Kia Forte turning heads

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2009 (6212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don Miller, Birchwood Kia’s general manager, reports a lot of interest in the newly landed 2010 Kia Forte Koup. He describes the introduction of the new model — which made its debut in Kia showrooms two weeks ago — as a controlled launch with just one in initially — but with plenty more expected to arrive by the end of August.

The model is powered by a 2.0-L, inline four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine with CVVT, 156 hp @6,200 r.p.m. and 144 lb.-ft. of torque @4,300 r.p.m. The ultra-low-emission vehicle comes with a standard five-speed manual transmission — with a four-speed Steptronic automatic transmission as an option.

The Forte Koup gets 49 miles per gallon (5.8 L per 100km) on the highway and 34 mpg (8.3 L per 100 km) in city driving.

Miller praises the Forte Koup’s styling and value. The base price for the model is $18,495 (plus tax, freight and pdi).

Miller has been general manager of Birchwood Kia since June 1. He has been working for the Birchwood Auto Group for the past 17 years, most recently as general manager at Birchwood’s Saturn Saab of Pointe West store.

Also new to the Birchwood Kia management team is sales manager Ena Warkentin. Warkentin has a professional background in the financial services industry. She joined the Birchwood Group a couple of years ago and was most recently with the Woodhaven Lexus Toyota store.

The Birchwood Group bought the Kia store from Terry Ortynsky last fall and moved the dealership to Birchwood’s former Saturn store on Regent.

(Terry Ortynsky Kia had been located on Nairn.) Miller notes that within the next week or so, Birchwood Kia will begin undergoing some cosmetic renovations that will include new signage, improved customer parking and changes to the customer lounge and reception area. The work should be completed by the end of the year.

Both Miller and Bruno Niederer, the outgoing owner of Horizon Kia — Winnipeg’s other Kia dealership located at the Manitoba Auto Mall — report that Kia sales are growing at an eye-catching pace. "Our sales are up 20 per cent over last year," says Niederer.

As reported in this space two weeks ago, Niederer has recently sold Horizon Kia to Chris Dyck and Evan Titchkosky, the owners of the AutoTown Sales Corporation. The change in ownership — and name (AutoTown Kia) — became official as of this past Wednesday.

"I wasn’t planning on selling," says Niederer, who has owned the company for over three years and built the store at the Manitoba Auto Mall. (The store opened in February 2007). "But Chris and Evan approached me with a very good offer. They are young entrepreneurs whose dream was to own a new-car dealership. This is a good opportunity for them."

Niderer is still the owner of Formula Suzuki (next-door to the Kia store) in Winnipeg as well as several new-car dealerships in Thunder Bay.

He reports that his Kia store in Thunder Bay is undergoing a major expansion.

"We bought an old 13,000-square-foot Midas store in Thunder Bay and are remodelling it for our Kia store," he says. "We should be open for business in the new location by the end of the year."