By Theodore Opara

If there is an award for the most improved auto brand in this millennium, such award should probably go to Korea’s first automobile manufacturer, Kia Motors.

The auto brand has shown what it takes to move a brand forward with its captivating designs and innovative engineering, which have ranked it among the leading auto brands of the millennium. It should be recalled that Kia was a laughing stock some years back  but constant innovative  and planning have pushed the brand to become a threat to even the Japanese, Koreans and American car makers at the moment.

*Kia Rio

Korean auto maker

To start with, the Korean auto maker, six years ago, grabbed former Audi and Volkswagen  designer to transform its models and the results has placed Kia where it is presently – one of the leading auto makers in the world with many awards to show for it. The Sportage, Cadenza, Rio, Optima and Cerato reflect the new Kia Spirit.

They are trendy and a closer look at them reveals that they share much with the Volkswagen and Audi siblings. Yet Kia is not slowing down, they are promising more in the near future with their new models.

Only last Saturday, Kia Motors representative in Nigeria rolled out the Kia models at the Peninsula Resort Lekki for a media test-drive to expose the latest innovations in the all-new Kia models especially the new Kia Rio, Optima Cadenza and Sportage. Also available for the test-drive were the Mohave and Sportage  SUVs, as well as the Cerato and Picanto.

The barely four hours exercise from Lekki Peninsula, kilometre 25 t the second toll gate revealed the huge improvement in Kia models in terms of road handhug, engine performance comfort and safety.

Speaking shortly before the test-drive, the newly appointed chief accountant officer for the brand, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra pointed out Kia’s outstanding qualities, which include excellent designs, strong powerplants, fuel efficiency, comfort and safety. According to Malhotra, the company is committed to giving their customers excellent products and services. “We have strong commitment to the Kia brand in Nigeria as we believe strongly in customer first philosophy”, he said.

He further explained that their spread across the country is the reflection of how seriously they take their customers adding that more outfits would be opened to serve the customers better.

He described the Kia range as where durability and innovation combine to minimise depreciation and maximise style and performance.