John Hargreaves is Head of Fleet and Remarketing at Kia Motors (UK) Limited
W
elcome to the fi rst issue of fl eet eureka for 2012. The
start of the year marks an exciting time for Kia with
the UK arrival of Optima, a car that has been lauded globally as a dynamic model in the heavily luxury marque-dominated D-segment of the market.
Several auto writers have described the confusion of colleagues who have mistaken the Optima for a new model Jaguar, at fi rst glance. While we’re pleased to be considered in such good company, we are confi dent that the luxury-feature laden saloon stands apart from the rest of the crowd with a class-leading style all of its own. With the arrival of the Optima, the Kia range now boasts a class-leading vehicle in every segment and the model’s signifi cance in the fl eet sector means that we have largely dedicated this issue of fl eet eureka to explore the Optima from every angle. From initial impressions to exploring the Optima’s plush cabin space, we are also delighted to share the reactions of some of our fl eet customers when they were asked to be among the fi rst to get behind the wheel and put the 1.7 CRDi Optima through its paces and see what it’s like to drive. Read what they have to say on page 14 and then why not take the Optima for a test drive yourself – contact your nearest Kia business specialist dealer, listed on page 17. While we’re thinking big with the Optima,
we’re also rather proud that the second- generation Picanto is doing so well at the supermini end of the sector – launched last summer, it’s already picked up an armful of awards for its style, performance and value-for-money. Read about its latest accolades on page 4. We hope you enjoy this issue and make this the year that you join the growing band of Kia fl eet drivers. ■
We hope you enjoy fl eet eureka magazine. If you would like to receive future issues, simply email your name, address and job title to fl eetsubs@psprare.co.uk Additionally, if you have colleagues who would be interested in receiving copies, include their contacts too. We’d also love to hear your opinion of fl eet eureka and discover what you’d like to see covered in future issues. Please complete our short online survey - visit kia.co.uk and click on the fl eet tab.