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Americans no longer bat an eyelash at the astounding warranty coverage Hyundai and Kia offer on their new vehicles. To us, it's just another selling point for the brands, whose cars continue to improve, offering good style and excellent equipment levels at value prices. Sadly, we aren't getting Kia's new European-designed and built VW Golf-fighter, the c'eed -- a car, by the way, that 'd draw us into a Kia showroom a lot more readily than the Rio5 or Optima. Just saying.

Kia's leaving nothing to chance with the cee'd, and in a page torn from their American playbook, is introducing the car with the best new-vehicle warranty ever offered in Europe and the UK. The 7 year/150,000 kilometer warranty offers bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5 years, with an additional two years covering the powertrain. The warranty doesn't cost anything extra and is fully transferable.

European-market competitors should take note: Kia is playing for keeps.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Kia UK]

PRESS RELEASE:
NEW KIA cee'd TO HAVE BEST-IN-EUROPE WARRANTY

The all-new Kia family of cee'd models will be backed by the 'best' new vehicle guarantee ever offered, by any manufacturer, on cars marketed in the UK and Europe with every Kia cee'd benefiting from a seven-year / 150,000 kilometre new car warranty.

Comprising five years cover on the entire car and an additional two years cover for the powertrain, the warranty will be free and transferable to subsequent owners, provided the vehicle is regularly maintained in accordance with the servicing schedule.

"Kia has taken the bold step of introducing a surprising warranty for the model which will unquestionably demonstrate our brand's 'Power to Surprise' to consumers in Europe," enthused Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "The Kia cee'd is truly a landmark model in our brand's history and its debut marks the start of a new era.

"The Kia cee'd is going to be a great car, a genuine challenger for top honours against the established stars in the closely-fought C-segment. Thanks to the high quality of vehicles coming from our brand-new facility in Slovakia, Kia is delighted to demonstrate its commitment to delivering maximum customer satisfaction, together with lowered costs of vehicle ownership by offering this revolutionary warranty," added Lievens.

The seven-year warranty is a further endorsement of Kia's three core brand values ndash; quality, trustworthy, dynamic ndash; and will come into effect for UK customers when the new cee'd goes on sale on 1 February, 2007.