Kia Motors America and Antenna Magazine Build Hot Rio 5-Door and Forte 5-Door for SEMA Show 2011

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) sets up shop at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show with two visually stunning hatchbacks customized by Antenna magazine:  the all-new 2012 Rio 5-door and chisel-lined Forte 5-door.  Both vehicles are part of Kia's design-led transformation and include an abundance of standard features and amenities as well as outstanding fuel economy and impressive interior space.  Kia's modern, sporty and fun personality matches that of Antenna magazine, and 2011 marks the third year that KMA and Antenna have collaborated to create amazing SEMA Show rides.

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"Antenna's beach-themed Rio 5-door and hockey-hatch Forte 5-door take the fun, sporty and adventurous personality of the Kia brand and bring it to life in a physical and playful way that we can share with enthusiasts on an international stage," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  "The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is all about aftermarket customization, and it offers a great opportunity to showcase Kia products as perfect platforms for customizing and personalization."

Radical Rio 5-Door

Newly arrived in U.S. showrooms, the all-new Rio 5-door is Kia's ninth new product to be launched in less than three years and enters the sub-compact segment with class-leading fuel economy at 30/40 miles per gallon (mpg) (city/highway)(1) along with an optional Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system that shuts off the 1.6-liter engine when it comes to a stop—an industry first in the non-hybrid and non-luxury segments.  Antenna enhanced the stylish Rio 5-door's exterior with a sunset-metallic golden-brown paint, custom body kit with a front splitter made of wood to match the surfboard on the roof, and rear fascia with center-mount exhaust.  The car has been lowered with a modified suspension for better handling and eye-grabbing 17-inch three-piece gold wheels.  To top off the exterior, a Thule® roof rack and hand-made wood surfboard are mounted on top.

The interior of the Antenna Rio 5-door features custom front and rear seats, dash and door panels upholstered in brown and beige plaid waterproof bathing suit fabric, a wood grain center console, and headliner upholstered in dark brown suede with a towel holder built in to complete the retro-surf look.  The rear center console has been modified as a shelf to hold beach-themed accessories that are ready for some fun in the sun, including sun tan lotion, surfboard wax and bottled water.  The Rio 5-door's massive rear hatch area has been modified to hold a retro gaming console that plays 80's-style arcade games, a retro-looking record player to play music, mood lighting, and shelves to hold sandals and clothing.  Surf's up!

Hockey-Hatch Forte 5-Door

The Antenna hockey-hatch Forte 5-door features aviator gray exterior paint with 18-inch blue wheels, custom body kit and front bumper from the sporty Forte Koup with carbon fiber accents and LED lights, quad-tipped exhaust, carbon fiber roof and lowered ride height to enhance vehicle handling.  This power-play Forte has a custom hockey stick holder that stretches from the trunk through the center of the vehicle into the cabin; the rear bench seat has been converted to two bucket seats with custom black upholstery and powder-blue jersey material on the seats, rubberized flooring in the front and rear seating areas to simulate the floor outside a skating rink, custom sports-drink holders for post-game hydration, two seven-inch TV monitors mounted in the front seat headrests wired to a Sony® Playstation 3 video game console and EA Sports NHL12 available for passengers to play.

The hatch area is equally impressive for hockey fans with a mini air hockey table on arms that slide out for game play, four carbon fiber hockey sticks color-matched to the exterior of the car, two hanging jerseys color-matched to the exterior, an ice skate rack and glove hooks for sweaty equipment, as well as custom accent lighting.

Plethora of Safety Features

The 2012 Rio and Forte offer an impressive array of standard safety equipment, featuring dual advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, side-impact door beams, front and rear crumple zones, four-wheel disc brakes with an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and a Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a Traction Control System (TCS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Industry-Leading Warranty

Like all Kia models, The 2012 Rio 5-door and Forte 5-door are covered by a comprehensive warranty program(2), which offers consumer protection at an exceptional value. Included in this program are a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan is also part of the comprehensive coverage program.

Design-Led Transformation and Product Line

Kia Motors has undergone a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand's continued gains in U.S. market share.  Kia is poised to continue its momentum and brand growth through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and new technology.  Kia's commitment to the U.S. market is represented by its U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – which is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and added the critically-acclaimed Optima midsize sedan to its production line in September(3).  Kia's model year 2012 vehicle line includes the Sorento CUV, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 745 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA."  In 2010, KMA recorded its best-ever U.S. sales and 16th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle lineup is available at its website – www.kia.com.  For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

(1) Class-leading claim based on comparison of 2012 subcompacts as of October 2011. EPA fuel economy estimates are 30 mpg/city and 40 mpg/hwy with 1.6L GDI engine. Actual mileage may vary.

(2) See retailer for warranty details or go to kia.com.

(3) Optima Hybrid will not be built at KMMG.

SOURCE Kia Motors America