Autoblog

This past February, just when it appeared that Kia had found its advertising footing, marketing VP Ian Beavis cleaned out his desk and followed Kia Motors America CEO Len Hunt out the door. Post-exodus, Beavis has landed at Carat, an advertising concern that's part of the Aegis Group. The 54-year-old Beavis will fill the role of Executive Vice President for global client direction for Carat, and his past experience inside automakers such as Toyota, Ford, and Mitsubishi as well as time spent in high-powered agencies such as Foote, Cone & Belding, and Saatchi & Saatchi have led to glowing statements from higher-ups at the new digs. Carat does have some automotive clients among its customer ranks, and as marketing efforts continue to evolve, the firm's grasp of media's push beyond the traditional means of messaging should stand it in good stead. We hear Kia could use a witty campaign that gets people talking...

[Source: Advertising Age]

Next Monday is President's Day, and a lot of workers will get the day off. Some other employees, like former Kia execs Len Hunt, CEO of Kia Motors America, and Ian Beavis, VP of marketing, will have more than just the day off: they recently ended their employment with Kia over what's being portrayed as a case of humor that got lost in translation.

To promote its President's Day sale, the company ran an ad featuring "unheard of" President Millard Fillmore, "best remembered as the first president to have a running-water bathtub." Cue the segue into the "unheard of" deals that Kia dealers would be offering during the long weekend. And to commemorate the event and the president, Kia made soap-on-a-rope busts of Mr. Fillmore, some of which were handed out during a press event at the Chicago Auto Show. And, uh... yeah... that's it. Unheard-of president, unheard-of deals, and soap.

But Byung Mo Ahn, chairman and group CEO of Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- and the man who hired and promoted Len Hunt -- apparently didn't find the soap-on-a-rope commercial that funny. Word is that Ahn wants more serious commercials focusing on Kia's quality. So even though Hunt and Beavis presided over a solid sales story and growing brand awareness, and Hunt was especially well-liked by dealers, the two men are now probably on their way to other automakers. And Kia commercials are about to get very boring. Our sympathies to Hunt and Beavis, yet if nothing else, at least now Millard Fillmore has another claim to fame. Thanks for the tip, Keith!

[Source: Ad Age]

High-res live and media pics available by clicking image

Following in the footsteps of its other "sporty" SX models, Kia unveiled its new Rondo SX in Chicago today. Playing up the versatility of the new people hauler, Kia's VP of Marketing, Ian Beavis, said the new Rondo SX should appeal to those who want to have a more aggressive package on a budget. The SX was done all in-house by lowering the suspension, adding some bigger rubber, a new mesh grille, rear valance, red trimmed interior accents, and a new cold air intake and cat-back exhaust to add 10 hp to the Rondo's 2.7-liter V6. In the SX, it's rated at 192. The 2007 Kia Rondo was intro'd at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November, with a slew of "Rondoisms" describing all of the new terms people had to invent to cover the new things this versatile vehicle could do. Well, here in Chi-Town, the Rondoisms returned and the unveiling of the SX was even accompanied by song as a rainbow-clad chorus sang Let The Sun Shine In. No, really.

One small tidbit slipped out of the lips of Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of KMA, right after the presentation too. He said that the enthusiast market is small but showing what can be done on a small budget is what these special addition cars are all about. Something Kia owners can replicate pretty easily on their own. He even mentioned in passing that a light turbo application has been considered as well. "The Rondo SX Concept is proof that smart, spacious vehicles don't need to be boring, and that consumers can still be passionate about a daily driver." When asked how he sees the Rondo stacking up against the similar Mazda5, he said that sliding doors equal minivan in the minds of most consumers and that the Rondo is definitely not a minivan. He also said that we might see a new side of the Rondo in New York, where it has been pitched as a 21st century cab. Full press release and specs after the jump.

[Source: Kia]