kia

Hands on with Kia's new voice command

LAS VEGAS--Kia takes a page out of Ford's playbook by partnering with Microsoft to include advanced voice command systems in its cars. Kia calls its Microsoft-powered system UVO and, similar to Ford's Sync, it lets you connect Bluetooth phones and MP3 players, and use voice command to control them.

We got a demo of the system at CES in a new Kia Sorrento, the first model that will feature it.

UVO uses Microsoft's voice recognition technology, and the system understands commands in a variety of contexts. During our demonstration, we told it to "Play Sirius channel … Read more

Kia unveils voice-driven auto infotainment system

Certain Kia car owners will soon be able to play music and make phone calls, all by just the sound of their voice.

Kia Motors' new infotainment system "Uvo powered by Microsoft" will let car owners access its key features by voice as well as by touch. With an assist from Microsoft speech technology and an embedded version of Windows, Uvo will help drivers and passengers make and answer phone calls, respond to text messages, and play music from different sources, said Kia.

Using Microsoft's voice recognition, car owners will be able to direct the system by issuing short voice commands rather searching through complex menus, said Kia. Drivers and passengers can scroll through their music lists and phone books by voice or via the touch screen.

For greater accuracy, speech recognition profiles can be created and trained for two different voices from among a variety of languages. The system can even respond to questions, such as "What's playing?" so that drivers don't have to fumble or take their eyes off the road.… Read more

Kia opens Georgia plant

A white 2011 My Sorento CUV, rolled off the production line yesterday at the Kia Motors manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. The plant is the first in the U.S. and is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ 2,500 people, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating 7,500 additional jobs.

According to a news release, Kia Motors has invested $1 billion in the facility that features the world's most advanced manufacturing techniques. The new plant offers more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors and wood flooring, for a more comfortable work … Read more

Could Kia be the new Scion?

Is Kia the new Scion? That's the question I kept asking myself over and over again as I tested the 2010 Scion xB, all the while comparing it to the 2010 Kia Soul. (Although to be fair, the Soul is closer in size to a tall xD than the xB.)

At the 2009 SEMA Show, I was able to get a closer look at the way Kia is embracing the aftermarket and its array of Kia-branded dealer-installed mods. What I saw reminded me of Scion's first years, which featured partnerships with well known tuners and an array of … Read more

Highlights from 2009 SEMA Show

This last week saw yet another big auto show in the form of the 2009 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show ran from November 2 to Friday November 6, and boy, was there a ton of eye candy for us car enthusiasts. However, the SEMA Show was not open to the public--only auto industry insiders were allowed inside these doors full of what SEMA refers to as "automotive specialty products." This video is a teaser of some of the many automotive delights that were on display at this year's event.

Here we go … Read more

2010 Kia Forte: Cheap and good

Kia and Hyundai are undergoing something of a renaissance, rebuilding their brands with new models that look good, offer many tech features, and cost little. Hyundai came out with its Genesis sedan and coupe, while Kia recently started selling the Soul, a neat little cruiser. Now Kia offers the Forte, an economy sedan that doesn't necessarily reach for the stars, but competes well in its class. At well under $20,000, the Forte SX comes with Bluetooth cell phone and iPod integration, two features we've become convinced should be available with any new car.

Read our review of the 2010 Kia Forte SX. … Read more

Agent double-0 Soul

When the Kia Soul arrived in our garage, we immediately took to its funky-but-sporty styling. The interior didn't let us down, either, with its houndstooth seat fabric and crazy light pulsing front door speakers. Fitting the youthful look of the car, iPod integration is standard, along with an impressive sound system. But what we didn't expect was that the Bluetooth phone system would be the most standout-tech feature of the car.

Read our review of the 2010 Kia Soul Exclaim.

Kia Soul rock video, another hit

Thousands of Kia Souls are shipped out every day from Mokpo Port in the southern part of Korea near the Kia manufacturing plant.

Using test purpose vehicles, stunt drivers, and a crane, the director was able to tell the story of how the Kia Souls ship out.

(Source: Kia Buzz)

Fuel cell cars hit the road

Electric cars have been getting plenty of buzz lately, but the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is still going strong. The California Fuel Cell Partnership, along with Powertech Labs, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. Fuel Cell Council, will seek to regain the spotlight with a road trip to demonstrate the practicality of these vehicles.

Twelve fuel cell cars from seven automakers will drive from Chula Vista, in Southern California, up to Vancouver, Canada, a trip of 1,700 miles. Vancouver was chosen for the destination because it will play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where a … Read more