Kia Motors to embark on first-ever UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour

Published | 01/03/2019

 

  • The UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia will visit eight cities with a goal of collecting football boots for refugees

 

28 February 2019 – Kia Motors and UEFA are launching the inaugural UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia. The tour will give football fans across Europe the opportunity to see the iconic UEFA Europa League trophy as the competition's 2018/19 knockout stage unfolds.

Throughout the duration of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour, fans and players of all ages will be encouraged to donate used and unwanted boots. In partnership with the UEFA Foundation for children, the boots will be taken to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan to be given to Syrian refugees of all ages.

What's more, every fan who donates a pair of boots will have the chance of winning tickets to the UEFA Europa League final, among other prizes. Boot donations can be made at any stage of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour, as well as at selected Kia dealerships in each participating country.

“I have seen first-hand just how much football means to the children and adults at the Zaatari refugee camp,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who has visited the site in northern Jordan twice in the last couple of years.

“The UEFA Foundation helped to provide pitches for the refugees to use, but what is lacking are football boots. Therefore I urge anyone who has a pair of suitable footwear lying around which they are not using, to donate them and help make a difference.”

The UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia begins in earnest at the Geneva International Motor Show on Tuesday 5 March and will end on 12 May, ahead of the UEFA Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

The tour will visit Geneva, Seville, Berlin, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris and Baku, where fans will have the opportunity to see the UEFA Europa League trophy up close and meet football legends at a variety of city-centre pop-up locations, local amateur clubs and schools.

A stellar list of former players have signed up to take part including Deco, Lothar Matthäus and Eiður Guðjohnsen, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

“The UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour will offer fans across the continent the chance to see an iconic trophy as well as to meet some of the biggest names to have graced this competition,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Events SA marketing director.

“We are delighted with the enthusiasm Kia is showing, especially with their desire to try and reach out to fans throughout Europe and their willingness to give something back to those who want to play the beautiful game but lack the necessary equipment to do so.”

Kia has the honour of conducting this inaugural tour that will make stops in eight major European cities. The stopovers will feature school visits in addition to city-centre activations with the trophy and UEFA ambassador on show. 

“We are extremely excited to launch the 2019 UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour driven by Kia, in partnership with UEFA,“ said Yong-Won Cho, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Kia Motors Corporation.

“Not only will the tour give football fans of all ages the chance to see the famous trophy up close, but thanks to their donations we are able to help make a positive contribution to the lives of young refugees who share our passion for the beautiful game. On behalf of Kia I would like to extend our thanks in advance to everyone who supports the campaign and helps by donating football boots.”

 

The UEFA League Trophy Tour Driven by Kia schedule:

 

Geneva – 5-17 March

Seville – 22-23 March 

 

 

Berlin – 29-30 March 

 

 

London – 5-6 April 

 

 

Milan – 12 April

 

 

Moscow – 20-21 April 

 

 

Paris – 10 May 

 

 

Baku – 17 May 

 

 
 
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Kia launches innovative UVO CONNECT telematics system

The Niro is among the first Kia models in Europe to offer the brand’s innovative UVO CONNECT telematics system, connecting drivers to the world around to provide them with invaluable information during a drive.

Kia is introducing the UVO CONNECT telematics system to all Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants of the Niro range. The technology will be introduced to other European models in future.

Accessible via the optional 10.25-inch touchscreen and the owner’s smartphone, UVO CONNECT features a new Kia Live system, which uses its own SIM card to retrieve and update live data. This gives owners access to live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, fuel prices, and details of potential on- and off-street parking – including price, location and availability. Niro Plug-in Hybrid models also provide charging station information, such as location, availability, and connection compatibility.

The second element of the UVO system is the UVO App, designed for compatibility on Android and Apple smartphones. The app offers users peace of mind with a range of features to provide diagnostic data about their car and the trips they take. The app also enables owners to activate a range of remote functions and features remotely. Depending on country, users can remotely send route directions to their car before a journey, check the location of their vehicle, and access vehicle reports and diagnostic notifications.

The 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system features with Bluetooth multi-connection as standard, enabling occupants to connect two mobile devices at once, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its advanced split-screen functionality lets users control or monitor different vehicle features at the same time, customising the screen with a series of different widgets. This allows the driver to have a single display (such as navigation or powertrain information), or combine numerous elements on-screen at the same time. This means the driver can follow navigation directions or keep track of energy flow through the hybrid powertrain, while passengers can simultaneously choose their favourite songs or check the weather forecast. The Niro range is also offered with its existing 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The technology has been developed to comply with the latest European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring the highest levels of data privacy and protection.

 

New safety technologies available

The upgraded Niro range sees the introduction of a series of new active driver-assistive safety technologies. Already available with Smart Cruise Control, the upgraded Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid are now offered with additional Stop & Go functionality. Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go follows the preceding vehicle, and can now bring the Niro to a stop if traffic slows to a halt, bringing the car back up to speed as the car in front moves off. 

Lane Following Assist, Kia’s ‘Level Two’ autonomous driving technology, is also available for the first time on Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models, following its introduction on the electric e-Niro. This technology tracks vehicles in front of the car in traffic, and detects road markings to keep the Niro in its lane on the motorway. The system controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the convoy of vehicles in front, using external sensors to maintain a safe distance, while also assisting the driver change lanes. Lane Following Assist operates between 0 and 180 kph. 

The Niro continues to be offered with a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies. Depending on specification, these include Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Blind-spot Collision Warning,Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning, and Intelligent Speed Limit Warning, in addition to the new electronic parking brake and larger rear brakes.

 

Practical, efficient and engaging to drive

With fully-independent front and rear suspension and a slick-shifting six-speed double-clutch transmission, the Kia Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid offer a fine balance between on-road comfort and driver engagement.

Its crossover packaging – unique among other hybrids at the same price point – means owners benefit from generous interior room and high cargo capacity with flexible storage space. Unlike many other hybrid models, the Niro offers an optional Towing Pack, enabling the car to tow loads of up to 1,300 kg in weight (braked).

The Niro is powered by an efficient 1.6-litre GDi (gasoline directinjection) engine, twinned with either a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack (Niro Hybrid models) or 8.9 kWh (for Plug-in Hybrid models). Carbon dioxide emissions for the Niro Hybrid are as low as 99.8 g/km (WLTP combined cycle), with emissions from Plug-in Hybrid models even lower

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