All-new 2016 Kia Optima and Sorento win ‘International Car of The Year’ Awards
Kia brand wins Road & Travel Magazine’s International
Car of the Year (ICOTY) Awards for fourth consecutive year
Optima claims the International Car of the Year (ICOTY)
award for second time in four years
Sorento wins International SUV of the year award for the
first time
In
conjunction with the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Road & Travel Magazine
(RTM) has named the 2016 Kia Optima as its International Car of the Year. RTM
jurors praised the all-new edition of Kia’s perennial best-seller for its
aggressive design, long list of available features, impressive powertrain
options and great value. RTM also named the 2016 Sorento its International SUV
of the Year. The Sorento garnered acclaim for its combination of premium
interior amenities, extensive safety features and all-wheel drive capability. Together,
the awards propelled Kia to an extraordinary fourth consecutive win of the prestigious
ICOTY brand award. The ICOTY jurors honored Kia’s K900 (also known as Quoris in
some markets) luxury sedan in 2015, the Cadenza premium sedan in 2014, and the
previous-generation Optima in 2013.
“The
Optima and Sorento are two of Kia’s best-selling vehicles and both were
instrumental in the transformation of the brand,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating
officer and EVP, KMA. “To win the prestigious ICOTY award four years in a row,
with two models winning their categories this year, is a clear indication that
our products continue to offer a world-class balance of design, amenities,
craftsmanship, safety and value for today’s savvy consumers.”
2015
marks the 20th anniversary for RTM’s annual “Of the Year” judging, which
includes three awards: International Car, International SUV, and International
Family Vehicle of the Year. In addition to product attributes such as style,
comfort and performance, award criteria also factor in how well each brand
connects emotionally with consumers through its marketing efforts. The winner
is chosen by the ICOTY jury, which consists of nationally renowned automotive
journalists from respected publications such as Consumer Guide® Automotive,
MSN Autos, New Car News Syndicate and RTM.
“We’ve
never had one brand win this award four years in a row, but Kia has done it. It
goes to show just how exceptional the new Kia models are, providing clear
direction of where the Kia brand is headed,” said Courtney Caldwell,
editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine.
“We are near speechless at the level of progress the Kia brand has made
in spite of the stiff competition. It is without a doubt the brand that gets
the most ‘wows’ from our staff and is truly an industry success story that we
can relate to in many ways.”
About
Kia Motors Corporation
Kia
Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the
young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of
motor vehicles. Over 3 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 10
manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries which are then sold and
serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering around 180
countries. Kia today has around 49,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues
of nearly US$45 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an
official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World
Cup™. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan – "The Power to Surprise"
– represents the company's global commitment to surprise the world by providing
exciting and inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.
For more information
about Kia Motors and our products, please visit our Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com.