Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2011/January 2012 | Page 74

MOTORING

20 years of Kia
Northwood Kia has recently celebrated
a notable milestone with Kia’s 20th
UK anniversary.
Northwood Kia has been a Kia
retailer for all of those 20 years and
has been witness to the brand going
from strength to strength.
Louis Vanassche, Northwood Kia
general manager, said: “Out of all
the car manufacturers on the roads
today, Kia has been the most exciting
to watch. As each year goes by, Kia
is making its cars more attractive to
consumers.
“Build quality, kerb appeal,
environmental credentials, and value
for money – all of these factors are
important to our customers and as a
result, they are walking through our
doors and becoming more and more
impressed with Kia.”
Isle of Wight motorists are especially
embracing the new Kias, their
favourite being the Venga. Kia’s 20th
year in the UK is a busy one for new

models and has already seen the launch
of new Picanto and new Rio on to
Northwood’s forecourt.
Kia’s progress has been a real success
story. Back in 1991 the Kia Pride was
the only Kia model on sale in the
UK and the small hatchback went
on to find 1,786 British homes in
its debut year. Since then the firm
has changed beyond all recognition
and grown at an extraordinary rate
to become a major global brand. In
2010 Kia recorded its best ever year in
the UK with 56,114 vehicles sold, a
feat matched at an international level
as Kia sold in excess of two million
vehicles worldwide for the first time.
Early models such as the Pride and
first generations of the Sportage
crossover and Sedona MPV were
renowned for offering great value for
money and brought many customers to
the brand. Recent models such as the
European designed and manufactured
cee’d, along with Kia’s industry-leading

seven-year warranty, have built the
South Korean firm a reputation for
quality and reliability.
The appointment of Peter Schreyer
as Chief Design Officer in 2006
coincided with a shift in direction
for the brand to put exciting design
at the heart of all its new products
and to appeal first and foremost on
an emotional level. The popularity of
stunning new models such as the Soul
urban crossover, Venga mini-MPV,
Sportage and all-new Picanto and Rio
is testament to these efforts.
Kia Motors Corporation is
considerably older than its UK
subsidiary having recently celebrated
its own 67th anniversary. From its
origins of manufacturing bicycles in
the 1950s Kia has now grown to be
part of the fourth largest automotive
group in the world and is present in
over 170 countries.

Northwood Kia
351 Newport Road, Cowes PO31 8PE
TEL: [phone] www.lesliesmotorgroup.co.uk
74

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