Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Kia Has No Plans For Truck, A-Segment Crossover

      But they are interested in creating their own performance sub-brand

    While automakers are going crazy in terms planning new crossovers, Kia is showing some restraint. Speaking with Wards Auto, Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America said the company doesn't see an opportunity to introduce an A-Segment crossover.

    “I don’t think we see an opportunity there. We have a lot of coverage in the marketplace now, and that is not a priority at this point. I think we would see more opportunity in C-segment (CUVs) then we would in A- or B-(segment models),” said Hedrick.

    Kia will also not join Hyundai with entering the pickup truck market.

    “It’s a big step to take and I think it’s a major commitment.” 

    Hedrick points out that Nissan and Toyota have had issues in trying make a dent into the stronghold of large pickups by Ford, GM, and Ram.

    "It’s a fierce battle. You have to go into it eyes wide open,” said Hedrick.

    One interesting tidbit from Ward Auto's piece is that Kia is considering doing something similar to Hyundai's N performance sub-brand.

    Source: Wards Auto

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    I think Kia is smart to not go into the full size pickup truck war as well as the a-class subcompact market. Performance is always desirable by all fans so taking their existing products and offering a performance version of some would be a smart move.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Pathetically sad that Trump is trying to kill anything that is to protect Americans against hate in the workplace. Trump Signs Order to Kill Federal Agency Investigating Tesla
    • @oldshurst442 @Robert Hall @trinacriabob This has got to be pissing off old Idiot47 Time magazine’s provocative cover puts Elon Musk behind Trump’s desk | CNN Business
    • https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-could-face-long-term-political-challenges-with-us-says-trudeau-2025-02-07/   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said U.S. President Donald Trump's talk about absorbing Canada "is a real thing" and is linked to the country's rich natural resources, a government source said. Trudeau made the remarks during a closed-door session of business and labor leaders on how best to respond to Trump's threats of tariffs on Canadian imports. His comments were first reported by the Toronto Star, which said they were mistakenly carried by a loudspeaker.   Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada would be better off if it agreed to become the 51st U.S. state. "They're very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those," the Star quoted Trudeau as saying. "But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing." The government source confirmed that the Star's account of the remarks was accurate.
    • LOL I must apologize because I linked up the wrong link for the autoshow. This link    https://www.apa.ca/en/apa-at-the-2025-montreal-salon-de-lauto/    shows what were some of the highlights.  Missing are Luc Poiriers, a Quebec billionnaire, legit billionnaire and a legit Quebecois real estate mogul, young too, with his 27 or 28 Ferraris.  Also, the Corvette ZR1 was at the show too.  Anyway, my points being 1. I went to to show with my son. Had a great time with him 2. The Montreal show was a success as Montrealers dont show any contempt for auto shows in the winter, Montrealers are not fully immersed in the latest greatest auto reveals over the internet and a good 'ole auto show is plenty enough to see, feel, touch and enjoy the cars that we will end up buying eventually while also looking and dreaming about what billionnaire money buys you. 3. Montreal is not Detroit. (Thank the lord) 4. Detroit is (or was) ALWAYS a premier reveal destination.  Montreal was ALWAYS a so-so reveal destination. Plenty of new reveals did happen in Montreal over the years though. Mainly first reveals FOR the Canadian market.  But having a Corvette C8 ZR1 at the show this year, Montreal was probably one of the FIRST cities to showcase it.  It was on a pedastal showcase going round and round. Kinda feels good to showcase a car like that.   But sadly though, not too many people were flocked to it.  They didnt seem to know it was there.  But there was an E-Ray there as well, and it was a floor show piece ready to be sold and it was open for people to sit in it and there was a HUUUUUGE line-up for it.   Kids, teens, young adults, middle aged folk sprinkled with some old fogeys  ALL lined-up to sit in it.  I havent seen a Corvette with that kind of buzz surrounding it in a looooooong while.   5. My son and I sat in the Brightdrop. It is a well thought commercial EV.  It is HUUUUGE.  Wide and tall and long.  GM EVs are well built inside and out. We sat in the Cadillac Escalade EV, Lyriq and Optiq, the Chevy Equinox and Blazer.   We were not impressed with the interior of the Hummer though.  It was cheap.  The doors are flimsy. All other GM EVs are great inside and out.  6. The Dodge Charger EV is a STUNNER on the outside. The fit and finish on the outside is on par with everybody else.  No surprise there as Chryco does make good cars.  On the inside too, not too shabby with the quality and fit and finish.  The interior design looks like what a modern muscle car should look like.  But...I read and listened to many UNBIASED car reviews about the Charger EV and they all say that the EV part of the Charger is mediocre. Its a shame as its got the looks. Best looking of ALL EVs ever up until now for 2025.  I even prefer the looks of the Charger to the Audi E Tron. And I LOOOVE the Audi E Tron.  7. Quebecois were all flocked to the EV offerings of ALL manufacturers present at the autoshow.  Less at Tesla though.  Nothing to do with Elon's antics as the autoshow was BEFORE his Nazi salute and all that shyte. Its because most Quebecois already KNOW Tesla.  GM surprisingy had  the most people at their EVs.  Second was Hyndai/Kia.   8. There was some sort of Mercedes-AMG model there.  Mercedes was next to Cadillac. The Blackwing sedans were there. Nobody acknowledging them as the Cadillac EVs had the attention further away from Mercedes. This specific AMG model was at the border of the Cadillac/Mercedes display.  Nobody was at theat Mercedes either. I sat in it. It was phoquing tinny and plasticky.  I got out of it in disgust and I didnt notice what model it was.  I dont know HOW auto journalists complain about GM having cheap interiors...   
    • Canada is stable next to the USA but so is a meth addict with an assault rifle. What is your point, good kind sir? The entire senate is full of folks who probably couldn't get laid in normal life without a credit card. your point is....????
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search