Kia plots rear-wheel-drive strategy

Kia is going rear-wheel drive.

The company's first-ever production rear-wheel sedan will launch in Korea in the first half of this year. It's code-named "KH," and it shares a platform with the Equus, Hyundai's top-of-the-line RWD sedan.

The car will be sold around the world, Kia said in a statement. Still, a spokesman in Korea declined to say whether the KH is coming to the United States.

"Kia Motors America is still evaluating plans for KH in the U.S. market, and there is nothing further to announce at this time," the spokesman told Autoweek. A U.S.-based spokesperson also said that the RWD car is being evaluated, though the official wouldn't elaborate.

Kia has been experiencing tremendous growth in the United States, with sales surging 36 percent last year to 485,492 vehicles. A rear-wheel-drive halo car could slot in above the Optima to provide a premium vehicle with athletic ethos.

The Equus was a reasonable sales performer for Hyundai in its first full year in the U.S. market in 2011, selling 3,193 copies. That augmented sales of the less expensive though still luxury-oriented Genesis, which improved a solid 13 percent last year to 32,998.

Clearly, Americans will buy well-equipped, rear-wheel cars from a Korean company.

While the spokesmen wouldn't confirm whether the KH will come to the United States, the sedan has been conceived to be a flagship model for Kia, and it's hard to comprehend why the company's most formidable model wouldn't come to one of world's most important markets.

Soon Nam-Lee, Kia's oversees marketing director, said in a statement, "Although launch timings for overseas markets are yet to be confirmed, this all-new, rear-wheel-drive large sedan will definitely become the leading model of our lineup around the world, showcasing the best of the best of Kia."

That's reinforced by the visual evidence. The KH, in the words of a Kia press release, has "a classic-car-like feel," and the initial sketches depict a vehicle that has the gravitas of Chevrolet Impalas and Ford Galaxie 500s of old. Kia's "tiger" front grille is evident, though it appears to be bolder than in today's products. There are also prominent headlights and taillights.

Kia has laid out ambitious growth plans for the United States and Europe, targeting a sales increase of 10 percent in America this year and nearly 23 percent in Europe.

The KH was presaged last year by the GT concept, which was revealed in September at the Frankfurt motor show. That concept also drew inspiration from larger, performance-oriented cars of the past, and styling cues from the GT likely will appear on the KH.

The concept featured a turbocharged V6 making 395 hp, paired with an eight-speed automatic. If the KH comes stateside, look for a similar high-output engine and eight-speed gearbox to be among the powertrain options.

Kia recalls 145,755 Optimas, Rondos in U.S.

Kia Motors America is recalling 145,755 vehicles to fix a problem with the driver's side airbag that could potentially prevent it from deploying.

The recall covers 2006-08 model Optimas and 2007-08 model Rondos, according to documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site safercar.gov.

The problem originates with the clock spring assembly in the driver's side airbag which may become damaged over time. The damage can place high resistance on the electrical circuit, prompt an airbag warning light to illuminate on the instrument panel and compromise the airbag's ability to deploy, the automaker said in a letter to NHTSA. The condition could put drivers at risk for injury.

Kia, which identified the problem in November, will begin notifying dealers and customers sometime in March.

The company, in a statement, said it isn't aware of any airbags failing to deploy or of injuries resulting from the problem.

"Kia will provide a lifetime warranty for the driver’s airbag clock spring contact assembly for vehicles covered under this recall," Kia said.

Dealers will replace the vehicle's airbag clock spring as necessary, free of charge.

Kia unveils electric city car concept

Kia Pop

Kia has unveiled a concept for a three-seat electric city car that will debut at the Paris auto show next month.

Called the Pop, the zero-emissions car is just 3000mm long, the same length as the four-seat Toyota iQ minicar and 300mm longer than the two-seat Smart ForTwo.

Kia said the Pop aims to bring "innovative design chic and dramatic styling to the city car segment." The Pop has seating for two adults in the front and a single seat in the rear behind the front passenger.

Kia Pop Top

started loosing overdrive, then drive and when we came to a stop

I just put a motor and automatic trans that has 46,000 miles on it in my sons 2003 kia rio. It runs good and was shifting fine but after a few miles we started loosing overdrive, then drive and when we came to a stop and took off again it wouldn't come out of 2nd. We had trouble with the plug on the newer trans that slips over the rod on top of the trans that connects to your shifter inside. It looks like some sort of sensor switch. It wouldn't stay connected when plugged into the wiring harness and kept the car from cranking and seemed to affect the shifting. We switched it with a used one and worked fine at first but then went back to the shifting problem. Does it sound like a tranny problem or is this piece we switched a sensor that affects when the gears change and needs to be replaced with a new one. The guy we got the motor and trans from is pretty trust worthy and will switch the trans out if its a problem.

the a/c blower does not work on settings 1 thru 3, but it will work on 4

Blower Motor Resistor

QUESTION: We unfortunately own a 2002 Kia Sedona. the a/c blower does not work on settings 1 thru 3, but it will work on 4(max).. ANSWER: You have a bad blower resistor. It is accessed on the passenger side either from under the dash or through the glove box. This is about a $55.00 part and is held in by 2 screws. Here is a picture of it so you know what you are looking for.