Kia Soul Named One Of “Best Family Cars For 2010” By Edmunds.Com And Parents Magazine

IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2010 — A proven consumer and media favorite, the 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle recently was named to the “Best Family Cars

for 2010 ” list in the “budget” category by leading automotive research site Edmunds.com and family-favorite Parents magazine, adding to an already extensive list of prestigious honors and recognitions for the funky hatchback. Soul was highlighted for its safety features, appealing styling, overall family-friendly features and its attractive starting price below $14,000¹.

“Soul is such a unique and versatile car, suitable for drivers in any stage of life with its extensive array of safety features, style and overall value, including parents and families,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “The fact that this award is given by two well-respected outlets and based on direct consumer feedback is invaluable and a testament to our continuing commitment to providing attractive vehicles loaded with an abundance of safety features, technology and value.”

Taking all current model year vehicles into consideration, Edmunds.com and Parents magazine selected the top 15 vehicles — three each in the budget, crossover, minivan, sedan and SUV categories — based on performance, reliability, safety, and family-friendly features. In addition to analyzing, test-driving, and comparing specifications, Edmunds.com and Parents took into account feedback from parents who own and drive these vehicles every day. All of the cars on the list also are good values, and the winners must have a strong track record for reliability and performance.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors’ uniquely styled affordable halo vehicle offers an extensive list of standard safety features in addition to a low starting price, perfect for budget- and safety-conscious families.

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share.

Houghton College Students Focus on Alternative Energy Sources for Transportation: GM’s Fuel Cell Team Visits College

Houghton, NY March 19, 2010 -- The focus of the Houghton College

(http://www.houghton.edu) Science Honors Program for 2009-2010 is alternative energy sources for transportation. What will we do when the oil runs out? While students have tackled this question throughout the year, it took center stage on campus when representatives from GM (http://www.gm.com/experience/technology/fuel_cells/)’s Fuel Cell team visited the college with their Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell electric vehicle on March 18, 2010.

During this academic year, Houghton College (http://www.houghton.edu) students have designed and constructed working prototype vehicles that run on an alternative fuel source, experimented with techniques for producing the required fuel, and analyzed the environmental and economic concerns related to their design. The students have developed four prototype vehicles for use on campus that operate by using some form of alternative energy source – solar energy, ethanol, fuel cell or biodiesel. The best design would maximize range, acceleration, top speed and comfort while minimizing overall cost and negative environmental effects. Along the way, students have learned in workshop-type class sessions about topics ranging from bioengineering to chemical electronegativity to thermodynamic efficiency.

GM’s Fuel Cell Team stopped by to share their insights on alternative fuel strategies and to discuss the technologies behind the Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell electric vehicle. In September 2009, these electric vehicles surpassed one million miles of gasoline and tailpipe pollution-free driving. More than 50,000 gallons of gasoline were saved in the fuel cell Equinox, a vehicle run on electricity created by an on-board fuel cell stack – the only emissions being wisps of water and vapor. “Currently we have 115 of these vehicles in circulation driven by everyday customers,” stated Daniel O’Connell, Director - Fuel Cell 101X Service, Support & Infrastructure at GM. “The feedback we have received from these drivers has been invaluable – allowing us to make changes and progress the technology. We’re only four years from these vehicles becoming mainstream so we need to keep moving forward.”

Ford's F-150 Team Wins Automotive Excellence Award at Ninth Annual Great Designs in Steel Seminar

DETROIT, May 5 The Automotive Applications Council of the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI)

honored Ford Motor Co.'s F-150 research and development team with its annual Automotive Excellence Award. The team was recognized for its cost-effective and efficient use of advanced and ultra high-strength steel, which helped to minimize the vehicle's weight impact, while maintaining its durability and safety.

The award was presented to Shawn Morgans, body structures technical leader, Ford, at the Ninth Annual Great Designs in Steel seminar in Livonia, Mich. today.

The Automotive Excellence Award recognizes individuals or teams from automakers, suppliers or the academic community who embrace innovation and make significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive marketplace.

"Providing strength and durability is clearly a primary objective when designing and building pickup trucks," Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for SMDI, said. "Ford's innovative use of advanced and ultra high-strength steels allowed the company to increase the F-150's performance and safety, as well as to decrease its weight, helping to make it more fuel efficient."

The 2010 Ford F-150 uses increased amounts of advanced and ultra high-strength steels to save weight and improve performance and safety. Nearly 25 percent of the body-in-white is either advanced or ultra high-strength steel, which contributed to a mass-efficient design and a 75 percent increase in roof strength over the previous model.

Among the advanced high-strength steel features of the F-150 are a hydroformed front-end, low-pressure hydroformed dual-phase 780 roof rail, boron hot-stamped B-pillar reinforcement and high-strength side rails for increased durability and safety.

Award winners are chosen based on their presentation given at the previous year's Great Designs in Steel seminar. Candidates are rated in several categories, including: implementation in production; overall contribution to the advancement of steel; challenges and benefits associated with cost, mass reduction and performance; replacement of competitive materials; and structural performance and efficiency.