Kia Motors' lovable hamsters have done it again – earning the follow-up advertising campaign for the brand's funky Soul, titled "This or That," the highly coveted "Automotive Ad of the Year" award by The Nielsen Company for the second year in a row at a ceremony today at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. Together, the popular "This or That" spot and the original "A New Way To Roll" campaign have contributed to significant increases in consumer awareness, perception and consideration of the Kia brand, and led to record sales of the Soul urban passenger vehicle. In March, the Soul became the second Kia vehicle to sell more than 10,000 units in a single month, and year-to-date sales are up 50.8 percent.

The product that began Kia Motors' design-led transformation returns to New York with a fresh and updated look, more power, and the same funky demeanor consumers have come to love from the compact crossover. Kia Motors America (KMA) today pulled the cover off the mid-cycle update to its iconic Soul urban passenger vehicle at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). The wildly successful Soul is fine-tuned for 2012 with a significant number of technology and powertrain enhancements with an emphasis on delivering more power and improved fuel efficiency.

The product that began Kia Motors America's (KMA) design-led transformation returns to the Kia lineup with a fresh and updated look, more power, and the same funky "outside of the box" demeanor consumers have come to love from the segment-leading compact crossover. Fine-tuned-for-2012 with a significant number of technology and powertrain enhancements, Kia's iconic urban passenger vehicle now delivers class-leading horsepower2 and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway. Since its debut in Spring 2009, Soul has enjoyed soaring popularity and earned a trophy case full of prestigious awards, including: a 2009 "Top Safety Pick" honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), being named a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" for 2010, achieving a "Top Recommended℠ Vehicle for 2011" by Edmunds.com, receiving the "Best Family Cars for 2010" designation by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, and being recognized as "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com.

When the funky Soul urban passenger vehicle arrived in 2009 it announced Kia Motors' design-led transformation and immediately stood out from its boxy competitors with an intriguing combination of eye-catching looks, a unique personality and a memorable advertising campaign starring a trio of music-loving hamsters. The evolution of the Soul continues this weekend with the debut of a new 60-second spot for the significantly refreshed 2012 Soul featuring the return of the hamsters and this summer's hottest song, "Party Rock Anthem," by electro-pop group LMFAO. "Share Some Soul" is set in a dark, futuristic videogame world in which the hamsters turn a fierce battle between alien robots and humanoids into an interstellar dance party.

After more than three million online views since its debut in late-August, Kia Motors America's "Share Some Soul" advertising campaign featuring the brand's music-loving hamsters shufflin' to the beat of electro-pop group LMFAO's smash hit "Party Rock Anthem," Kia is inviting dancers from around the globe to join the party and participate in a LMFAO-inspired dance video submission contest. Hosted on the Kia Soul YouTube¹ and Facebook channels, "Soul Shuffle Slam" contestants will vie for a chance to win a Grand Prize of $10,000 and the opportunity to dance on stage with the wildly popular electro-pop group LMFAO by submitting videos of themselves grooving to the summer's hottest song, "Party Rock Anthem."

The product that began Kia Motors America's (KMA) design-led transformation returns to the Kia lineup with a fresh and updated look, more power, and the same funky "outside of the box" demeanor consumers have come to love from the segment-leading compact crossover. Fine-tuned-for-2012 with a significant number of technology and powertrain enhancements, Kia's iconic urban passenger vehicle now delivers class-leading horsepower² and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway. Since its debut in Spring 2009, Soul has enjoyed soaring popularity and earned a trophy case full of prestigious awards, including: a 2009 "Top Safety Pick" honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), being named a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" for 2010, achieving a "Top Recommended^℠ Vehicle for 2011" by Edmunds.com, receiving the "Best Family Cars for 2010" designation by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, and being recognized as "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com.

Since bursting on the scene in 2009 to announce the arrival of the funky Soul urban passenger vehicle, Kia Motors' lovable hamsters have resonated with consumers and critics while entertaining the young and the young-at-heart in movie theaters, on television and across the web. In recognition of the public's quick embrace of the campaign, the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame honored Kia's hamsters yesterday with its first-ever "Rookie of the Year" award.

Kia Motors America (KMA) today officially launched the refreshed 2012 Soul urban passenger vehicle, the product that began the brand's design-led transformation less than three years ago. The iconic hatchback returns to the Kia lineup with a fresh and updated look, more power, and the same funky "outside of the box" demeanor consumers have come to love from the segment-leading compact crossover. Fine tuned for 2012 with a significant number of technology and powertrain enhancements, the 2012 Soul now delivers class-leading horsepower3 and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway.

Kia Motors America (KMA) takes the field at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show with a pair of outrageous sports-themed vehicles built by the world famous West Coast Customs (WCC) shop in Corona, Calif. Working together, KMA and WCC have created two one-of-a-kind show cars – Optima Hybrid and Soul – inspired by KMA's official ambassadors and their respective sports: basketball all-star Blake Griffin and Michelle Wie of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Following the SEMA Show, television audiences will have a front row seat for the Kia builds on an upcoming episode of Inside West Customs on VELOCITY.

Consumers Digest, a leading consumer resource for automotive reviews, recently named four Kia vehicles "Best Buys" - the 2012 Kia Optima, 2012 Sorento, 2012 Soul and 2012 Sportage. This latest recognition comes on the heels of Kia Motors America (KMA) announcing the company's best-ever October sales and setting its 14th consecutive monthly sales record.

The 2012 Soul and Forte Koup recently were named to MSN Autos "10 Great Cars for Less Than $20,000" list, with Kia being the only brand to have two vehicles selected. Soul, Kia's iconic hatchback refreshed for the 2012 model year, delivers a series of refinements, including more power, improved fuel economy and new technologies along with an updated look. Meanwhile, the performance-inspired Forte Koup offers world-class design, fuel efficiency, and outstanding driving dynamics.

For the 2012 model year, Kia Motors America (KMA) equips the all-new Rio subcompacts and enhanced Soul urban passenger vehicle with a state-of-the-art 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder Gamma powerplant, which was recently honored as one of Ward's "10 Best Engines." The editors of WardsAuto recognized the engine's combination of performance and fuel efficiency with a class-leading 138 horsepower⁴ while maintaining class-leading fuel economy of 30/40 mpg (city/highway)⁵ in the Rio 5-door and sedan.

Leading online automotive resource Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com reported today the top automotive manufacturers with the lowest average total cost of ownership for the initial five-year ownership period, with Kia Motors America (KMA) earning the award in the non-luxury brand category and the 2012 Soul urban passenger vehicle taking top honors in the non-luxury compact car category. Calculating depreciation, expected fuel costs, insurance, maintenance and repair costs, state fees and more, Kia's average Total Cost of Ownership over a five-year ownership period came in below $40,000 and the 2012 Soul was under $32,000.

Kia Motors America (KMA) announces the seventh version in a series of unique Soul special editions. Inspired by the beautiful rock formations found in the Southwest United States, the Red Rock Special Edition Soul!¹ adds style, class and unique features inside and out with a starting price of just $20,600².

On the heels of achieving 20 consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth, Kia Motors America (KMA) has been recognized by NADAguides, a leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, by having three of its vehicles – Rio 5-Door SX, Forte SX and Soul + -- named to the publication's "Most Versatile 2012 New Cars Under $20K" list. Kia placed more vehicles than any other automaker on the top ten list, which is intended for new car shoppers in the market to find fuel-efficient vehicles that are feature-rich and highly-versatile for the needs of everyday driving while also being budget-friendly.