Klarius Products has expanded its aftermarket emissions component range, this time adding 33 new parts, including several specifically designed for the Kia Picanto. This release positions Klarius as the first in the market to offer parts for one of Kia’s most popular compact models.
Kia UK chose Straightset to design, equip and install a state-of-the-art workshop working in conjunction with Parogon Contracts Ltd to offer a new training facility for Kia apprenticeship and dealer training programmes. As a result, Straightset has designed and fitted a 40,000 sq. ft. bespoke training workshop including the latest training technology, customised for Kia UK. The centre is designed to accommodate 1,500 delegates every year, with scope to expand and grow.
Hyundai Motor and Kia have been busy of late. In addition to announcing their new Universal Wheel Drive System, the vehicle makers say they’ve developed a new snow chain-integrated tyre technology that eliminates the need to fit a vehicle with snow chains. The technology uses shape memory alloy modules located inside the wheel and tyre that protrude to act as a ‘snow chain’ when an electrical signal is received.
Tyres and wheels are all too often dismissed as peripheral vehicle components, so let’s hope Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation will address this falsehood with their new Universal Wheel Drive System, or Uni Wheel. The vehicle makers consider Uni Wheel a “paradigm-shifting vehicle drive system” that will “revolutionise the design of future mobility devices.”
Maverick Diagnostics has introduced the latest OEM diagnostic tool setups for Hyundai and KIA vehicles. The Hyundai GDS Smart Basic Kit and KIA KDS 2.0 Basic Kit have been designed to cater for their respective vehicle models, supplying technicians with comprehensive diagnostic functionalities. Furthermore, they grant access to an extensive menu of technical, service, and repair data.
The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted in September 2023 and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. The survey attracted 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68 per cent. The survey showed a general downward trend across most questions with 47 out of 55 questions showing a decline versus the winter edition. The results were published on Monday 9 October 2023. “NFDA’s Dealer Attitude Survey is a comprehensive analysis that delves into the perspectives, insights, and sentiments of the working relationship between franchised dealerships and their respective manufacturers across the UK. This is a landmark edition as we have welcomed our new data-analyst partners, Metryx, to reshape and redesign how the sector can interact and dissect the data, offering a fresh new look for easy access and analysis,” said Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial retailers across the UK.
A name still unfamiliar to many, The Smart Tire Company (STC) is commercialising NASA’s non-pneumatic tyre technology. It is working with vehicle manufacturers to produce shape memory alloy tyres for cars and has launched a second generation of its airless bicycle tyre. In addition to developing products for use here on Earth, STC intends to send tyres to the Moon as part of NASA’s Project Artemis.
Kumho Tyre (UK) supported the Max Adventure team as it beat its original time target on the Driven To Extremes Euro EV Marathon. The team covered its 3,174 mile-route from Oslo to Portugal in just 3.75 days in the fully electric Kia EV6 ‘Air’ fitted with Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre. The team knocked 47 minutes off the time set by Sir Stirling Moss in 1952, adding an extra country to the list of those visited. The challenge was designed to show that a standard EV and current charging infrastructure can now allow drivers to cover vast distances in a short time. The Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV is an original fitment on the Kia EV6, with the 235/55R19 size used by the challenge car throughout the trial.
Recreating a historic motoring exploit, the 3,600-mile challenge will visit 15 countries in just 120 hours. Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre is an original fit on the Kia EV6 and it is this specialist product in 235/55R19 size that the challenge car will be equipped with throughout the trial.
Kia has selected Continental tyres as original equipment for its new Niro. In European, Middle East and African markets, it will deliver the fully-electric version of its SUV with Continental EcoContact 6 Q tyres in size 215/55 R17 94V. Plug-in hybrid models of the Niro will roll on the PremiumContact 6, which Kia will fit in size 225/45 R18 95V XL FR.
Continental is supplying two tyre models as original equipment for the Kia EV6, with customers able to choose between the PremiumContact 6 and CrossContact RX. UK customers preferring to equip their electric crossover with all-season or winter tyres can also do so, as dealers will offer a Kia-approved Continental AllSeasonContact and WinterContact TS 850.
In addition to sporting Nexen tyres, the new Kia EV6 will also be sold with Kumho tyres as original equipment. The tyre maker is supplying its Kumho Ecsta PS71 summer and Cruzen HP71 all-season tyres for fitment on cars sold in South Korea; Kumho Tire hasn’t yet confirmed whether it will also supply tyres for other markets. Both size 235/55R19 tyres feature Kumho’s 2014-developed K-Silent sound absorption technology.
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle. Based on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV6 offers a range of up to 316 miles and rapid charging – when using the State of Charge (SOC) mode, the car can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Nexen Tire reports it is supplying two tyres as original equipment.
Hankook Tire will work together with Hyundai Motor and Kia to develop intelligent services for consumables management based on the three companies’ data and technologies. This collaboration will take place under a Memorandum of Understanding that the companies sealed through a virtual signing ceremony yesterday.
Nearly half of Brits (49 per cent) suffer from ‘green guilt’ and admit exaggerating about their green lifestyle because they feel pressure from family, friends and colleagues to be greener.
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