Blog

This year, Kia commemorates its 50th anniversary as a passenger vehicle manufacturer, reflecting on a remarkable journey of innovation and excellence. From its humble beginnings as a bicycle parts maker, Kia has emerged as a global automotive leader, renowned for its advanced vehicles and dedication to sustainable mobility. From Bicycles to Brisa Kia's story began in 1944 when it was founded as Kyungsung Precision Industry, producing steel tubing and bicycle parts. Fast forward to 1974, the company unveiled its first passenger car, the Brisa, marking the beginning of Kia's automotive legacy. This modest sedan, built with 90% locally sourced parts, became a symbol of resilience and a favorite among taxicab drivers in Korea. Navigating Challenges and Achievements In the 1980s, Kia faced significant hurdles, including government restrictions that stopped passenger car production. Despite these challenges, the resilient brand adapted and resumed manufacturing with Mazda-based models. By 1993, Kia made its debut in the U.S. market, opening four dealerships in Portland, Oregon, which set the stage for its international expansion. Shaping the Future of Mobility Kia's commitment to innovation shines through its recent achievements, such as the introduction of a new logo and brand philosophy, " Movement that Inspires," in 2021. This reflects its dedication to dynamic design and sustainable mobility. The launch of the EV6, Kia's first dedicated electric vehicle, marks a significant step toward clean mobility solutions, aligning with its Plan S strategy for prioritizing eco-friendly vehicles. Kia's design evolution is highlighted by milestones like the "Tiger Nose" grille introduced in 2007 and the 2017 unveiling of the Proceed Concept. The brand's dedication to design has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Red Dot Design Awards, demonstrating its ability to blend aesthetic appeal with functionality. Commitment to Quality and a Vision for the Future Kia's focus on quality is highlighted by its consistent recognition as the highest-ranked mass-market brand in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study. This commitment to excellence is reflected in the brand's extended 7-year warranty, offering peace of mind to customers worldwide. Looking ahead, Kia continues to be at the forefront of automotive innovation. Its recent unveiling of the Concept EV9, a vision of sustainable mobility, underscores the brand's commitment to leading the charge in electric vehicle development. With a growing lineup of EVs, including the recently launched EV3 subcompact crossover, Kia is poised to shape the future of transportation. Join the Celebration As Kia celebrates its 50th anniversary, it remains dedicated to pushing boundaries and inspiring movement. Join us in honoring this remarkable journey by exploring Kia's diverse range of vehicles by visiting Savage Kia today and experiencing the best of what Kia has to offer. Test drive the brand-new 2024 Kia Telluride, discover Kia's incentives, and speak to our experts to discover the true lengths of our brand's historic quality. We look forward to seeing you at Savage Kia!

Here at Savage Kia, we’re starting to feel the madness burn. Last night was Selection Sunday, meaning that 68 men’s and women’s teams from the world of college basketball officially punched their ticket into this season’s big tournament. So while we have hoops on the mind, we thought we’d take this Monday to flash back to one of the more impressive feats in the history of slam dunking a basketball: former Los Angeles Clippers star and athletic demon dunking over a full-size Kia. Setting the Stage The year was 2011. Blake Griffin was in the midst of his rookie season for the Clippers. Until a series of injuries throughout his career limited his athleticism (he went through a two year period from 2019-2021 where he didn’t dunk once), he was primarily known for one thing: dunking basketballs very hard. Thus, he was a no-brainer for 2011's dunk contest, which also happened to be in L.A. But no one knew if this violent style of dunking would translate to dunking... while jumping over a car. Doubts were assuaged when teammate Baron Davis – poking out of the Kia’s sunroof in the bit's funniest visual gag– connected with Griffin on a perfect lob pass, which Griffin emphatically threw down over the hood of a 2011 Kia Optima. Amusingly, despite the spectacle of the moment – the Kia being brought onto the court, a full choir along for the ride – there’s so little buildup to Griffin’s actual dunk that the broadcast almost missed the attempt. (He’d soon learn there’s nothing wrong with some occasional showmanship.) But the moment is preserved through replays, parodies, and of course the reaction of Spike Lee and all else assembled. Do We Know Where That Kia Optima Is Today? We actually do! Thanks to an investigative report from T he Ringer in 2021, commemorating its tenth anniversary, they discovered that Oklahoma resident Michael Longa purchased the car in 2015. Griffin’s signature still emblazons the steering wheel, and Longa drives it every day. As of 2021, the car had accrued 89,000 miles. Though Longa claimed the Kia could fetch a high value – seeing as how it’s the one that Blake Griffin dunked over – but he’s content if he never learns the true price. Put Yourself in a Kia Today Of course, today, the Optima lives on under the K5 moniker (its original South Korean name). And it’s exciting times at Kia, as they’re set to reveal the new K4 later this week at the New York International Auto Show. As for Kia’s relationship with the NBA, things have only gotten stronger with the Orlando Magic changing the name of their arena to the Kia Center late last year. You can find the K5 on our lot here at Savage Kia, along with hundreds of new and certified pre-owned vehicles. With Kia, you’ll find reliable, high-performance vehicles – regardless of whether a famous athlete has dunked over them.

Believe it or not, the colors that you see on cars today are the result of a long and complicated history. In the early days of the automobile, there were only a handful of colors to choose from. But as technology progressed and society evolved, so too did the palette of available car colors. Today, there are literally thousands of colors to choose from. Here's a brief history of how we got from there to here. The first cars were available in black, white, and gray. Black was by far the most popular color because it didn't show dirt and it was easy to keep clean. White was popular among rich people who wanted to show off their status. Gray was considered to be neither here nor there; it wasn't flashy like white and it wasn't as practical as black. By the 1920s, cars were available in a wide range of colors, including green, blue, brown, and even red. But black continued to be the most popular color among car buyers. In fact, nearly 60% of all cars sold in the 1920s were black. During the Great Depression, car sales plummeted and manufacturers began offering cars in a wider range of colors in an effort to boost sales. The most popular colors during this period were bright and cheerful shades like yellow and orange. By the time the 1930s rolled around, metallic paint was all the rage. If you wanted to show that you were wealthy and could afford the latest trends, you'd slap some metallic paint on your car. It was a status symbol. But it wasn't just the rich who could get their hands on metallic paint. Companies soon began to realize that they could use aluminum flakes to produce the paint, which made it much more affordable. So even people who weren't wealthy could have a car that shimmered and shone in the sun.. After World War II, car companies began offering more subdued colors like tan and beige. These colors were seen as more sophisticated and reflected the increased affluence of America's middle class. By the 1950s, pastel colors like pink and mint green had become extremely popular among female car buyers. In the 1960s, bright colors made a comeback as young people embraced psychedelic culture. This trend continued into the 1970s with the rise of disco culture. Common car colors during this period included gold, silver, and purple. Today, there are literally thousands of car paint colors to choose from. You can find cars in every color under the sun, from traditional shades like black and white to more daring hues like candy apple red and neon green. And thanks to modern paint technologies, you can even get your car custom-painted to match your favorite sports team or alma mater's colors. No matter what your taste may be, there's sure to be a car paint color that's just right for you. From the earliest days of the automobile up until today, car paint colors have come a long way. What started out as a limited palette has now exploded into a veritable rainbow of hues. So whether you're looking for something traditional or something that will make your car really stand out from the crowd, there's sure to be a color that's just right for you. Thanks for reading!