Kia Mohave

Kia Mohave
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia Motors
Also called	Kia Borrego
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Hwasung Plant, Hwasung, South Korea Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)[1] Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan[2] Kulim, Malaysia
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size SUV
Body style	4-door wagon
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
Related	Hyundai Veracruz
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L Lambda II V6 (petrol) 4.6 L Tau V8 (petrol) 3.0 L S-Line V6 (diesel)
Transmission	5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic 8-speed automatic (diesel)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.0 in (2,896 mm)
Length	192.1 in (4,879 mm)
Width	75.4 in (1,915 mm)
Height	71.3 in (1,811 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Hyundai Terracan
Successor	Kia Sorento (North America)

The Kia Mohave, marketed in North America as the Kia Borrego, is a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by the South Korean-based Kia Motors. The vehicle debuted in 2008 in the Korean^[3] and US markets. The Kia Borrego is named after the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California; Borrego means "bighorned sheep" which can be found in the state park.^[4]

Kia Borrego in the U.S.

The Kia Borrego was introduced as the largest SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) in Kia's lineup of vehicles in the U.S. in 2009. The lineup of the Borrego in the U.S. was as follows:

The LX was the base Kia Borrego, though was very well-equipped for its $26,245.00 MSRP base price. It included such features as: cloth upholstery, keyless entry, A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, six speakers, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and a 3.8L V6 engine with automatic transmission. Features such as a 4.6L V8 engine were optional.

The EX was the uplevel version of the Kia Borrego, had a $27,995.00 MSRP base price, and added features such as: an A/M-F/M stereo with six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer and USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, an Infinity premium sound system with external amplifier and rear-mounted subwoofer, a power sunroof, and dual-zone air conditioning. Features such as heated dual front bucket seats and a 4.6L V8 engine were optional.

The Limited was the top-of-the-line version of the Kia Borrego, had a $37,995.00 MSRP base price, and added features such as: a standard 4.6L V8 engine, leather seating surfaces, power dual front bucket seats, upgraded alloy wheels, heated dual front bucket seats, optional touch-screen GPS navigation with voice recognition, and a Homelink transmitter.

Bluetooth hands-free telephone and wireless stereo audio streaming were optional for all models.

After unsuccessful sales in the U.S. for 2009, the Kia Borrego was discontinued, and its replacement, the all-new, second-generation 2011 Kia Sorento, began production in West Point, Georgia in 2010, although it did not offer a V8 engine, instead offering all-new Inline Four-Cylinder (I4) and V6 engines, yet offering all the features that its predecessor, the Kia Borrego, offered, including a new third-row seating option for all models, except the Base model.

Production history

The production model, designed by automotive designer Peter Schreyer, former chief designer for Audi, was introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.^[5] The vehicle was originally shown as a concept car under the Kia Mesa name at the 2005 North American International Auto Show and went on sale in Korea as the Mohave prior to its release in the United States. In the US, the Borrego went on hiatus for the 2010 model year, with no word on its return or cancellation, after lower than expected sales in 2009.^[6]

As of December 2, 2010, the Kia website no longer listed the Borrego as a production model, and the previous address for it advertised the new Kia Sorento as a replacement vehicle.^[7] Kia, however, still continued selling the Borrego in Canada, meaning the Borrego was a Canada-only nameplate from 2010-11.

As of October 28, 2011, the car was discontinued with the Sorento as a successor, except the Middle East,^[7] Central Asia, and Russia.

Technical details

The Borrego uses body-on-frame construction, with available adjustable air-suspension, hill-descent control and a high- and low-range automatic transmission. The Borrego has three standard rows of seats in the US. The Borrego will be fitted with either the 3.0 L VGT diesel V6 (in 2010), second-generation Lambda II 3.8 L V6 producing 276 horsepower (206 kW) or the recently developed 4.6 L V8 Hyundai Tau engine. The Tau V8 will be tuned to give less power but more torque than in the Hyundai Genesis sedan, and creates 361 horsepower (269 kW). The V8 has a towing capacity of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg), and the V6 is able to tow 5,000 lb (2,300 kg). It has a navigation system available as an option.

Kia Borrego Fuel cell version

The Kia Borrego FCEV^[8] is a concept car produced by Hyundai-Kia and first shown at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.^[9] The green SUV concept is based on a model Borrego and has a fuel cell developed by the 4th generation Hyundai-Kia (154 hp, 115 kW) and a new battery Lithium-Ion Polymer. The driver then enjoys an autonomy of 820 kilometres (510 mi) and can start in temperatures of −30 °C (−22 °F). As part of its testing program, Kia will put on the roads in 2010 a fleet of Kia Borrego FCEVs.

Awards

• Kia Borrego (Kia Mohave) has been selected as the “Best Kept Secret” in the Autobytel.com^[10]
• Kia Borrego Awarded the "Best-in-Class Sport Utility Vehicle $25,000-$35,000" award as part of the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) 2009 Winter Vehicle Awards competition.^[11]
• Kia Borrego has been named the top-rated ‘SUV $25,000-$35,000’ in the Edmunds.com Consumers’ Top Rated Vehicle awards in the US. Borrego earned strong marks from consumers for its overall excellent value, along with impressive power and towing capacity, interior space, visibility, fuel economy and extensive list of standard features.^[12]

References

1. "Группа компаний Автотор :: Автомобили KIA" (in Russian). Avtotor.ru. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
2. "Ao"Азия Авто"". Aziaavto.kz. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
3. Brooks, Glenn (2008-01-04). "South Korea: Kia Mohave SUV previews 2009 Borrego for Canada and US". AutomotiveWorld.com. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
4. "2009 Kia Borrego - Overview for Kia Borrego". CarGurus. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
5. Gritzinger, Bob. "Mesa memories: - AutoWeek Magazine". Autoweek.com. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
6. Padgett, Marty (2009-12-30). "Kia Drops 2010 Borrego From Lineup, Fate TBD - The Car Connection". Blogs.thecarconnection.com. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
7. Kia Borrego website
8. "Kia Borrego FCEV". Hydrogen-motors.com. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
9. Abuelsamid, Sam (2008-11-12). "LA Preview: Kia to debut fuel cell-powered Borrego SUV". Autobloggreen.com. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
10. Best Kept Secret: 2009 Kia Borrego autobytel.com, 2009
11. "Kia Borrego Awarded New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) 2009 Winter Vehicle Award". News.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
12. Kia Borrego Awarded Edmunds.com Consumers' Top Rated Vehicle Award CNBC, 18 Jun 2009

External links

• Kia Borrego official website
• Kia Motors America press release
• 2008 All-New Kia Mohave official website (Korean)