Monroeville Kia Mazda

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Mazda Preps for 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 2:47 PM

Good luck at the show, Mazda!

Mazda will showcase a full range of customized cars, including special editions of the new CX-5, roadster and RX-8, at the upcoming 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.

The annual custom-car show (January 13-15) is Japan's equivalent to the fall SEMA show in the U.S.

Mazda plans to display two versions of the new CX-5 crossover, which made its global debut this fall at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show and arrives at U.S. dealers in February. In addition to the standard production model, Mazda will unveil a special-edition CX-5 with lower ride height, matte-black alloy wheels and red exterior paint.

An updated version of the Mazda Roadster Black Tuned is fitted with BBS wheels, Bilstein height-adjustable shocks, Brembo brakes with gold-painted front calipers and Recaro seats.

The customized Roadster will be joined by the RX-8 Spirit R, the final edition of this rotary-powered sports car that ends production next June. The RX-8 Spirit R gets 20-inch BBS rims, Brembo brakes and lower ride height.

There will be two versions of the Demio (sold as the Mazda 2 in the U.S.), including the Demio 13-Skyactiv Smart Stylish with M'z Custom front under-spoiler, side skirts and rear underskirt; the Axela (Mazda 3) Sport 20S-Skyactiv with front airdam skirt, rear bumper and rear roof spoiler; and the Premacy (Mazda 5) 20S Prestige Style with 19-inch alloy rims, rear underskirt and chrome trim.

Inside Line says: All in all, a pretty modest showing from a small, but well-regarded brand.

Leaked Look? 2013 Kia Forte Sedan Sketches Emerge

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 11:00 AM

I hope these sketches are for real because this car looks NICE.

Sketches that have leaked online purport to provide an early look at the 2013 Kia Forte. According to Kia World, the sketches show a redesign for the Forte sedan that will be officially revealed sometime in 2012.

The leaked photo reveals a Forte sedan that is much more rounded and modern than the current model. In the profile sketch, the Kia appears to have a sloping roofline similar to the Hyundai Elantra, and is vaguely reminiscent of the Kia Ray concept from 2010. The front grille, headlights, and taillights are all in tune with the latest Kia designs, like those seen on the Optima sedan.

The current Forte sedan was launched in 2009; the car also is available as a two-door coupe and four-door hatchback. Regardless of body style, power comes either from a 156-hp 2.0-liter inline-four, or a 173-hp 2.4-liter inline-four engine.

The Kia Forte is currently built on the same platform that underpinned the prior-generation (through model-year 2010) Hyundai Elantra, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Forte once again adopted the Elantra’s underpinnings. If so, it could mean a bump in the Forte’s fuel economy ratings. The new Elantra uses a 148-hp, 1.8-liter inline-four engine that returns 29/40 mpg (city/highway) whether mated to a manual or automatic transmission.

We reached out to Kia to see whether a 2013 Forte is indeed on the way, but did not receive a response before deadline. If a Forte makeover is nigh, we imagine it will debut at a major auto show some time in the next six months.

Driving on Snow and Ice: 10 Safety Tips

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 8:16 AM

Great advice on how to prevent a crash!

The best tip for winter driving: Sometimes it's best to stay home, or at least remain where you are until snow plows and sanding crews have done their work. If you crash on a snowy or icy road, you'll certainly be late — or worse. But since you can't always call in to work claiming a "snow day," it's better to learn how to correctly deal with driving in the snow.

I've battled snow- and ice-covered highways in two-dozen states behind the wheel of both passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers. I've performed hundreds of tire tests on snow-covered roads, attended snow-driving schools and done precision (translation: "barely in control") driving in the snow for videos and still photos. From this experience, here are some snow driving tips the average driver can follow to reduce the chances of a crash.

Get a grip. To have adequate snow traction, a tire requires at least 6/32-inch deep tread, according to The Tire Rack. (New passenger-car tires usually have 10/32-inch of tread.) Ultrahigh-performance "summer" tires have little or no grip in snow. Even "all-season" tires don't necessarily have great snow traction: Some do, some don't. If you live where the roads are regularly covered with snow, use snow tires (sometimes called "winter tires" by tiremakers). They have a "snowflake on the mountain" symbol on the sidewall, meaning they meet a tire-industry standard for snow traction.
Make sure you can see. Replace windshield wiper blades. Clean the inside of your windows thoroughly. Apply a water-shedding material (such as Rain-X) to the outside of all windows, including the mirrors. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Drain older fluid by running the washers until new fluid appears: Switching fluid colors makes this easy.
Run the air-conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior of windows, engage your air-conditioner and select the fresh air option: It's fine to set the temperature on "hot." Many cars automatically do this when you choose the defrost setting.
Check your lights. Use your headlights so that others will see you and, we hope, not pull out in front of you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are clear of snow. If you have an older car with sand-pitted headlights, get a new set of lenses. To prevent future pitting, cover the new lens with a clear tape like that used to protect the leading edge of helicopter rotor blades and racecar wings. It's available from auto-racing supply sites.
Give yourself a brake. Learn how to get maximum efficiency from your brakes before an emergency. It's easy to properly use antilock brakes: Stomp, stay and steer. Stomp on the pedal as if you were trying to snap it off. Stay hard on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency. See Tip 8.) If you drive on icy roads or roads that are covered with snow, modify your ABS technique: After you "Stomp" and the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working — ease up slightly on the pedal until the pulsing happens only once a second.
For vehicles without ABS, you'll have to rely on the old-fashioned system: You. For non-ABS on a mixed-surface road, push the brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again. Repeat this sequence rapidly. This is not the same as "pumping the brake." Your goal is to have the tires producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow, ice or damp pavement. Use the tips in"How To Survive the Top 10 Driving Emergencies" to practice before the emergency.
Watch carefully for "black ice." If the road looks slick, it probably is. This is especially true with one of winter's worst hazards: "black ice." Also called "glare ice," this is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Test the traction with a smooth brake application or slight turn of the wheel.
Remember the tough spots. Race drivers must memorize the nuances of every track, so they can alter their path for changing track conditions. You must remember where icy roads tend to occur. Bridges and intersections are common places. Also: wherever water runs across the road. I know people who lost control on ice caused by homeowners draining above-ground pools and by an automatic lawn sprinkler that sprayed water onto a street in freezing temperatures.
Too much steering is bad. If a slick section in a turn causes your front tires to lose grip, the common — but incorrect — reaction is to continue turning the steering wheel. That's like writing checks on an overdrawn account: It won't improve the situation and may make things worse. If the icy conditions end and the front tires regain grip, your car will dart whichever way the wheels are pointed. That may be into oncoming traffic or a telephone pole. Something very similar happens if you steer too much while braking with ABS. Sadly, there are situations where nothing will prevent a crash, but turning the steering too much never helps.
Avoid rear-tire slides. First, choose a car with electronic stability control. Fortunately, ESC will be mandatory on all 2012 models. Next, make sure your rear tires have at least as much tread as your front tires. Finally, if you buy winter tires, get four.
Technology offers no miracles. All-wheel drive and electronic stability control can get you into trouble by offering a false sense of security. AWD can only help a vehicle accelerate or keep moving: It can't help you go around a snow-covered turn, much less stop at an icy intersection. ESC can prevent a spinout, but it can't clear ice from the roads or give your tires more traction. Don't let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

Regardless of your driving skill or vehicle preparation, there are some winter conditions that can't be conquered. But these tips may help prevent snowy and icy roads from ruining your day.

Mazda Reveals i-ELOOP

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 8:14 AM

Interesting news from Mazda!

Batteries aren't the only technology mankind has invented to store electricity, and Mazda is working on a solution to the energy storage needs of electrified vehicles with a new system it's calling i-ELOOP. While we wish it didn't have such a cumbersome moniker, the technology behind i-ELOOP is intriguing.
Mazda claims that its i-ELOOP system will be featured in the first production passenger vehicle with recaptured energy from regenerative braking stored in a capacitor. The rest of the bits and pieces behind the tech include a variable voltage alternator and a DC/DC converter that sends energy otherwise lost to heat in the brakes at up to 25 volts to the Electric Double Layer Capacitor, where it's stored for later use.
There's no electric motor in the i-ELOOP drivetrain, so the capacitor releases its energy to recharge the car's battery and to help power electric components like the heating and air conditioning systems. All in, Mazda promises fuel savings of up to 10 percent over cars not equipped with regenerative braking.

The Kia Soul, Jeep Wrangler and Chevy Cruze are among America’s hottest products in 2011

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 3:00 PM

Have you heard the news? The Kia Soul is one of the HOTTEST products of 2011! But of course we knew that already…

And we’re not just talking about the hottest selling products in the automotive industry. According to Advertising Age, the Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Soul and Jeep Wrangler are generating a lot of buzz and posting strong sales – so much so that they are among America’s hottest products in 2011, joining Dove soap, Goldfish crackers and Arizona Tea.

The publication says that the three models have been succeeding in the country with savvy marketing and a steady rebound in the U.S. light vehicle market.

Chevrolet Cruze: GM has sold more than 200,000 units of the Cruze during the first 10 months of 2011, making it GM’s hottest selling car after the Malibu, of which it sold 181,000 units in the same period.

Kia Soul: Through October, Kia sold 405,095 vehicles, with the Soul accounting for more than 85,000 of those.

Jeep Wrangler: Jeep’s overall sales have jumped a nice 44 percent this year through October to 339,526 units. The Wrangler is Jeep’s best selling model in the U.S. this year accounting for 101,820 units sold through October.

I’d say that’s something to dance about:

Kia Optima hybrid rocks with fuel economy, value and styling

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 11:00 AM

Check out this excellent review of the Kia Optima in the Phoenix Business Journal:

If you are in the market for a midsize hybrid, the Kia Optima is a must for your test-drive list.

New for 2011, the Optima benefits from its all-gas twin’s redesign, which made the Kia a player in the sedan wars with snazzy design and bang for the buck. But while the family sedan market is extremely competitive, there are only a handful of hybrids in this class.

Ford Fusion and its sibling from Lincoln have strong pull with gas mileage of 41 in the city, 36 on the highway. But the Kia checks in at 35/40 -- a little thriftier on the highway, along with its Sonata cousin over at Hyundai. And while Toyota Camry’s hybrid has fallen short in the past, its 2012 remake is expected to reach 43/39. Of course, those are only estimates, and it takes a light touch to hit the high marks.

The Optima hybrid starts at $27,250 (2011 price), including delivery fee, compared with $19,600 for the all-gas sedan, which is rated at 24/35 equipped with the 200-horsepower engine. The Fusion goes for about $1,000 more, and Toyota says the Camry will start at $27,810. Sorry, if you're thinking about federal incentives, that program for hybrids ended at the start of 2011.

Staying true to Kia’s roots, the Optima hybrid is packed with features. It comes with a full lineup of safety features, dual-zone climate control, power driver’s seat, three months of satellite radio, a push-button starter, cruise control, backup camera, fog lamps and Kia’s UVO voice-activated system.

A long chime signals when the car turns on and off – otherwise a very quiet affair. It would be nice if you could change that sound, just like with ring tones.

Our tester added the $5,000 premium technology package, making the Optima quite a swanky ride. It adds goodies such as a panoramic sunroof, navigation, and heated and cooled leather seats.

Either way, though, the interior has a neat upscale look thanks to the model’s 2011 redesign. And the new exterior lines drew lots of compliments, with the hybrid adding a few unique touches.

Optima falls on the smaller end of midsize market, but both front and backseats are comfortable with roomy surrounds. The hybrid’s batteries, however, eat up a good chunk of trunk space.

A 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine combines with an electric motor to deliver a combined 206 horsepower. The Optima isn’t particularly fast or sporty, but it does the job and you can watch your miles per gallon hover in the 30-40 range. Designers even copied Ford’s leafy display, which grows with economical driving.

Options for boosting fuel economy outside the hybrid world include the new clean-diesel cars, but the Volkswagen Passat is the only midsize entry unless you move up to luxury brands.

Or, if you downsize a bit, a number of new models -- such as the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus -- are hitting the 40 mpg mark for highway driving. Then there is the mileage king among hybrids: the Toyota Prius, at 51/48.

Kia Optima hybrid

Midsize gas-electric sedan

Base price: $27,250

MPG range: 35/40

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 5 of 5 stars from front crash; 5 for side impact; 5 for rollover resistance; www.safercar.gov

Web: www.kia.com

Competitors: Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Lincoln MKZ, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Prius

Bottom line: A knockout in premium trim and a top contender no matter how it’s dressed.

How to Save Money with Car Maintenance

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 12:29 PM

Great tips from KiaBuzz!

It’s no secret that the golden rule of saving money with your car is to increase fuel efficiency. Follow these tips on car maintenance and you will be able to save your budget.

Lighten Your Car (Force = Mass * Acceleration)

It’s all made clear in one simple physics equation: force = mass * acceleration. One of the most important things when it comes to fuel efficiency is the weight of a car. In the manufacturing process, carmakers put a lot of efforts on reducing weight of car to achieve better fuel efficiency. See if there are any unnecessary objects inside your car that need to be taken out.

Know Your Tires

Another simple physics rule is applicable here. The higher the resistance, the lower the speed of the object. If your tires’ air pressure is too low, it creates high rotational resistance, which increases the engine’s RPM for rolling the tires. Increased RPM requires more fuel consumption. Thus, it’s important to regularly check your tires’ air pressure and make sure they have proper air pressure. To make your job easier, we suggest you to use eco tires. Eco tires are lighter than conventional tires and have lower rotational resistance. As their name implies, they are also environmentally friendly.

Besides the tire air pressure, it is also important to keep an eye on your tire condition. If you drive on cement-paved highways often, it is very likely that your tires will wear out quickly. You should take a look at your tires from time-to-time and check whether your car is ready for new ones. As a reference, you should look at the tire wear bar, which is made up of small raised blocks between the tire treads. If the surface of the tires is close to touching this tire wear bar, it means your tires are worn out. It is recommended that you change your tires in every three years or 20,000km~30,000km (Editor’s note: The replacement timing might differ depending on your driving style and road condition). Taking good care of your tires will enhance fuel efficiency! For more information on tire maintenance, check out our other blog post here.

Clean and change your air filter regularly

An air filter does exactly what it sounds like – it filters the air flowing in to the engine. If the filter is covered with dust, the amount of air flowing into the engine decreases and it makes your engine’s fuel efficiency lower. Clean your air filter regularly and replace it once a year. (Editor’s note: The official period of parts replacement might be different depending on your country. Please refer to your owner’s manual or contact close local Kia dealership.)

Clean your fuel injector

Regardless of car types, gasoline or diesel, most automobiles nowadays have a fuel injector. As fuel goes through the injector, carbon gradually gets stuck at the tip, which reduces fuel efficiency. How much it worsens the efficiency depends on the quality of the fuel, so regular check-up is necessary. For gasoline vehicles, it is good to clean the fuel injector every three years or in every 60,000 km. (Editor’s note: The official period of checking parts might be different depending on your country. Please refer to your owner’s manual or contact close local Kia dealership.)

Use eco mode, wisely

Eco mode in your car follows an Electric Control Unit program, which controls the engine and other devices. If you turn on the eco mode, the acceleration speed of your car may decrease. However, it is a good way to increase fuel efficiency if you use it wisely. If you often drive on a very crowded road, it can be very efficient to turn on the eco mode to save your money.

As you probably have noticed form the aforementioned tips, maintaining higher fuel efficiency is the key in saving your money. I hope these tips help you with your car management skills and lessen the burden on your wallet.