AUTOMOTIVE ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Kia Optima Hybrid

Kia Optima Hybrid: New 2014 Model Charges Ahead

JKRAdvertising / Kia Advertising /

February 7, 2014

Late last fall, the 2014 Kia Optima gas-powered sedan made its US debut. It featured a complete facelift and its virtues made the world stand up and take notice. So when word spread that the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid would make its debut at this year’s Chicago Auto Show auto experts were excited. JKR Advertising and its Kia clients were eager to see how Kia would mesh the new redesign with the components that make the Optima hybrid vehicle so unique.

The wait is finally over, and the new hybrid did not disappoint in its Windy City premiere! In addition to the new body style, the Kia Optima Hybrid comes with technological advancements that make it more attractive and fuel efficient than its predecessor.

Kia Optima Hybrid Changes

New front and rear fascia enhancements make the Optima Hybrid more aerodynamic, while a unique grille, new wheel designs and lighting further separate it from its gas-powered sibling. The 2014 Optima Hybrid will be available in both LX and EX trim packages. An improved lighting package is also included on this year’s hybrid model.

Both packages feature a 47 HP electric traction motor, and a 47-kilowatt lithium polymer battery. (This battery was specially chosen because of its compact size, as it reduces the amount of space lost due to the battery pack.) Together, these elements achieve 199 horsepower and 235 lbs-ft. of torque. The Optima Hybrid LX checks in with an estimated 36 mpg city/40 mpg highway (38 combined); while the EX produces 35 mpg city/39 highway (37 combined).

A Better Kia Optima Hybrid

The 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid was named one of the “Most Fuel-Efficient Sedans of 2013” by edmunds.com. These are impressive numbers, indeed, but the 2014 is better in every way. Its upscale feel, state-of-the-art design, economical yet powerful performance, and small carbon footprint make it a more-than-viable offering in the midsize hybrid segment.

There is no initial word on pricing for the new 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid, but rest assured an announcement from Kia will be coming soon. They dynamic new vehicle is expected to arrive in United States showrooms later this quarter, and American consumers are going to love its new look.

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Post-Pandemic Dealer Gross Profits are Down – But They Don’t Have to Stay There!
March 13, 2024
It is no secret that dealer gross profits per vehicle are down sharply in the post-COVID automotive world. According to a recent article in Automotive News, gross profits of the six largest publicly traded dealership groups plunged significantly from Q4 2022 to Q4 2023. One of them was actually down 35% per vehicle!

The article explains: High interest rates, more expensive vehicles and a steadier post-pandemic supply chain continue to soften demand and bring it closer to pre-pandemic levels. Still, new-car buying has remained strong overall …

This means that, while sales volume is similar, overall bottom lines are lower for many dealers due to the reduced gross profits. What about your dealership?

Being Realistic
It’s time to turn the page! The time for dealers to simply be order takers for people willing to pay MSRP for a vehicle (and in some cases more) has passed and dealers have to work hard once again to achieve acceptable gross profits.

Selling a high volume of cars doesn’t control gross profits, no matter how much you wish this was the case. Correct processes and menu pricing – and strict adherence to them – do!

What kind of processes?
∙ Slow down the transaction! Your sales staff has to once again sell the customer on the features and benefits of every new and pre-owned vehicle on your lot.

∙ Your salespeople and managers should devalue the customers’ trade-in value (politely, of course) as much as possible. After all, if the customer expects you to lower your price, shouldn’t you be able to do the same on their trade? Remember, you’ll have to fix it up, put your name on it and resell it to someone else with all the tenacity you would a brand-new car. So make sure you buy it right … because the profit is made when you buy it, not when you sell it!

∙ To that end, management should be ready and willing to leave the desk and do thorough walk-arounds on each trade to ensure the best outcome for the dealership.

The Cure for Low Gross Profits
If you are like a lot of dealers these days, you could use some good news. Here it is: while you may not have the capability to achieve profit margins similar to those you enjoyed during the pandemic, they could likely be improved. JKR’s clients enjoy the benefit of attracting not only more customers, but better ones, too!

If meeting and exceeding your sales goals (and increasing gross profits at the same time) sounds great to you, you need to call us. Don’t settle for reduced gross profits when help is out there to get you closer to where you’d like to be.

Want to know how we do it? Reach out to Senior Partner Richard Brauns (407) 701-4233 or Partner/Vice President Jon Albert (407) 718-2494 today.

JKR Automotive Advertising: We Move Cars.

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