Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s second-ranked carmaker, said Tuesday that it has received around 5,700 preorders for the new Mohave large-size sport utility vehicle since last September when its temporarily halted production resumed. (Image : Yonhap)
ILSAN, Feb. 23 (Korea Bizwire) - Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s second-ranked carmaker, said Tuesday that it has received around 5,700 preorders for the new Mohave large-size sport utility vehicle since last September when its temporarily halted production resumed.
Of the total customers, over 80 percent were men, indicating that its flagship SUV model is appealing to customers with its more powerful image and enhanced driving performance than the previous model.
“This is unprecedented that a car that debuted eight years ago is still drawing such a strong market response,” Seo Bo-won, a senior official of the company’s domestic marketing division told reporters at a press conference held in Ilsan, north of Seoul.
Since its official launch of sales, Kia Motors said that it has been selling a daily average of 250 units, drawing an “explosive” response from customers.
The sales came after an eight-month-long suspension of production last year aimed at upgrading the power train to meet the toughened euro 6 emission standards. With the engine adjustment, it tweaked its outside design to emphasize its masculine image and added diverse convenient and safety features.
With a 3.0-liter diesel engine and a rear-wheel eight-speed transmission, the new Mohave has 260 horsepower and a torque of 57.1 kg-meters. Its fuel efficiency stands at 10.7 kmpl.
Kia Motors equipped the Mohave with such safety features as Blind Spot Detection and Forward Collision Warning systems intended to help the driver avoid accidents.
The new Mohave comes in three trims with prices ranging from 40.25 million won (US$32,857) to 46.80 million won. Of the preorders, the automaker said that around 70 percent have chosen the seven-seat Mohave, while almost all have opted for four wheel drive.’
(Yonhap)
