Kia Scoops Up Two red dot Awards

Cars manufactured by Kia Motors got top marks in two categories at this year’s red dot product design competition in Germany. A competent jury panel, which comprised international experts, bestowed the coveted red dot awards on the Kia Sportage compact CUV and Kia Optima sedan.

The Optima also got the 2011 red dot ‘best of the best’ title, the competition’s highest distinction, for which only the best products in each category are eligible.

These latest two distinctions bring the total number of Kia models to receive a red dot award to four – following the Venga distinction in 2010 and the Kia Soul in 2009.  The Kia Optima and the new Sportage also won 2011 iF product design awards last December.

“We are extremely proud of the red dot awards for the new Kia Optima and Sportage.  They are a great acknowledgement of the hard work of our international design teams and an endorsement of our design strategy,” says Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors Corporation.  “Naturally, we are particularly thrilled about the ‘best of the best’ award for our new sedan.  The Kia Optima exudes a bold, athletic energy and its blend of simple and fluid lines and elegant but uncomplicated shapes draw the attention of the eye in much the same fashion as a perfectly tailored, fine Italian suit.”

“These red dot design awards are a fantastic success for our brand.  They represent yet another independent endorsement of the groundbreaking design and excellent value for money Kia vehicles offer. The special award for the Kia Optima, in particular, will surely add momentum to the ongoing launch our new sedan in the highly competitive D-segment across the globe,” Senior Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation, Thomas Oh, underlines the significance of design in terms of Kia’s market position.