Friday, January 27, 2012

Kia Motors Dreams Up Super Bowl Commercial Starring Supermodel Adriana Lima, Rock Legends Motley Crue and MMA Fighter Chuck Liddell

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IRVINE, Calif., January 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Dreams have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout history, and Kia Motors America (KMA) is tapping into the idea of dreams revealing true desires in a new 60-second commercial set to air during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. In the spot, titled “Drive the Dream,” the new 2012 Optima Limited races through a Gen X couple’s wildest thoughts as they sleep, including: Victoria’s Secret® Angel Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag at a speedway; an in-your-face Mötley Crüe concert; mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell battling in the ring; a heroine and hunk on horseback in a romance novel setting; champion bull rider Judd Leffew taming a bucking rhinoceros; and a fairy tale ending.

Kia returns to the big game for the third straight year with a fully integrated marketing campaign incorporating TV, cinema, digital, print, social media and in-dealership components. In a Super Bowl advertising first, the complete “Drive the Dream” ad will premiere on February 2 on more than 18,000 movie screens nationwide in National CineMedia’s FirstLook pre-show program before airing in the game. Kia also will run 15-second teaser ads featuring Adriana Lima on TV and in cinema beginning on January 27, while also leveraging the Twitter and Facebook channels of the spot's celebrity cast. A special expanded version of the ad will be available at YouTube.com/Kia beginning on February 2.

“With more than 100 million people watching the Super Bowl broadcast and millions more viewing content online around the world, Kia will once again deliver a memorable, one-of-a-kind campaign that entertains people before, during and after the game and leaves them wanting to see the Optima Limited fantasy again and again,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “We selected an eclectic group of celebrities and personalities for ‘Drive the Dream’ to enable us to tap into a diverse body of fan bases and leverage each talent’s expansive social media footprint.”

Created by David&Goliath, “Drive the Dream” opens with the familiar notes of The Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” as a real-life Mr. Sandman enters the bedroom of an unsuspecting young couple who are asleep. After being sprinkled with “Sweet Dreams” dust, the woman smiles and envisions herself on a horse with a romance novel-like hunk in a beautiful green meadow. Meanwhile, Mr. Sandman accidentally stumbles and spills his entire night’s dust supply on the man, launching an extreme dream sequence that begins with the roaring guitars of Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart” and Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag as he blasts around a race track at night in a Snow White Pearl Optima Limited with thousands of bikini-clad fans cheering him on from the stands.

As he circles the track with Lima looking on adoringly, the dreaming driver receives nods of approval from the band as bursts of flames and fireworks surround their stage as well as Chuck Liddell, champion bull rider Judd Leffew, and a pair of lumberjacks sawing a massive submarine sandwich.

“Mötley Crüe had a blast doing the Kia commercial,” said bassist Nikki Sixx. “A hot model, a fast car, a pro fighter, pyrotechnics and rock n' roll...What's not to love?”

Much to the disbelief of Lima and drummer Tommy Lee, the high-octane dream turns into a fairy tale when the husband makes a conscious decision to drive the Optima Limited off the race track and into his wife’s fantasy to win her back from Prince Charming.

“After working with Kia for the Super Bowl last year I was drawn to work with the fast-growing brand again by the idea of exploring people’s ultimate fantasies in a fun and lighthearted way, and I am certain we have created a spot people will be talking about after the game,” said director, Noam Murro.

As part of the “Drive the Dream” campaign, beginning on Thursday, February 2 consumers can download a $25 pre-paid test drive voucher1 at Kia.com that is redeemable after eligible consumers visit a Kia dealership and complete a test drive of any Optima model.

New for 20122, the Optima Limited adds a new level refinement to the premium technology, convenience and performance features found on Kia’s award-winning turbocharged Optima SX. In addition to head-turning design, class-leading horsepower and fuel efficiency and a class-exclusive panoramic sunroof, the Optima Limited offers elegant touches that modern drivers would expect to find in the car of their dreams, such as: unique design 18-inch wheels, high-grade Nappa leather seating, LED accent lights, chrome exterior accents and sporty red brake calipers.

Kia Motors is the one of the world’s fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America’s full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality3 and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking4. Kia’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company’s two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan5. Kia’s value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, 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.

 

Courtesy of Kia Motors

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Deal Visits Kia Plant

Kia Motors America President and CEO Byung-mo Ahn was on hand to escort Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on his first official tour of the Korean automaker's West Point factory.

Mr. Ahn called the state "an invaluable partner" in welcoming the factory, which operates as Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc.

He cited the Port of Savannah, where the company imports parts and equipment, and Georgia Quick Start, a state program that has trained Kia's 3,000-plus workers.

Kia recently spent $100 million to expand the $1.1 billion plant, enabling it to make 360,000 cars annually starting this year.

Mr. Deal called Kia a "tremendous success story" and a "glowing example" of the state's commitment to supporting companies that invest in Georgia.

D

Courtesy of kiamotors.com

Nice job, Brandon! Keep up the great work.

Nice job, Brandon! Keep up the great work.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Kia Renews NBA Team Partnerships and Establishes New Relationship With the Golden State Warriors

IRVINE, CA--Jan. 19, 2012: Kia Motors America (KMA), the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.[1], has added a new team to its National Basketball Association (NBA) team partnerships by becoming the "Official Vehicle of the Golden State Warriors." Beginning with the 2011-2012 basketball season, KMA also has renewed relationships with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Miami HEAT, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, while the Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers remain on Kia Motors' roster in 2011-2012 as part of multi-year agreements.

Kia's U.S. sales have increased 78 percent since 2008 and the company's unprecedented growth is the direct result of expanded brand visibility through high-profile partnerships, including involvement on- and off-the-court in professional basketball. Kia is currently in its fifth year as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA, which is the brand's largest U.S. sports marketing initiative. After he leaped over an Optima midsize sedan to become the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest champion, NBA All-Star Blake Griffin became a global brand ambassador for Kia. The brand also serves as the Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star, title partner of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, and an Official Automotive Partner of NBA Cares. Kia also is the title sponsor of ESPN's "Kia NBA Countdown."

"Kia's involvement with the NBA and nearly half of the league's teams has driven dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand and was a major factor in our best-ever sales total in 2011," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "All of our team partnerships leverage the excitement of the game and increase Kia's interaction with the passionate fan bases in each market, and we are proud to add the Golden State Warriors to our roster and establish a relationship with Bay Area basketball fans."

Kia's 13 NBA team designations are as follows:

  • Official Vehicle of the Chicago Bulls
  • Official Vehicle of the Denver Nuggets
  • Official Vehicle of the Golden State Warriors
  • Official Vehicle of the Los Angeles Clippers
  • Official Vehicle of the Miami HEAT; Exclusive Vehicle of the Miami HEAT
  • Official Vehicle of the Orlando Magic
  • Official Automotive Partner of the New York Knicks; Official Vehicle of the New York Knicks
  • Official Automotive Partner of the Boston Celtics; Official Partner of the Boston Celtics
  • Official Partner of the San Antonio Spurs
  • Proud Partner of the Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Proud Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers
  • Proud Partner of the Phoenix Suns
  • Proud Partner of the Portland Trail Blazers

Kia's growing roster of sports initiatives includes basketball, women's professional golf and motorsports and is designed to increase brand awareness among a new and more affluent group of consumers. Michelle Wie is the brand's official golf ambassador and Kia was recently named the Official Automotive Partner of the LPGA in addition to its role as title sponsor of the annual Kia Classic tournament in Southern California. In just its second year, Kia's U.S. racing program captured the company's first-ever championships in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and it will expand to include the Pirelli World Challenge in 2012. With several key initiatives planned for 2012, Kia Motors is poised to continue driving increased consumer interest and expanding its brand presence with new and enhanced partnerships while continuing to deliver world-class design, cutting-edge technology, modern conveniences and amenities, and outstanding safety features in all its vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is the one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[2] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[3]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia --KMMG --is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. --the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan[4]. Kia's value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, 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 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 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

* Assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. Optima Hybrid will not be built in the USA

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Courtesy of strategyone.net