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22 January 2003: Harris Autos, importers and distributors of Kia cars and commercial vehicles in Ireland, who dramatically reduced Kia Rio car and van prices last November by E2,500 have quickly revisited their (very successful) cost cutting strategy.

Kia's latest round of price slashes shows Mentors reduced by E1,300 from E18,295 to E16,995. Kia Shuma 1.6 LS 5-door models, reduced by a similar E1300 margin, now retail from E17,495, ex works. Pre-Christmas listings show them at E18,795 - again ex works.

Best news, however, is reserved for 'would-be' purchasers of the two-litre Magentis and the similarly powered (1998 cc to be exact) 4WD Kia Sportage.

Both, thanks to Charlie McCreevy tampering with VRT bands, should have risen considerably in price. Instead, we see the 2.0 litre Magentis priced at ?25,495 on December 1st; selling at just E24,995. With the 5 per cent VRT increase and accompanying VAT the 2003 price should have read E27,378 - so in real terms the Magentis' cut totals E2,383.

Similarly Kia's Sportage is now priced at E25,495, ex works for 2003. On December 1st Sportage was listed at E26,495, ex works. VRT budget hikes should have shoved it to E28,452. Net saving to the customer in this instance is a thumping great E2,957, ex works.

The 2.5-litre Magentis GSE model has also come in for a major price cut. Listed in December price lists at E40,625, ex works, the GSE can be now picked up on Kia main dealer forecourts for just E35,995, ex works - a saving to buyers of E4,630.

A new Kia Sorento 4x4, scheduled to go on sale here in March) and several interior enhancements to the Sedona range should (coupled with the price reduction exercise) considerably boost Kia's Irish sales in 2003. Worldwide, Kia Motors Corporation recorded a total 1,007,876 sales in 2002, the first time that annual sales have exceeded the one million mark in the company's 58-year history.

European sales for Kia Motors in the same period rose by 9.2 per cent achieving a third record sales year in a market that fell by 2.8 per cent. Between September and December 2002, sales increased by just over 30 per cent.

All Kia models carry a three-year warranty and 3 years AA cover.

	January 2003 - by John Reilly
Kia Ireland cuts prices again 22 January 2003: Harris Autos, importers and distributors of Kia cars and commercial vehicles in Ireland, who dramatically reduced Kia Rio car and van prices last November by E2,500 have quickly revisited their (very successful) cost cutting strategy. Kia's latest round of price slashes shows Mentors reduced by E1,300 from E18,295 to E16,995. Kia Shuma 1.6 LS 5-door models, reduced by a similar E1300 margin, now retail from E17,495, ex works. Pre-Christmas listings show them at E18,795 - again ex works. Best news, however, is reserved for 'would-be' purchasers of the two-litre Magentis and the similarly powered (1998 cc to be exact) 4WD Kia Sportage. Both, thanks to Charlie McCreevy tampering with VRT bands, should have risen considerably in price. Instead, we see the 2.0 litre Magentis priced at ?25,495 on December 1st; selling at just E24,995. With the 5 per cent VRT increase and accompanying VAT the 2003 price should have read E27,378 - so in real terms the Magentis' cut totals E2,383. Similarly Kia's Sportage is now priced at E25,495, ex works for 2003. On December 1st Sportage was listed at E26,495, ex works. VRT budget hikes should have shoved it to E28,452. Net saving to the customer in this instance is a thumping great E2,957, ex works. The 2.5-litre Magentis GSE model has also come in for a major price cut. Listed in December price lists at E40,625, ex works, the GSE can be now picked up on Kia main dealer forecourts for just E35,995, ex works - a saving to buyers of E4,630. A new Kia Sorento 4x4, scheduled to go on sale here in March) and several interior enhancements to the Sedona range should (coupled with the price reduction exercise) considerably boost Kia's Irish sales in 2003. Worldwide, Kia Motors Corporation recorded a total 1,007,876 sales in 2002, the first time that annual sales have exceeded the one million mark in the company's 58-year history. European sales for Kia Motors in the same period rose by 9.2 per cent achieving a third record sales year in a market that fell by 2.8 per cent. Between September and December 2002, sales increased by just over 30 per cent. All Kia models carry a three-year warranty and 3 years AA cover.
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