Cars.com Names the 2013 Kia Optima the Most Affordable Midsize Sedan

Cars.com has named the 2013 Kia Optima the most affordable midsize sedan! 

Contenders for the top spot had to be equipped with equipment such as, automatic transmission, cruise control, a USB connection, Bluetooth, power windows, a power driver's seat and a rearview camera. Taking into account these features and the five-year estimated fuel cost, Cars.com compiled a list of 10 midsize sedans, ranked from most to least affordable, with the Kia Optima taking the top spot.

In addition, the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid LX placed fifth on the list. 

Come test-drive your Kia Optima today at Executive Kia!

Puzzle Pieces for Autism

Puzzle Pieces for Autism is a month long fundraising and awareness event being held throughout Connecticut to help the state’s families and individuals living with Autism.

The Executive Auto Group has teamed up with Radio 104.1 to support the efforts of Autism Services and Resources Connecticut (ASRC). ASRC is a statewide, non-profit organization that supports families, educators, and the entire autism community – across the diagnosis, needs, challenges, and age ranges.

This August we’re bringing the individuals and businesses of Connecticut together to show the communities support and promote autism awareness statewide.

We’re asking friends, families and professionals from across the state to celebrate the wonders of those on the autism spectrum and embrace the uniqueness in all of us by decorating a puzzle piece. For every puzzle piece that gets decorated, Executive Auto Group will donate $5 to help the efforts of ASRC.

We encourage you to paint, draw, color, glue and decorate your puzzle piece however you see fit. Use your imagination and make it your own. The blank puzzle pieces will be available all month long and can be picked up at any one of our 9 locations throughout the state.

Every Sunday we invite people to join us at one of our dealerships and decorate a puzzle piece with us. We will have all the supplies you need to make your puzzle piece unique.

On August 25th we will invite everyone back for our big gallery show event which will be held at Fiat by Executive in Wallingford. We will display all of the decorated puzzle pieces so people can see how the community came together. There will be live music, food and prizes so you don't want to miss it! 

For more information on this amazing event, visit http://www.puzzlepiecesforautism.com/!  

Monday Maintenance Tip: You've purchased your dream car, now what?

You finally did it. You found your dream car, and after negotiating and paperwork, you're ready to take it for a joy ride. But before you speed off the dealership lot, be sure to keep some things in mind. Taking care of your car and following a few simple rules during the break-in period can significantly help your car in the long run.

The break-in period is the amount of driving time it takes a car's piston rings to settle into place, ensuring there will be a tight seal that won't leak oil. Most cars typically have a break-in period suggestion between 600 to 1,200 miles.

Here are some things to remember after your car purchase:

Read the owner's manual. There's a lot of good stuff in there. It is important to know your car's break-in time, suggested speed, maintenance schedule and more.

Drive slowly. Be sure to keep your speed under about 50 mph or to the speed recommended by your manufacturer. Varying your speed and avoiding hard and sudden accelerations will improve your vehicle's piston ring seating.

Avoid heavy loads. Don't take the family on a cross-country trek the week you get your new car. Keep the weight off your roof rack and hitch, so the drive train is not stressed.

Check and change your oil. During your first few drives, metallic residue is produced by your new engine. We suggest getting an oil change at the end of your break-in period to get rid of this residue and give your car a nice clean start. 

We know that it's hard to resist the rev of a new engine, but by having patience and keeping your foot off the acceleration, you can keep your car running at it's best long after the new car smell fades away. 

Which category do you fall under: High or low-tech?

2002 Kia Spectra Commercial

Kia Motors America Launches Nationwide Partnership with B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School to Provide Free Hands-On Defensive Driving Instruction

 
Kia Motors America (KMA) is launching a nationwide partnership as the official vehicle and presenting sponsor of B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) Teen Pro-Active Driving School to educate teenagers and their parents about the importance of responsible driving habits.  KMA’s support – which includes a fleet of 32 Kia vehicles – will provide teens nationwide with no-cost, hands-on training, including distracted driving exercise, emergency braking using the anti-lock braking system (ABS), evasive maneuvering and skid-control practice.  A three-to-one student-to-teacher ratio will ensure personal attention and high-quality individual instruction for every student.

“KMA is committed to giving back to the communities in which we do business,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  “Our partnership with B.R.A.K.E.S. will help teens learn to respond quickly and confidently to real-world driving scenarios through advanced training techniques to help ensure their own safety and that of others on the road.”
In addition to supplying school cars and other support, Kia’s race-winning No. 38 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Optima Turbo, driven by Mark Wilkins, will prominently feature B.R.A.K.E.S. for the remainder of the 2013 PWC season in an effort to raise awareness for teen driving safety.  The racer’s new livery will be unveiled at a promotional event in New York City’s SoHo district this evening, ahead of this weekend’s races at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.

“Kia’s support will enable B.R.A.K.E.S. to train thousands more teens, grow awareness and expand training to new areas of the country,” said Doug Herbert NHRA Top Fuel Racer & Founder of B.R.A.K.E.S. “We are extremely excited about this new relationship and what we can do together with Kia to accomplish our mission of reducing teen driving accidents.”

B.R.A.K.E.S., a 501 c3 charity based in Charlotte, N.C., has provided safe driving instruction courses for more than 8,000 students in the U.S. and Canada.  The school offers nearly four hours of hands-on training and a very low student-instructor ratio to ensure personal attention.  The curriculum includes an array of defensive driving techniques and raises awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.  Parents participate in the courses alongside their teens to ensure safe driving techniques are reinforced following the session.  To sign up for a school in your area visit http://www.putonthebrakes.com/driving-schools/schedule1/.

Training includes the following:

• Accident Avoidance/Slalom:  The two-part course simulates an animal or object jumping out in front of a car.  It forces students to make a split-second reaction to help negotiate a quick, evasive lane change without losing control of the vehicle.  Students must navigate their vehicle around cones while focusing on weight transfer, hand positioning and eye scanning.
• Distracted Driving:  In 2009 it was estimated more than 5,400 people died in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver and about 448,000 people were injured[i].  The course demonstrates the danger that cell phones, text messaging, and other distractions can pose while driving.
• Drop Wheel/Off Road Recovery:  The drop-wheel recovery course teaches students how to effectively recover from a drop-wheel situation by regaining control of the car and safely returning to the roadway.
• Panic Stop:  Teens often lack the experience needed to judge a safe following distance.  The panic stop course instructs students on proper braking techniques to help stop a vehicle in the shortest distance possible while maintaining control.  Students experience firsthand the pulsating brake pedal effects of ABS and how to control the vehicle when ABS in engaged.
• Car Control and Recovery:  A wet skid pad simulates wet-road conditions.  Students learn how to recover from both over-steer (rear wheel) and under-steer (front wheel) skids.

Here's a useful car tip that you can easily do yourself!

Cut a pool noodle in half and put it on your garage wall to save your paint job.

 

 

We hope your Fourth of July is full of sparkle!

Kia at the 2013 Vans Warped Tour -- Echosmith Acoustic Set in the Soul Lounge