If you've heard anything about the 2012 Kia Soul, you know it's a stylish little vehicle with a ton of personality. The new Kia Soul is a great fit for daring drivers like United States Army Corporal Christopher Melendez, who was injured in the line of duty while on patrol in Iraq. Melendez needed a special Kia to fit his needs as a disabled veteran, and Kia fit those needs with a special Soul donation through partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project. Melendez was presented with the vehicle during the 2012 NY International Auto Show.

Did you know that Kia is the fastest growing auto brand in America? In 2012, the auto company is positioned to sell more than 500-thousand crossovers and cars for the first time since it entered the market in 1994. Though up to this point Kia has often lived in the shadow of another South Korean automaker, Hyundai, with its new manufacturing expansions and popular products, it's really stealing the spotlight.

The Geneva Auto Show happened earlier this month, and it featured a variety of unique new vehicles. One vehicle on show was the second generation Kia Cee'd . The oddly-named Cee'd is the only car with an apostrophe in its name and is the European version of the Kia Forte, as we know it in the U.S. The Cee'd name is used in Europe only, but it's sold everywhere else as the Forte.

Kia is known for offering some of the most cost-efficient and well-equipped vehicles on the market, but it's also known for taking part in several important local community initiatives. The American branch of the auto brand recently joined with LPGA star Michelle Wie to donate $50,000 to an after school program in Southern California named Camp Pendleton's Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program. Kia is a major sponsor of the LPGA, so teaming up with Wie was a no-brainer for the company.

Kia has always been known for its small, affordable, fuel-efficient cars and SUVs and its dedication to the environment, but now the auto brand has taken this commitment a step further by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme in support of the group's important World Environment Day, which has been celebrated every year on June 5^th since 1972. This year's WED theme is "Green Economy: Does it include you?"

What do you get when you combine a new Kia Optima with basketball star Blake Griffin  and a spot on FunnyOrDie.com? A hilarious snippet that shows both the Optima's sporty style and explores what would happen when a car, instead of a professional basketball player, decides to "dunk."

South Korean auto manufacturer Kia has announced it will release its first EV vehicle, named the Kia Ray EV. Though the Ray won't be coming Stateside anytime soon, the electronic vehicle does give us a glimpse into the future, towards EV products the company could eventually bring to the U.S.

Kia had a really amazing year in 2011, especially in terms of sales. In fact, the auto manufacturer set its best-ever yearly sales record. And, as if that's not enough to keep Kia execs happy, the company's achievements just keep piling up. One piece of good news that has already trickled in involves the new Kia Optima, which was recently chosen as "Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year." Autobytel editors explain that they chose the new Kia above over a hundred other vehicles thanks to its "head-turning design, roomy interior and outstanding fuel economy," as well as its "game-changing market potential, advances in design and overall performance and efficiency options."¹ The editors also add that the Optima sets the bar for other sedans on the market.

So, which two Kia models were chosen? One is the sporty, fun 2012 Kia Soul and the other is the 2012 Kia Forte Koup. Each of these two models impressed the editors at MSN Autos in different ways. The Kia Soul was cited as a favorite due to its compact, yet roomy, design, while the Kia Forte Koup captivated the editors with its bold style and swift performance. Of course, both of these vehicles were also recognized as great values.

Reader, what would you do to win a 2012 Kia Soul? Would you take 3 weeks out of your life to sit in a car listening to other people's snoring, smelling funky odors, and receiving only short breaks? Three brave women in Ohio would, and did. Vanessa Branch, Deanna Sutorius, and Rachel Cothey lived, slept, and ate in a Kia Soul for 21 days at the Halleen Kia dealership in North Olmsted, Ohio. Each of the women was allowed one 5-minute bathroom break per hour and a 15-minute break every six hours. At the end of the three weeks, each woman was asked to choose a briefcase with a number inside; that number corresponded to the prize she would win. Rachel Cothey strolled away with the Kia vehicle, while Sutorius and Branch both accepted a consolatory prize of $2,500 each.