Kia gears up with a three-pronged attack

By 2008 Kia will be in the top 10 best selling brands in Ireland

By 2008 Kia will be in the top 10 best selling brands in Ireland. Not only there: it also plans to have a top 10 position in Europe overall.

Impressive goals and if you weren't aware of the brand's determined European management you'd put it down to yet more industry bravado that belongs in the usual category of ozone damaging hot air.

Yet the rise of the brand in Europe in the last two years has been impressive and its range is not only extremely youthful - the Picanto city car is now remarkably the oldest in the range - but also increasingly attractive.

Where once it was the Korean also-ran to Hyundai, with only one really competitive model, the Sorento, it now boasts several viable competitors in various segments. Arguably the biggest arrival in its short history will be the new C'eed this December. A smart family hatchback, it will be available in several formats.

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Kia's future plans may seem ambitious but the brand is rapidly moving in the right direction. The big news of late has been the poaching of Volkswagen's advance design boss to Kia - Peter Schreyer has intricate knowledge of what European buyers want.

The threat is not only in aesthetics: Kia is confident of its rapidly improved quality and has offered a landmark seven-year warranty with the C'eed.

And it won't be the only new model entering into 2007. The Koreans have revamped the Sorento SUV, which Kia regards as its flagship model. With a new 2.5-litre turbodiesel it gains 21 per cent more power - to 168bhp - and 25 per cent more torque - at 392Nm at 2,000rpm. Prices start at €40,495 and rise to €48,295.

The new Carens mid-range people carrier has also been launched here. A seven-seater with the same flexibility and ease of use as the class leaders such as Opel's Zafira and Renault Grand Scenic, the new Carens comes with either a 2-litre diesel or 2-litre petrol engine.

It's not the prettiest of the people carriers on the market, but combine the diesel engine and the immense practicality and comfort, and you've got a really competitive offering. Prices start at €26,995 for the petrol version and €29,995 for the diesel.

Finally Kia has created a new Carnival MPV. Replacing the outgoing Sedona it's mated to a 2.9-litre diesel engine putting out 182bhp with fuel economy at 7.8 L/100km (36.3mpg). There are two spec levels, EX and GSE, with prices starting at €34,995.

Kia is on a roll. With a youthful range, improved quality and better dealer service, they should be able to reach the top 10 here. And with the addition of Peter Schreyer to the ranks, it won't only be quality that its rivals will have to worry about. Schreyer promises to make Kia a force in design as well.

As the American and European brands fret over the rising dominance of Japan, the Japanese worry about the rising Koreans. No one is immune, however. As the Korean brands establish themselves, they see the Chinese rapidly giving chase. We live in interesting times.