Autoblog

Wonder Woman Kia Sportage is anything but invisible

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Crossover, Kia, Specialty

The spectacular partnering of Kia and DC Entertainment (the company we grew up loving as DC Comics) continues here at the New York Auto Show, with this Wonder Woman-inspired 2013 Kia Sportage. Ardent Autoblog readers will undoubtedly remember the fruits of earlier Kia/DC efforts: Batman Optima, Flash Forte Koup, Green Lantern Soul, Cyborg Forte, Aquaman Rio and Superman Optima Hybrid. (We're still trying to figure out who Cyborg is, too.)

The Wonder Woman Sportage, sporting the Amazing Amazon's particularly patriotic livery, is perhaps the most, eh, eye-catching super-Kia to date. (Actually, no, none of the superhero rides seared our eyeballs like Supe's hybrid.) Red, white and blue paint with spangled sides, an aggressively low body kit and a WW logo grille really sell the theme. Of course, The Lasso of Truth is represented too, showing up in the design as a subtle gold line that wraps around the bodywork.

As with the earlier DC concept cars, the Wonder Woman Sportage's real goal - aside from entertaining the kid-contingent of auto show goers - is to raise awareness for the We Can Be Heroes charity. The DC charitable program seeks to raise money and awareness about the hunger crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Get a better look at Wonder Woman's crossover in our attached galleries and find the Kia press release below.

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Wonder Woman Kia Sportage is anything but invisible originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Superman-themed Kia Optima Hybrid definitely not faster than a speeding bullet

John Neff — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Etc., Kia

The Justice League of America's garage is filling up quickly, with Kia and DC Entertainment unveiling its sixth of eight super hero-inspired vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show today. The vehicles are being used to raise awareness for DC Entertainment's "We Can Be Heroes" giving campaign.

The latest Kia to get the super hero treatment is the Optima Hybrid, which draws on the almighty Superman for inspiration. We're not sure what to make of this thing, honestly, as neither Clark Kent nor Kal-El would be caught dead in it (unless it's got the optional Kryptonite seatbelts, of course). Rather, this looks like what we imagine a Superman fanboy would construct if given carte blanche to ruin an Optima Hybrid. The actual design and construction were handled jointly by Kia, DC Entertainment and Super Street magazine.

We'll let the pictures do the talking in terms of what modifications were made since they're all cosmetic. That is, no mechanical mods were done to make the Kia Optima either faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive (shame).

We mentioned this is the sixth of eight super-hero inspired Kias. The first five were Batman (Optima SX), Flash (Forte Koup), Green Lanter (Soul), Cyborg (Forte Five-Door) and Aquaman (Rio Five-door). That means the seventh car will be for Wonder Woman, and we can't wait to see how tastefully her costume can be converted into a car design. The eighth and final car, meanwhile, will be a mash up of all the super heroes in one car.

Continue reading Superman-themed Kia Optima Hybrid definitely not faster than a speeding bullet

Superman-themed Kia Optima Hybrid definitely not faster than a speeding bullet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Superman joining Kia's Justice League-themed fleet of vehicles

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Hybrid, Sedan, Kia, Toys/Games, TV/Movies

Kia is teaming up with the Justice League once again to create another show car that will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show. At the 2012 SEMA Show, Kia showed off various models inspired by DC Entertainment characters Batman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern and Cyborg, but a Superman-themed Kia Optima Hybrid will roll into the Windy City for next week's show.

In the above drawing, we only get to see a small portion of this car inspired by the Man of Steel, but it will have the requisite red-and-blue paint scheme with Superman's shield on the hood (subtle, it is not).

The previous cars include the Batman Optima, Aquaman Rio, Flash Forte Koup, Green Lantern Soul and Cyborg Forte. All six cars were created to raise awareness for the "We Can Be Heroes" campaign, which helps families in eastern Africa affected by drought and famine.

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Superman joining Kia's Justice League-themed fleet of vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Batman-inspired Kia Optima concept headed for Gotham reveal

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Kia, Toys/Games, Celebrities, Design/Style, TV/Movies

DC Entertainment is leading a charity campaign called "We Can Be Heroes" to raise awareness of hunger in The Horn of Africa. With help from artist Jim Lee and Rides magazine, Kia has joined the Justice League with a Batman-themed Optima SX apparently inspired by the Dark Knight's darkest nights.

Looking like Batman went to SEMA, a set of coilovers gets the Optima SX hunkered down over an intense bodykit and 20-inch wheels. The exterior is done in matte black and piano black, but a carpet of yellow LEDs will make sure it never gets lost in the night - they even shine from behind the massive brakes, the Batwing-shaped grille and the HID headlights etched with the Bat-Signal. The interior gets lots of black leather with Batman logos, "utility throwing stars" in the console and a Batsuit and cowl in the trunk.

The one-off Kia will be unveiled in Gotham City, and it's the first of eight custom Kias playing doppelgangers to DC characters. There's more about it in the press release below, and NYC's Time Warner Center is where you want to be to see it in person.

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Batman-inspired Kia Optima concept headed for Gotham reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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