Soul: The Hamster Edition

Automaker Takes Iconic Commercial To The Next Level 

So by now you must have seen the Kia Soul Hamster commercial.  The ad ending up winning automotive ad of the year and even churned out the Hamstar clothing line.  

If you haven't seen it, here you go: 

The Hamstar Soul special edition features off-black matte finish stripes on the vehicle's sides and a black star graphic with the signature Hamstar script logo on the hood.

The big difference though is the sound.  The Hamstar Soul includes a center speaker, a subwoofer, a 315 watt amplifier and even speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music.  That's pretty cool.

Other special features include power sun-roof, fog lights, a rear sport spoiler, black fender vents with turn signal indicator and a matte black alloy fuel door. The Hamstar Soul rides on black 18-inch alloy wheels.

Interior wise you get heated front seats, push button start and even Hamstar floor mats!  It's the little things.  

Stop by West Herr Subaru Kia in Orchard Park and we just might have the Hamstar Special Edition to check out! 

The Best Interior Designs

Ward's Unveils Their Top Auto Interiors

Never underestimate the appeal of a good car interior.  Comfort, ambience, functionality.  All important things that can make a good ride better.  Kia stepped their interior game up

Since we all love a good ranked list, Ward's recently put in hours of research to discover which cars have the best interiors.  We're focused on 5 today.  Take a look:

Chevy Cruze

We've covered the Cruze extensively, and Ward's just drives our point home even further.  "Soft-touch surfaces, high-grade plastics, properly bolstered leather-appointed seats and great attention to noise reduction make the Cruze a wonderful value at $22,910."

Dodge Charger

Ward's said it as well as we could, "in any interior color, the Charger would look stunning, with its 1-piece matte-finish metallic trim and sporty gauges lending an eye-catching flourish to the dashboard."

Honda Odyssey

The only minivan on the list, and why not?  

"Perfectly suited to cast an air of calm over any road trip with multiple children under the age of 6, the Odyssey impresses with premium features such as 2-tier storage bins in the front doors, a “cool box” refrigerator below the center stack and a third row that is comfortable for adults and easily accessible."The Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit

"The boldly stitched deep-grain tan leather seats instantly conjure images of a highly crafted saddle from the wild west. The rich material carries over seamlessly to the instrument panel and door trim, making this V-8-powered SUV the ultimate comfort-mobile for the Rubicon Trail."

Kia Optima EX

"With the new Optima, the auto maker demonstrates its uncanny ability to connect with midsize buyers in the U.S.  Finely finished with perforated leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, premium audio and heated and cooled front seats, the Optima is an impressive package." 

So there you have it.  If you have any other suggestions for the list, let us know.  Enjoy! 

Kia Making The Minivan Hip

Sedona Voted "Best Minivan for the Money"

Kia is known for their youthful vibe, in fact the Kia Soul was recently voted the "best car for a teen."  Should be no surprise that the 2011 Kia Sedona was named the "best minivan for the money" by the US News & World Report.  

"The Sedona features athletic handling compared to most minivans on top of its solid list of standard features," said U.S. News & World Report.  

Now in its third year, the "Best Car for the Money" awards combine U.S. News car rankings with five-year total cost of ownership data provided by TrueCar.

With over 250 models evaluated, the "Best Car for the Money" award recognizes the single vehicle that earns the highest marks for overall value and appeal within its class.

-See the Kia Sedonas we have in stock!-

The U.S. News car rankings provide an unbiased comparison of each vehicle to its competitors with the goal of helping shoppers identify the best cars in each category. Rankings are based primarily on the balanced, diverse opinions of hundreds of professional auto critics, which are blended together to create a consensus about each car.

"We are thrilled that Sedona continues to be recognized for offering a complete package of standard technology, convenience and safety features at a tremendous value," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). 

Visit West Herr Subaru and Kia today for a test drive! 

Kia Is On A Roll

Kia Earns Accolades in Products and Customer Loyalty 

Kia seems to be doing everything right.  Their Hamster ad  took home "Automotive Ad of the Year" awards, while the Kia Soul was named Best New Car For Teens and a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Now Kia can add two more awards to their growing list.  

First, the Kia Optima won the Cars.com best of 2011 award.  The editors of Cars.com cited the Optima's outstanding fuel economy and excellent driving experience. Specifically: 

"With its value, sharp packaging, outstanding fuel efficiency and lofty features, the Optima gives all family-car shoppers a shot at something far more compelling than the segment represents." 

Autoblog.com also referred to the Optima as a " fiercely competitive mid-sizer" and rated it higher than it's main competition, the Hyundai Sonata.  Like the Soul, the Optima's safety ratings are nearly segment-leading.  

If that wasn't enough, Kia was also honored by Polk as the "most improved" automotive brand in customer loyalty in 2010.

Now in its second year, the "Most Improved Loyalty to Make" award honors the automaker that showed the largest percentage point improvement in customer loyalty over one model year. In 2010, KMA posted an unprecedented 5.9 percentage point increase in loyalty, the most of any automaker during the same period, finishing the year at an impressive loyalty rate of 49.8 percent.

"Kia provides an excellent example of how a deliberate approach to customer loyalty can pay tremendous dividends for a brand," said Stephen Polk, chairman, president and CEO of R.L. Polk & Co.

So it's clear Kia can't miss.  Stop by West Herr Subaru Kia in Orchard Park and test drive the Optima, Soul or any other award winning auto today.  

Get Creative: Kia Might Give You $10,000

Kia Using Social Media For Talent Contest And Soul Promotion

Lately carmakers have been turning to social media not just for small promotions but for largescale events.  Ford recently launced the 2011 Explorer exclusively through Facebook, plus their Fiesta launch was primarily social media driven.  Kia is now joining the party with an upcoming contest that will also promote the Kia Soul.

Kia's "Who's Next?" talent contest will be organized purely through Youtube.  Contestants can submit videos themed around the Kia Soul and its "a new way to roll" tagline. 

The contest will run through the end of September with the top two finalists flown to Los Angeles for the announcement of the grand prize winner, who will receive a $10,000 prize.

"Social media is an important part of the marketing strategy for Soul and engaging passionate enthusiasts in this space creates additional opportunities to build buzz through a new, interactive experience," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.

The top eight submissions will be chosen by three YouTube celebrity judges, including SMOSH, ShayCarl and Lisa Nova, which then will be entered into a three-round voting process and chosen by viewers.

Kia's marketing philosophies are working.  Recently they won "Automotive Ad of the Year" by Nielsen for their famous Hamster ad. See that here:

To see what Kia is all about in Western New York, visit West Herr Subaru and Kia in Orchard Park. 

West Herr Brands Among Least Expensive To Own

Buffalo Car Dealer Brands Dominate New Car and Driver List

Sometimes the lowest priced car is not always the least expensive to own. Car and Driver Magazine knows this, so when they published their "Least Expensive Cars To To Own list" they considered much more than just purchase price. 

Car and Driver factored in fuel costs, insurance rates and fuel economy ratings to determine which cars will save drivers the most money in the long term.  The good news for Western New Yorkers is that cars offered by the West Herr Auto Group were prominent on the list.  Take a look at just a few of the featured cars and what Car and Driver said about them:

Kia Soul

"Kia offers an extensive menu of customization options—including stripe packages, wheels, and body add-ons—and a stream of limited editions sporting exclusive paint and interior trimmings. In the small-car segment, the Soul stands out."

Suzuki X4 Sedan

"The SX4 is one of the most underrated cars on the market. The four-door comes in a three-box shape and it’s quick and affordable"

Kia Forte Sedan

"The new-for-2010 Forte is the strongest in its respective class...the larger engine adds pounds without much extra power, and the manual transmission is a six-speed, giving enthusiast drivers plenty of ratios from which to choose. If we were to pick a car from this list, the Forte would be among the front-runners."

Thats just a small sample of what's available at West Herr.  For more information on getting one of these affordable cars or any others visit us online today. 

Kia Winning Over Customers On The Web

Kia's Digital Overhaul Coincides With Car Redesigns

With features such as the CGI Powered "virtual garage", its not hard to see why Kia's website is bolstering their business.  Kia was recently ranked the #1 automobile manufacturer in J.D. Power and Associates' Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study (MWES). 

The evaluation ranks sites based on such criteria as navigation, speed, appearance and relevancy of information and content.  Playing around on the site for just a few minutes makes it obvious why they were ranked #1. 

“We took a big risk with a major Web site redesign, but this proves that with the right approach and attitude, good results will come from which the consumer benefits,” said David Schoonover, national manager, CRM & affiliate marketing, KMA.

The site also shows customers their ideas for the future, including the futuristic looking Kia Ray plug-in hybrid.

Kia's website is an engaging user experience, and the company looks to apply this concept to their future car designs as well.  New designs such as the highly-customizable Soul and stylish two-door Forte Koup are signs of a dynamic company.  

The 2011 Sorento CUV is the official vehicle of the NBA and the first Kia vehicle to be built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Kia’s first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia.

For all your Kia needs in the Buffalo area, visit West Herr Subaru Kia in Orchard Park today. 

Times Square for New Year's eve, featuring KIA?

2011 KIA Sorento in Times SquareTime Square at New Years, usually shows ads for Coke, Pepsi and Budwiser, but this year its the all new 2011 KIA Sorento. Kia has announced that it has secured a 60 by 40 foot billboard showcasing its CUV / SUV at the corner of Broadway and 7th Avenue in Times Square for the new years celebration. The new Sorento is KIA's largest vehicle launch and you will be hearing a lot about it on in the upcoming months.

This is one of the nicest looking small SUV for the 2011 model year so far  (in my humble opinion), with the beautiful designs coming from KIA lately I am not surprised.  KIA is quickly becoming a contender in vehicle sales in Buffalo and have been very busy launching vehicles lately. KIA  introduced the Soul in March, the Forte sedan in June and the Forte coupe in November.

From Automotive News: "2011 KIA SorentoThe KIA Sorentomade its North American debut at the L.A. show yesterday. The SUV comes with a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 172 hp and a 3.5-liter pushing 273 hp. Both are mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The seven-seat Sorento is longer and roomier than its predecessor and boasts 5 cubic feet more cargo space. It offers a first for any Kia vehicle: an optional panoramic sunroof." 

Vehicle will be available at West Herr KIA Visit KIA.com for more info

Top 10 New Vehicle Features that we take for granted

Top 10 New Vehicle Features that we take for granted

By Mike Martin
West Herr Subaru KIA

There are many features on today’s cars that were once optional or not available.  Things we today take for granted.  Features like, power steering, passenger side outside rearview mirrors, radio, intermittent wipers and the like.  Even power windows and locks are virtually standard nowadays on all but a few models.  I thought I would compile my personal favorite accessories that although are not standard equipment may be sometime soon.  They may seem indulgent but remember who would have thought our cars today would have so many features.

1. Automatic Climate Control:  Set it and forget it!
2. Reverse Parking Sensors:  Especially great for larger vehicles. 
3. Outside Temperature Display:  Don’t we all want to know what the temperature is?    I really like it when it’s a minus!
4. Rain Sensing Wipers:  Turn on the wipers and the speed varies depending on how much moisture is on the window.  Awesome technology.
5. Heated Seats:  Hey, it’s Buffalo what could be better.
6. Remote Keyless Entry:  Need I say more?
7. Remote Start:  See #5
8. Power Seats:  Who doesn’t want a mobile Lazyboy!
9. Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror:  The less I do the better.  Automatically dims for on-coming headlamps.
10. Gas Mileage Computer:  We should all know the size of our footprints.

  I’m curious to see how fast they integrate to standard equipment.

What's in a name? The All New KIA FORTE

FORTE : a strong point, strength, talent, or specialty.

Pronunciation note from Dictionary.com: In the sense of a person’s strong point (he draws well, but sculpture is his forte), the older and historical pronunciation of FORTE is the one-syllable (fawrt) or (fohrt). The word is derived from the French word fort “strong”. A two-syllable pronunciation (fawr-tey) is increasingly heard. Both are considered standard.

2010 KIA ForteBoth pronunciations will yield a brand new sedan from Kia Motors. The Forte replaces the Spectra for 2010 and gives Kia a solid class leading performer in the Compact Sedan segment.

The Forte combines sleek sophisticated styling with a spacious and refined interior. Standard interior features include Bluetooth wireless, Sirius Radio, and USB/Auxiliary input jacks. A long wheelbase and wide body translates into an exceptionally roomy interior. In fact, Forte is roomier than the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda 3.

You owe it to yourself to drive the Forte. With a 156hp 2.0 4 cylinder engine the Forte delivers class-leading standard horsepower that provides quick acceleration and fuel efficiency of up to 36mph highway.

If you are considering any car in the compact sedan segment you should put Kia on your shopping list. You will be pleasantly surprised. Coming soon the Kia Forte Coupe!